The NBA 2020/21 season begins for a heap of teams across the USA as our basketball experts find the best bets and best same game multis.
Chicago @ Detroit
October 21st 10:00am
Detroit opens its 2021/22 NBA season against Chicago at Little Caesars Arena.
It is a season for development for Detroit with number one pick Cade Cunningham looking to show the league why he is such highly-touted talent.
But Pistons fans might have to wait a little while to see the debut of Cunningham, with the 20-year-old only just returning to practice following an ankle injury during the pre-season.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have trudged along quietly in the lead-up to this new campaign.
Chicago has kept most of its pivotal players from the last season and has also hauled in some quality to its playing roster.
Recent acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso have meant making playoffs is a genuine possibility this season.
Suggested Bet: Chicago Bulls -3.5 at $1.92
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Indiana @ charlotte
October 21st 10:00am
Charlotte will have revenge on its mind when it hosts the Indiana Pacers come its season-opener on Thursday morning (AEDT) at the Spectrum Centre.
The Hornets were left rueing what might have been after being eliminated by the Pacers during the play-in matches last season.
But with a new year, brings new opportunity, and the Hornets will be relying on the natural progression of Lamelo Ball to carry their hopes towards a playoffs stint this season.
The Pacers, meanwhile, are in the realm of dealing with the new ideas and tactics of coach Rick Carlisle who was signed post 2020/21 season.
Caris LeVert and TJ Warren will both be glaring omissions from the Pacers line-up heading into this game and it might just be the advantage the Hornets need to kick start the season with a win.
Suggested Bet: Charlotte Hornets -1.5 at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Charlotte Hornets -1.5
Leg 2: Total points over 224.5
Leg 3: T. Rozier 2+ 3-pointers
Leg 4: L. Ball over 16.5 points
Combined odds = $5
Boston @ New York
October 21st 10:30am
Boston Celtics will look to turn some lacklustre pre-season form into a winning start when it faces the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
A 121-100 loss against Miami in its final pre-season match would have some Celtics fans wondering what exactly will transpire this season, but as we have seen so often, the practice games are very rarely a replica of what we will see come the regular season.
The Knicks hit this opening game with winning momentum after dispatching Washington earlier this week and will be buoyed by the additions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier.
For the Celtics, it will be the ever present Jayson Tatum to lead the line on offence after he established himself as genuine star last season averaging 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game.
Both teams possess fairly similar levels of talent, so from a head to head perspective it makes things tough.
The total points scored going under 218.5 looks the bet here.
Suggested Bet: Total point scored under 218.5
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Boston +1.5
Leg 2: Total points scored under 218.5
Leg 3: J. Tatum over 25.5 points
Combined odds = $5.5
Philadelphia @ New Orleans
October 21st 11:00am
The intrigue surrounding the Ben Simmons ruckus will manifest itself on the court when the Philadelphia 76ers get their season underway against the New Orleans Pelicans.
It has been well documented that Simmons has been hissy-fitting his way through the pre-season and Doc Rivers has had no choice but to suspend the 25-year-old old Australian guard after he refused to participate in a practice drill.
It could just very well be the distraction the Pelicans need to take full advantage on their home court, but they will be without their star big man Zion Williamson.
The reliance on Brandon Ingram will be bigger than ever and Pelican coach Willie Green will need to find a way to combat 76ers centre Joel Embiid.
Ingram has been a bonafide gun of the league since joining the Pelicans, while Embiid has taken the NBA by the scruff of the neck to stamp his claim as not only the best centre but one of the very best players.
The strength of a unified team is who we want to be with here.
The Pelicans have shown nice chemistry and form in the pre-season to suggest they can do some damage in this opening game.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans Pelicans head to head at $2.27
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: New Orleans head to head
Leg 2: B. Ingram over 26.5 points
Leg 3: Total points scored over 225.5
Combined odds = $6.50
