Upcoming Match-ups

Odds Open for 2019-20 NBA Opening Night: Raptors Laying 5 Points; Lakers vs Clippers a Pick

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NBA Basketball

Updated Mar 25, 2020 · 4:05 PM PDT

Kyle Lowry
The Toronto Raptors are a five-point favorite over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on opening night. Photo from @News1Usa (Twitter).
  • The Toronto Raptors will host the New Orleans Pelicans on opening night
  • The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will meet in the late game
  • The Clippers beat the Lakers in their regular season opener last year

We’ve see many of the betting lines for the 2019-20 NBA season up on the board already in terms of futures but now we have the lines up for opening night. There will be two games on October 22, including the battle of Los Angeles, as well as the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors opening their season up. What’s the best bet for each game right now?

Pelicans vs Raptors Opening Night Odds

Team Point Spread
New Orleans Pelicans +5 (-110)
Toronto Raptors -5 (-110)

Odds taken 08/17/19.

Raptors Open Versus Pelicans

The Toronto Raptors will raise the franchise’s first banner on October 22 when the New Orleans Pelicans visit. At the time of open, the Raptors were a five-point favorite.

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The Raptors had a memorable offseason but not for the right reasons. While they had hoped to hold on to superstar Kawhi Leonard, he bolted for the Los Angeles Clippers. The team also did very little to replace him – not that he’s a player that’s easily replaced. They also lost Danny Green.

At the same time, this is still a team that features Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. Remember that the Raptors played without Leonard for 22 games last season and posted a record of 17-5.

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The Pelicans come into this game with an optimistic outlook but with lots of questions. This is a team that should be good by the end of the year but they made a lot of changes, so it will take time for the team chemistry to set in. They added Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, J.J. Redick and several other players.

This will be a tough spot for this young side, so I would roll with the Raptors in this game. They should be focused and fired up as they raise their championship banner.

Lakers vs Clippers Opening Night Odds

Team Point Spread
Los Angeles Lakers PICK (-105)
Los Angeles Clippers PICK (-115)

Odds taken 08/17/19.

Lakers, Clippers Clash in Late Game

The second game of the opening night double-headed will be our first showdown of the new Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers teams. The Clippers acquired Leonard and Paul George in the offseason while the Lakers picked up Anthony Davis and a slew of others.

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One player who won’t be there is DeMarcus Cousins, who recently tore his ACL. Beyond that, the Lakers roster has experienced a ton of turnover as Anthony Davis, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook and Avery Bradley were added to the mix. And don’t forget that they have an entirely new coaching staff.

I’m siding with the Clippers in this spot as there’s more consistency with that team in terms of the roster. They did add Leonard and George, but Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green and Landry Shamet are back. And keep in mind that the coaching staff with Doc Rivers returns intact.

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I like the Clippers at a PICK as I expect this line to move up. The Lakers already lost Cousins, and in my estimation, it will take some time for this new roster to gel. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Clippers closed somewhere in the neighborhood of -1.5 or -2.

The Clippers beat the Lakers in their opener last season, finished with the better record and they’re still the better team. Lay the points here.

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