NBA Opening Night Odds 2024: Picks & Predictions

The opening night of the 2024-25 NBA regular season is just around the corner.

Some of the league’s most prominent franchises will be in action on opening night when the season begins with its annual doubleheader. 

The Boston Celtics will begin their quest to repeat as NBA champions by hosting the New York Knicks. After trading for Mikal Bridges, the Knicks enter the year as one of the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference.

In the nightcap, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in a battle between the previous two Western Conference runner-ups. The Timberwolves went to the conference finals last year, while the Lakers did so in 2022-23.

The online sportsbook has released betting odds for both tip-off games, as well as the 10 games scheduled for Oct. 23 and four more matchups on Oct. 24.

Here is a look at the NBA odds for opening week and my best bet entering the regular season:

NBA Opening Night Odds 2024

NBA Predictions Today: Tuesday, Oct. 22

Best Bet: Knicks-Celtics Over 222.5 (-110)

Knicks vs. Celtics – 7:30 p.m. ET

As highlighted in my NBA picks today column, I’m betting the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics to clear 222.5 points as my favorite over/under prediction for Tuesday’s doubleheader.

I project both the Knicks and Celtics to be elite offensive teams this year. Boston led the NBA in offensive rating last year, and the defending champions should be ready to roll on that end once again. The Knicks, meanwhile, added more offensive firepower in the preseason by trading for center Karl-Anthony Towns.

For some reason, the Knicks-Celtics total is two points lower than the Timberwolves-Lakers over/under on opening night. I expect the market to push this total ahead of tipoff.

Best Bet: Timberwolves Moneyline (-120)

Timberwolves vs. Lakers – 10 p.m. ET

Note: Minnesota’s moneyline value has moved to -135 since this pick was made.

I’m assuming the market will move the basketball odds toward the Timberwolves as we get closer to the season opener because these two teams aren’t on the same level entering 2024-25.

After a surprising run to the conference finals in 2022-23, the Lakers returned to earth as a Play-In Tournament team last year. They finished 19th with a net rating of +0.6 before losing in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

There is reason to believe the Timberwolves have more staying power after their run to the WCF last summer. Minnesota led the league in defensive rating last season and ranked third in net rating. Anthony Edwards is ascending toward one of the best players in the game.

The Lakers are still one of the more popular teams in all sports, so they continue to play on opening night. But they never seem to start the year strong. Los Angeles has lost seven straight season openers since 2017.

In addition, these two teams met four times last year. The Timberwolves won three matchups, including a 127-117 victory in Los Angeles on April 7. In that game, the Lakers closed as two-point underdogs at home.

I’m not waiting to lock in this Minnesota moneyline for my first bet of the 2024-24 NBA season.