Happy Halloween to those who participate! This column finished with +2.15 units after one week of NBA betting, and right around 60% accuracy. Those are great marks for the year, but the perfectionist will always strive for improvement, and there are almost always ways to improve a situation regardless of the subject. There are only three NBA games tonight, but remember that every bet is a loser and every bet is a winner. Over 100 bets can be made per game too. The New York Knicks travel to the Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference showdown which begins at 7:30 PM ET. The game of the night is the San Antonio Spurs vs the Phoenix Suns in a battle of long and lanky superstars, Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama. Their tip off is at 10:10 PM ET. Also the Orlando Magic continue their west coast tour with back-to-back games in the same arena, but against different teams. This time it is the Los Angeles Clippers. The tip off for Orlando vs LA is at 10:40 PM ET. Despite only three games there is a prop and a same game parlay for the Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets tonight.

 

NBA Best Bets & Player Props October 31

NBA BET OF THE NIGHT

Russell Westbrook OVER 5.5 Rebounds (-140 BetMGM)

Russell Westbrook is still a rebounding machine while averaging thirty minutes a game. He also has 22 rebounds in three games. The LA Clippers have scored 118 points or more in every game this season, and have allowed over 104 points per game. In addition to the high volume of shots, Russell Westbrook has the highest rebounding line of any LA Clipper, although Kawai Leonard and Paul George have the same line. The Clippers are part of a massive trade with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire James Harden. In doing so LA sent out four players, including two big men in Marcus Morris and Nic Batum. Starting center Ivica Zubac is questionable with a thigh contusion and has not played over 26 minutes in a game this year. This all indicates an increased role for Russell Westbrook against the Magic, who are playing in back-to-back games. Trust Russ to bring the energy and grab the boards.

NBA Same Game Parlay (SGP) 

Phoenix Suns -3.5 & Kevin Durant OVER 0.5 three-pointers (-135 BetMGM)

The game of the night is in the desert and features old and new stars. The Phoenix Suns are playing excellent defense allowing only 308 points in three games, which could be attributed to new Head Coach Frank Vogel. The San Antonio Spurs are young and tall but lack consistency which is expected from an inexperienced lineup. MGM sportsbooks have the game at a 7.5 spread in favor of the Suns. For this same game parlay, the line will be teased down four points to 3.5 points. The logic is that the Spurs are inconsistent but have won a game with 126 points and lost another with 119… they can have great games if they force turnovers and run the court. 

The second leg of this parlay is on the ‘old’ star. Kevin Durant is still a young man, at only 35 years old, but that is relatively old for an NBA player. San Antonio is one of the tallest starting lineups in the NBA, and although Durant is seven foot tall, he will not be in the post banging and bodying Jeremy Sochan or Victor Wembanyama. What he will do is use his amazing skills with the ball and create separation for a good shot. Kevin Durant is scoring well to start the season, but it is with volume, as he is asked to shoulder the load with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal missing games. He has made one three in every game this season, and with a tall and young core, look for Durant to shoot more from around the perimeter. 

 

Thank you for reading.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All Bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise