Top 2020-21 NBA Regular Season Games for December 22nd

The 2020-21 regular season gets underway on Tuesday night with a pair of big-time matchups featuring four of the top title contenders in the league. Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets will host Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors at 7:00 PM ET. After that prime time pairing, LeBron James and the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers host Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers in a meeting of the to western conference heavyweights. Now, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in both matchups so you can bet against their NBA odds.

NBA Odds and Picks – Nets Host Warriors, Lakers and Clippers Follow!

Golden State at Brooklyn

When: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Brooklyn -7

The Warriors have a bunch of change going on this season and it’s showed despite their 2-1 preseason mark. Yes, Steph Curry is back and he’s going to put up monster numbers. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. are elite wings, but Oubre Jr. in particular, is still trying to figure out where he fits in with his new teams. First round draft pick James Wiseman and veteran forward Draymond Green have missed the preseason and Green is expected to miss this regular season opener as well.

Brooklyn is loaded with talent starting with a returning Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but that’s not all the Nets have going for them. Brooklyn has a plethora of talent with complimentary players that could start on several other teams in Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Landry Shamet and Joe Harris.

Prediction

Brooklyn went 2-0 in the preseason and looked particularly good in blowing out Boston 113-89 on Friday night as Durant went for a team-high 25 points while LeVert added 18 points and Irving, 17 points.

I think KD wants to send a message to his former team in this opener and right now, the Dubs look like the far better team. Brooklyn has gone 5-0 ATS in their last five games against teams from the Western CoTnference. I like the Nets to win this one by double digits.

Pick: Brooklyn 119 Golden State 109

LA Clippers at LA Lakers

When: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 at 10:00 PM ET
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Lakers -2.5

The Clippers were the league’s biggest bunch of underachievers last season as they failed to live up to their championship expectations in epic fashion. LA added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to a loaded roster but ended up losing to Denver in the Western Conference semis after being up 3-1. The Clippers lost Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl in free agency but signed veteran Serge Ibaka to replace him. Still, the Clips went 0-3 in the preseason while losing to the Lakers twice and getting blown out by Utah in their last matchup.

Speaking of the Lakers, they managed to improve their roster even after winning it all this past season. Gone, is Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard and Danny Green, but in their places are Dennis Schroeder, Marc Gasol, Wesley Matthews and Montrezl Harrell. The Lakers went a perfect 4-0 in the preseason by beating the Clippers and Suns twice while playing mostly without LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Prediction

Sorry, not sorry, but even in the preseason, the LA Clippers are already looking like a bunch of underachievers again. Instead of coming out of the gate like a team intent on proving their doubters wrong, the Clippers look like a bunch of prima donna’s that expect to win instead of going out and grabbing a victory by the throat.

The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games and the Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last five. However, I like the low point spread for this regular season opener and I expect the Lakers to cover it as LeBron James and Anthony Davis deliver an early season message to their in-city and conference vials. I like the Lakers to win this matchup by at least five points, if not more!

Pick: Lakers 111 Clippers 104

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?