NBA Betting Picks for Tuesday 10/24/23: The Reigning Champs Start the Season With a Bang

Riley Thomas•_riley8

7mo

The 82-game NBA regular season offers us a wide variety of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals. The Association features 1,230 regular season games, which can make sifting through the odds an overwhelming task.

However, various advanced statistics can help narrow the choices. numberFire's NBA power rankings and daily projections paired with advanced stats from the NBA can help give the inside track to winning big.

While utilizing some of the mentioned tools, which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook look like the best bets today?

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Best Bets

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets

Nuggets -5.5 (-106)

The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets will tip off the 2023-24 regular season with a 2023 Western Conference Finals rematch. The Nuggets coasted to a four-game sweep in last season's playoff matchup en route to the franchise's first NBA title. Will Los Angeles get revenge on opening night?

The Lakers have already been hit by injuries; forward Jarred Vanderbilt will be absent with a heel injury. This leaves the starting forward spot to Taurean Prince, who was acquired in the offseason after averaging 9.1 points per game (PPG) in 2022-23 season.

First-round rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino is expected to be out for at least the first 10 days of the season with a knee contusion. Fortunately, LA's backcourt depth will not be too thin, for Gabe Vincent is expected to make his Lakers debut after dealing with back tightness.

Denver is much cleaner on the injury front. Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun are available for the season opener. Julian Strawther, who averaged 17.8 PPG in the preseason, is questionable with an ankle injury. If Strawther is absent, this should be a minor loss since it's unclear if the rookie forward will get consistent minutes off of the bench.

With the lengthy injury report out of the way, it's time to dive into the game lines. The reigning NBA champions have been tabbed as 5.5-point favorites, and the total is at 228.5.

According to numberFire's NBA power rankings, the Nuggets have a nERD score of 69.3 (fourth) while the Lake Show has a 63.7 nERD (seventh). When looking at FanDuel's NBA conference odds, Denver is the favorite to win the West (+270), and Los Angeles has the second-shortest odds to win the conference (+750). Tuesday's matchup should be a treat with two of the West's powerhouses colliding.

Ultimately, I like the Nuggets to cover the point spread. They had a big advantage from the three-point line in the Western Conference Finals, cashing in 40.3% of their looks from deep. The Lakers' perimeter defense could also be vulnerable without Vanderbilt in the lineup. Denver pounded the glass in the 2023 playoffs, averaging 10.5 offensive rebounds per game. This was a weakness for L.A.; they ranked 26th in opponent offensive rebounds per game last season.

Nikola Jokic also seems poised for a big night after averaging 27.8 PPG, 11.8 assists per game (APG), and 14.5 rebounds per game (RPG) over the previous four head-to-head matchups. According to numberFire's projections, Jokic leads Tuesday with 55.8 projected fantasy points.

Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors

Under 233 (-108)

Throughout the offseason, the Phoenix Suns against the Golden State Warriors looked to be a must-see matchup, but injuries have caused the hype to dwindle. The Suns star-studded trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will have to wait. Beal will be out with a back injury, and Booker is a game-time decision with a toe setback.

This leaves the bulk of the scoring to Durant, who ranked second on the team with a 28.6% usage rate last season. Since leaving The Bay, this will be the first time Durant has faced the Warriors on the road, adding extra juice to the matchup. Plus, Chris Paul will be facing his former team after landing with Golden State in the offseason.

This matchup is full of storylines, making it a near-perfect season opener -- especially when both teams are among the top four favorites to win the West. When it comes to the game lines, the under could be the most intriguing pick.

Draymond Green, who led the team in defensive rating last season, will be out with an ankle injury. However, Phoenix could struggle with guard play with Beal and Booker potentially out. It's reserve backcourt is made up of Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, and Eric Gordon. Durant will likely shoulder the load on offense. Overall, the unit could lack the firepower for the over to hit, especially after ranking 20th in effective field goal percentage (eFG%) in the 2022-23 season.

In addition, the Suns' defense was solid last season, ranking seventh in defensive rating and fourth in opponent made three-pointers per game. Phoenix could limit the Warriors' three-point attempts, and they will likely look to slow the game after having the ninth-slowest pace in the league last season.

With the Suns potentially missing several key scorers, the under could be the best bet to target.

Looking for the latest NBA odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NBA betting options.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.