Tonight kicks off the NBA Cup qualification games with eight exciting matchups on the slate. Here are my top betting picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for the action ahead.
The full list of games can be found here:
Heat at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET
Hornets at Magic, 7 p.m. ET
Hawks at Celtics, 7 p.m. ET
Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Raptors at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Suns at Jazz, 9 p.m. ET
Mavericks at Warriors, 10 p.m. ET
Timberwolves at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET
Suns -4 (-105)
The Suns, looking to bounce back after snapping a seven-game win streak with a loss to Sacramento, face the Jazz at Delta Center. Phoenix will be without Kevin Durant (calf strain) and possibly Jusuf Nurkic (ankle injury), who is questionable to play, but Devin Booker (23.1 points per game) and Bradley Beal (17.0 points) will lead the offense.
Utah enters with two wins in their last three, including a 111-110 win over San Antonio. Collin Sexton has been critical, scoring 20+ in the victories, and Lauri Markkanen has returned from injury to contribute. Despite the injuries, Phoenix’s depth and experience make them the better pick to cover the -4 spread against Utah.
Timberwolves -8.5 (-112)
The Timberwolves, coming off a tough 95-94 loss to Miami in which they committed 20 turnovers, aim to bounce back as they face the struggling Trail Blazers. Minnesota has had a bumpy start after trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, but it remains focused on integrating its new players. The Wolves have won five straight against Portland, which is reeling from a 134-89 blowout loss to Memphis.
Portland’s recent struggles include poor shooting (9.5% from 3-point range) and lackluster effort, with coach Chauncey Billups calling their performance “embarrassing.” Minnesota’s depth should be enough to cover the -8.5 spread against a Portland team that has lost its last three.
Warriors -2.5 (-115)
The Warriors will host the Mavericks on Tuesday night in a highly anticipated NBA Cup matchup. The matchup marks Klay Thompson’s return to San Francisco after leaving Golden State in the offseason. Thompson, who spent 13 seasons with the Warriors and helped them win four championships, now plays for the Mavericks, averaging 13.8 points in his first 10 games. Despite the emotional homecoming, the Warriors enter this contest as 2.5-point favorites.
Golden State is coming off a successful 4-1 road trip and is firing on all cylinders, including stellar performances from Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield. Meanwhile, Dallas is looking to rebound after a narrow 122-120 loss at Denver that followed a 114-113 defeat against the Suns in the game period. With Golden State’s home-court advantage momentum, they should be well-positioned to cover the -2.5 spread.
76ers +3 (-112)
Joel Embiid is set to make his season debut as the Philadelphia 76ers host the New York Knicks in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game. The Sixers, who have struggled with injuries and suspensions to key players, look to get back on track with Embiid joining Paul George in the lineup while Tyrese Maxey remains out. Despite missing Embiid and Maxey for significant stretches, the Sixers managed a narrow overtime win over Charlotte on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak.
Philadelphia faces a Knicks team that’s also dealing with inconsistency. New York has dropped three of its last four games, including a rough 132-121 loss to Indiana on Sunday, despite big performances from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. With Embiid’s return and the Sixers eager to get revenge after last season’s playoff loss to the Knicks, Philadelphia is positioned to cover the +3 spread in this early-season matchup.
Luka Doncic Over 45.5 PTS + REB + AST (-120)
Luka Doncic has been dominant in his matchups against the Warriors, averaging 30.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 7.7 rebounds in three games during the 2023-24 season. With a combined total of 47.7 points, rebounds, and assists per game, Doncic has consistently filled up the stat sheet, setting him up nicely to hit the Over for 45.5 PTS+REB+AST against Golden State at -120.
While he’s started more off-ball in the first quarter to begin games than in previous seasons, the Mavericks continue to rely heavily on Doncic to lead their offense. Against a Warriors team that likes to do a lot of switching, expect him to continue impacting all areas of the game.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is grant-afseth) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.