NBA Betting Matchups & Expert Picks of the Week in October

When you are a star, the NBA cuts you some slack. Want proof? It was assumed that significant suspensions would be handed out for members of the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards after Draymond Green and Bradley Beal got into an altercation last week. Yet Green and Beal avoided suspensions, while lesser players Markieff Morris and Carrick Felix each got a game. Here’s a look at some interesting NBA betting matchups this week. Some NBA odds are already, but be sure to check them out for upcoming games.

NBA Betting Matchups & Expert Picks of the Week – October 30th Edition

EVERY DUNK from Sunday’s NBA action! pic.twitter.com/Bu5dSK0j9C
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2017

NBA Western Conference Odds & Expert Pick for 2017 Regular Season

Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks

When: Tuesday, 8 PM ET Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee TV: NBATV Radio: 98.1 FM (OKC) / 620 WTMJ (Milwaukee) Live Stream: NBA League Pass It’s the reigning NBA MVP in OKC’s Russell Westbrook and the early favorite for this season’s award in the incomparable Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. In Sunday’s win over Atlanta, Antetokounmpo lit up the Hawks for 33 points, adding 12 rebounds and five assists. The Greek Freak is the first player in NBA history to average at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists through six games to begin a season. He began the Atlanta game with 175 points, 53 rebounds and 28 assists, the best start by a player in NBA history through his first five games. Will the Bucks have big man Greg Monroe for this one? He wasn’t with the team in Atlanta after straining his left calf during Friday’s 96-89 home loss to Boston. Coach Jason Kidd said the team isn’t sure how long Monroe will be sidelined. The Bucks and Thunder split the 2016-17 season series, 1-1, with each team picking up a win on its home floor. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 98-94 win on 1/2/17, while Enes Kanter led all scorers with 17 points in an Oklahoma City win on 4/4/17. Westbrook logged a triple-double against the Bucks in that April 4 game with 12 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds. Antetokounmpo averaged a double-double against the Thunder, posting averages of 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. NBA Betting Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Houston Rockets at New York Knicks

When: Wednesday, 8 PM ET Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City TV: ESPN Radio: SportsTalk 790 AM (Houston) / ESPN New York 98.7 FM (NY) Live Stream: NBA League Pass The Rockets tried all offseason to trade for New York’s Carmelo Anthony, and Houston had been the only place where Melo agreed to waive his no-trade clause for. However, the two teams couldn’t come to a suitable agreement and Anthony agreed to waive his no-trade clause in a trade to Oklahoma City. Of course, Houston did trade for Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul, but he’s out with a knee injury.

Are the Rockets a safe NBA betting pick on Wednesday?

That means more of a load James Harden has to carry. He has recorded at least 20 points and 7 assists in all seven games this season. Dating back to 1983-84, the only other player with at least 20 points and 7 assists in each of the first 7 games was Paul in 08-09. Current Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni also formerly coached the Knicks. Houston has won 22 of the past 24 meetings against the Knicks with one loss at home and one on the road. Over the past 10 meetings, Rockets are averaging 12.8 3FGM on 39.0% shooting against New York. Last year, the Rockets averaged 123.5 ppg on 46.4% FGs while Knicks averaged 110.5 ppg on 44.2% FGs. Harden averaged 41.5 ppg (54.8% FGs, 50.0% 3FGs, 88.5% FTs), 16.0 apg and 11.0 rpg. Kristaps Porzingis had 3 points on 0-of-4 shooting in his only game played vs. Houston. NBA Betting Pick: Houston Rockets

Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs

When: Thursday, 8 PM ET Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio TV: TNT Radio: 95.7 The Game KGMZ-FM (Golden State) / WOAI 1200 (San Antonio) Live Stream: NBA League Pass First meeting of the season between these rivals. Of course, Golden State swept San Antonio in last season’s Western Conference Finals. That series could have been much different if Spurs star Kawhi Leonard hadn’t gotten hurt in Game 1. San Antonio was blowing out the Warriors when Leonard left in the third quarter after he re-injured his left ankle, and the Warriors capitalized with an 18-0 run. They would win 113-111. Leonard didn’t play again in the series and has yet to play this season due to a quad injury. There’s an off chance he could play Thursday. Leonard has a history of quad issues, dealing with injuries to his right quad in March 2016 and Feb. 2017 and his left quad in 2012. Leonard was a finalist for last year’s NBA MVP award after averaging 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. He was once again a defensive dynamo, though he didn’t win his third straight Defensive Player of the Year award after losing out to the Warriors’ Green. In four consecutive seasons, the Warriors are ranked among the top in highest winning percentage, total overall wins, total home wins and total road wins. The Warriors lead the league in blocks, averaging 8.67 blocks per game. Golden State recorded a season-high 13 blocks in the win over Washington last Friday night. NBA Betting Pick: Golden State Warriors