NBA basketball has finally tipped-off for another rollercoaster season of dazzling dunks, brilliant blocks and game winning buzzer-beaters.
Multiple fixtures are played almost every night in America’s glamorous elite league so, in light of this quality action, Coral basketball writers have picked out some top NBA tips for the November 5 action…
Butler to score 23 or more in Bulls victory
Many doubted Chicago Bulls coming into the new campaign, despite adding three-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, not to forget Rajon Rondo.
Fred Hoiberg’s Bulls started their new season 3-0, recording an impressive win over Eastern Conference foes Boston Celtics. Key to this success has been Jimmy Butler, the All-Star has notched 23 or more points already this term and, with their weekend opponents New York Knicks losing three of their opening four, looks likely to run riot. Jimmy ‘Buckets’ is a generous 13/8 (£/€20 max stake) with Coral to score 23 or greater in a Chicago victory.
For all their offseason hype, acquiring former star Derrick Rose, that has lost his athleticism, and an injury hit Joakim Noah – they have failed to hit their stride. On the defensive end of the court, Rose and co have failed to show any real steel, allowing the sixth most opponent points in the division. A fact that will have the Windy City’s scorers coming into the game with great confidence.
Clippers to maul Grizzlies
Blake Griffin and Chris Paul don’t usually have off days, but against Oklahoma City Thunder, they fell victim to the Russell Westbrook show.
Expect both Griffin and Paul to bounce back with a road trip opener against Memphis Grizzlies, with the Tennessee team having lost two of their last four and Clippers winning four of the past five meetings.
Los Angeles Clippers will be buoyed by the news that point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol are battling lingering injuries from last season, while Chandler Parsons is also out.
If Spaniard Gasol fails to perform against Doc Rivers’ Clippers, then expect a LA rout with them 7/4 to cover their -9.5 handicap. Gasol sat out his side’s previous game as a precaution and Memphis will continue to limit his workload. He also shot just three of 18 from the field in his last outing, his worst every record in a single encounter.
High scoring affair in Utah
These two teams come into the fixture with a mixed run of form, San Antonio Spurs ruined Golden State warriors’ party on opening night, but recorded a shock loss at the hands of their weekend opponents Utah Jazz.
For the Jazz, this was a massive win for Quin Snyder’s side, despite Kawhi Leonard’s extraordinary efforts. Gordon Hayward’s absence hasn’t effected Utah too much thus far, with George Hill enjoying his finest season start in his nine-year NBA career.
Spurs’ Leonard is averaging a career high 28.4 points this term, with drastic improvements to his field-goal, free-throw and three-point percentage from last season.
Dubs added Kevin Durant to an already 73-9 team last season, forming a formidable super team. The scoring talent Steve Kerr has at his disposal is unrivalled throughout the NBA, with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and now Durant all elite talents.
Durant seems to have settled straight into life in Oakland, averaging over 30 points per game since his arrival at the Oracle Arena. His latest performance, against former side OKC, saw him recorded an outstanding 39 points from 31 minutes on the court.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers have allowed over 113 points a game in five of six outings this season. This doesn’t make pretty reading for Lakers fans, a franchise that lost their leader Kobe Bryant this summer.
This will be the first meeting between the two since Toronto Raptors ousted Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Canada is a notoriously hard place to go, with most returning home empty handed. Raptors boast a super record this term, winning three of four outings, while Miami heat have been defeated twice.
Heat have not won in Toronto during the regular season since 2013, over 12 games. The gammatch opens a two-game home run for the Canadians, who are coming off Wednesday’s 113-103 victory in Washington – when DeMar DeRozan scored 40 points. As a result, back Toronto with a -11.5 handicap at 6/4.
