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The Gaming Juice respects the sanctity of the NBA Cup.
It’s flash. It’s flair. It’s drama.
I love NBA Cup bets because of the insanity of it all. So I’m putting money on a few of my favorite wagers for Friday.
The pick — Grizzlies first quarter +3.5 at Warriors (-130, ESPN BET)
This is one of my favorite situational plays in the NBA so far this season. Memphis has been fantastic at opening games. The Grizzlies are 4-1 against the spread in the first quarter over their last five games and have the third-best net rating in the opening frame over that span (+18.3).
Conversely, Golden State cannot start a game well. In the Warriors’ last five contests, their net rating is a weak -9.1, and they’re 5-6 ATS in the first quarter.
Even without Ja Morant, Memphis has consistently shown the ability to start hot. I’m riding that streak while the Grizzlies are underdogs.
The pick — 76ers-Magic UNDER 222.5 points (-120, BetMGM)
The status of Joel Embiid and Paul George remain unknown. What is known is Orlando’s reputation as a staunch defensive team.
The Magic have the No. 1 defensive rating over their last five games at a staggering 98.8 points per 100 possessions. As a result, they’ve hit the under frequently — seven times in their last 10 contests and in four of their last six at home.
The Sixers might hold up their part of the bargain, too. Philadelphia ranks a dreadful 27th in offensive rating over its last five games, and four of those five have also gone under.
With a likely rough offensive outing in store for both teams, it’s best to ride this seemingly high total number.
The pick — Wizards team total OVER 114.5 points at Hawks (-108, DraftKings)
Washington has the unfortunate draw of facing five of the NBA’s top-10 defensive teams over the past week. The Spurs, Rockets, Magic, Grizzlies and Warriors all boast tremendous defenses that have really stifled the Wizards’ scoring.
But now they get to face Atlanta.
The Hawks rank 26th in defensive efficiency and give up 121.1 points per game. And, oh yeah, they’re also THE WORST team in the league at defending the 3-point line, allowing an average of 39.9% shooting from downtown.
The matchup is a breath of fresh air for Washington, which should flirt with 120 points and easily hit the over.
The pick — Pistons first-quarter ML at Raptors (-114, FanDuel)
Another one of my favorite early season betting secrets is Pistons first-quarter bets. They LOVE to start a game strong. And they’re the best first-quarter team against the spread at 9-4.
On the road — where Detroit will be facing Toronto — the Pistons are 5-1 against the spread in the first quarter. It helps that they have been playing great defense early in games, with the NBA’s sixth-best first-quarter defensive rating of 106.8.
Detroit faces a Raptors squad that struggles in the opening frame. Toronto has a -13.9 net rating in the first quarter and is an average 3-2 ATS in its last five games in the first quarter.
Ride with the Pistons!
Season record: 1-2, -0.87 units