Steve Starr
- BetOnline slightly favors the Knicks (-1) over the Celtics (+1) in the home opener at Madison Square Garden
- Phoenix is a 6.5-point favorite over the visiting Nuggets in ESPN’s primetime nightcap
- The majority of NBA franchises start hooping on Wednesday with 10 games across the league
ESPN’s NBA Wednesday double-header features the Boston Celtics in Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets traveling to the desert for a matchup with the 2020 Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns.
Before we look at the lines for the full slate of Wednesday’s games and preview the two nationally-televised contests. be sure to check out our tips and advice for betting on basketball.
NBA Wednesday Night
 | Spread | Money Line | Total |
| Indiana Pacers | +2 (-105) | 228½ (-110) | |
| Charlotte Hornets | -2 (-115) | 228½ (-110) | |
| Chicago Bulls | -3 (-110) | 220½ (-110) | |
| Detroit Pistons | +3 (-110) | 220½ (-110) | |
| Boston Celtics | +1 (-115) | 217½ (-110) | |
| New York Knicks | -1 (-105) | 217½ (-110) | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +8 (+100) | 217½ (-110) | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | -8 (-120) | 217½ (-110) | |
| Philadelphia 76ers | -3 (-130) | 227½ (-110) | |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +3 (+110) | 227½ (-110) | |
| Houston Rockets | +4½ (-110) | 228½ (-110) | |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | -4½ (-110) | 228½ (-110) | |
| Orlando Magic | +5½ (-110) | 215½ (-110) | |
| San Antonio Spurs | -5½ (-110) | 215½ (-110) | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +11½ (-110) | 221½ (-110) | |
| Utah Jazz | -11½ (-110) | 221½ (-110) | |
| Sacramento Kings | +5½ (-110) | 231½ (-110) | |
| Portland Trail Blazers | -5½ (-110) | 231½ (-110) | |
| Denver Nuggets | +6½ (-110) | 224½ (-110) | |
| Phoenix Suns | -6½ (-110) | 224½ (-110) |
Knicks vs. Celtics
New York is a 1-point home favorite over the Celtics, who enter the year with a new head coach (Ime Udoka) and president of basketball operations (former coach Brad Stevens) after Danny Ainge surprisingly retired in June.
Stevens acted quickly to bolster Boston’s depth after they finished with the third-fewest bench points in the league, adding Dennis Schroeder, Josh Richardson, Al Horford and Enes Kanter.
Jayson Tatum is ready for top-5 player status
“I just got to be better. I have to elevate my level from being one of the top 10 to 15 players to a top-5 player. I have to try to make everyone else around me better” 🔥
(h/t @MarcJSpears ) pic.twitter.com/a8tyS1guQK
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) October 13, 2021
The additions should alleviate pressure on the dynamic young duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. If Tatum can go up another level after averaging career-highs of 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 2021-22, the Celtics could land in the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth time in six years.
After ending a seven-year playoff drought, the Knicks added Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier in the offseason to give RJ Barrett and the NBA’s Most Improved Player Julius Randle some added help. However, it’s fair to question if Tom Thibodeau’s club, the league’s third-most improved team last year, has much more room for growth after out-punching their weight in 2020-21.
Take the Celtics to win on the road (-110) with the OVER on 217.5 points.
Suns vs Nuggets
The Suns are favored by 6.5-points in their home-opener against the Nuggets. Phoenix is running it back after blowing a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, counting on continued growth from sharpshooter Devin Booker and center Deandre Ayton, and another transcendent season from 36-year-old Point God Chris Paul.
Speaking of point guards, Denver will be without theirs for most of the season as Jamal Murray works his way back from a torn ACL. That puts more pressure on Nikola Jokic – but the 2021 NBA MVP was certainly up for the challenge last year in leading his Nuggets to the postseason.
.@DianaTaurasi celebrates with @CP3 and @DevinBook 🔥
The Phoenix Mercury tie up the #WNBAFinals series 1-1. pic.twitter.com/FyvXazr3XE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 14, 2021
Denver took all five games in the season series last year before getting swept by the Suns in the second-round of the playoffs. Look for them to be plenty motivated on Wednesday night and keep things close with a Phoenix team that put up a solid 27-9 record on home court in 2020-21.
We like the Nugs to cover the 6.5-point spread and the game to go over the 224.5 spread.
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