We saw some history over the weekend when Rockets All-Star Russell Westbrook got the 139th triple-double of his eventual Hall of Fame career to pass the legendary Magic Johnson for second on the all-time list. Oscar Robertson leads with 181 but is clearly going to be passed eventually unless Westbrook suffers a catastrophic injury. Here’s a look at two intriguing NBA Betting matchups this week. Check back for the latest NBA odds.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – October 28th Edition
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat
- When: Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET
- TV: NBA TV
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
These teams play again in Atlanta on Thursday.
How good has second-year Trae Young been in the early going? Last week against Orlando, Young became the first player in NBA history to post at least 38 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in each of his team’s first two games of the season. The second-year guard totaled 39 points (16-25 FGs, 5-10 3FGs, 2-4 FTs), nine helpers, seven boards and two steals in 36 minutes. Led by Young, Atlanta’s offense is shooting the second-highest FG% in the NBA (.512), while the Hawks’ 3FG% defense is the stingiest in the league (.221) and their FG% defense is the second-best (.380), helping hold opponents to the sixth-fewest points per game (99.5).
Last season, Atlanta won the season series with Miami 3-1, but Miami has currently won four of the last five contests against the Hawks in Miami. The Heat are 66-53 all-time versus Atlanta during the regular season, including 42-18 in Miami and 24-35 on the road.
Why the Heat should be your NBA Betting pick?
Miami enters the week at 2-1 following a 116-109 loss in Minnesota on Sunday. Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 25 points on Sunday, going 9-of-17 from the field with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and four turnovers. Miami came into this game without Jimmy Butler for personal reasons, and they’re also missing Derrick Jones Jr. (groin), James Johnson (conditioning) and Dion Waiters (not with team).
Butler will play Tuesday. Coach Erik Spoelstra said he has no plans to ease him back into things either. “He’s our guy,” Spoelstra said. “He’ll be playing. I’m not planning on resting him.” He will slide into the starting lineup alongside Kendrick Nunn with Tyler Herro moving to the bench. Last week, Herro became the youngest Heat player ever to start a game.
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
- When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Two Eastern Conference contenders. The Bucks beat the Celtics in five games in last year’s conference semifinals despite losing Game 1. Boston was eliminated in a 116-91 defeat in Milwaukee. Eventual NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. The Bucks won the final four games by a combined 65 points.
The Bucks enter this week at 1-1. Giannis fouled out in both games, which matches his foul-out total from each of the previous two seasons. In Saturday’s game against the Heat, Antetokounmpo was one assist away from becoming the first player since Magic Johnson in 1982 to open a season with back-to-back triple-doubles.
Antetokounmpo scored 29 points, hauled in 17 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, and tallied 3 steals and 2 blocks. With 59 points, 30 rebounds and 20 assists through two games, Antetokounmpo is the first player in NBA history to tally at least 50 points, 30 rebounds and 20 assists in the first two games of a season.
Saturday’s game was Milwaukee’s first 120-point game of the season after recording 34 such games last season (2nd-most in the NBA and 3rd-most in franchise history).
The Bucks won the 2018-19 regular season series over the Celtics, 2-1, winning the final two games of the series. This was Milwaukee’s first regular season series win over Boston since the 2014-15 season.
Why the Celtics should be your NBA Betting pick?
Boston enters the week at 2-1 following a 118-95 win at the Knicks on Saturday. Kemba Walker had his best game as a Celtics by making 11-of-17 from the field for 32 points with five rebounds, four assists, two steals, no turnovers and seven 3-pointers in 30 minutes.
New York raced to an early lead and trailed only by six after three, but the Celtics scored the first eight points of the final period to make it 90-76. The Celtics then put it away with a 19-4 surge, featuring three straight baskets by Walker, to expand it to 109-85.
Tacko Fall made his NBA debut with four points, three rebounds and one turnover in four minutes against the Knicks on Saturday. The Knicks played without injured big men Daniel Theis (ankle) and Enes Kanter (knee) on Saturday. Not clear yet if they will return here.
Expert NBA Betting Picks
Back both home teams.
