The 2017-18 NBA season is in full swing and throughout the season we will continue to bring you three days of betting tips per week. Today we take a look at the 9 game slate this Tuesday, the 31st of October and give our betting tips for the key matchups below.
2017-18 NBA Preview & Betting Tips for Tuesday, 31st October
San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics (10.30am AEST)
The Spurs continue their Eastern Conference road trip Tuesday as they face the Celtics in Boston from 10.30am. The Spurs were decimated by the Magic on Saturday to the tune of 27 points in what was most likely a calculated loss by San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. They suffered another tough loss to the Pacers on Monday to give them a 4-2 record on the season and will be looking to cap off the road trip with a win against Boston before returning to San Antonio for a six game home stand.
Kawhi Leonard remains on the sidelines with an injured quad and his return date is still unknown. In the meantime, the Spurs have been relying on recruit Rudy Gay and star PF LaMarcus Aldridge on offence. The Celtics have been battling through their opening few weeks of games after losing Gordon Hayward to a broken leg in their season opener. They have still managed a 4-2 record and could get off to a flyer with 12 of their next 19 games at home.
The Celtics have started as favourites for this one and rightfully so after a four game win streak and the home court advantage. The Spurs will also be on the 2nd night of a tough road back to back and look pretty thin at the moment with Leonard and Parker out with injury.
TIP: Boston Celtics -3 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies (11am AEST)
No matter what happens to the Grizzlies in the offseason and no matter how much people right off their chances, Memphis just come out and win games season after season. They currently lead the West with a 5-1 record and have already taken some massive scalps in the likes of the Warriors and the Rockets twice. Even without Tony Allen and Zach Randolph, the grit and grind is still alive and well in Memphis as they have kept their opponents under 103 points in every game so far.
They’ll host Charlotte Tuesday with a near full strength roster while the Hornets will be on the 2nd night of a back to back without key players Nicolas Batum and Cody Zeller. Marc Gasol has been great as the Grizzlies main focus on offence throughout the few few weeks of the season, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds a game while Mike Conley continues to be one of the most underrated point guards in the league.
Will be an interesting matchup to see Kemba Walker and Mike Conley go head to head here but Charlotte are already one of the lowest scoring teams in the league averaging just 99 points per game. They’ll likely struggle to find offence against the talented Grizzlies defence so we like Memphis to take this one at home.
TIP: Memphis Grizzlies -6 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Toronto Raptors at Portland Trailblazers (1pm AEST)
Both the Blazers and the Raptors have had up and down starts to the NBA season, with 4-2 and 3-2 recrods respectively. The Raptors have done the job against teams they were expected to beat but have went down to quality sides in the Spurs and Warriors. They are in the middle of a six game road trip and already face a 1-2 record through three away games. They’ll be looking to bounce back here against what will likely be a full strength Portland side on Tuesday.
The Blazers are very much in the same boat as the Raptors, having won games against lower ranked teams in the Suns, Pacers and Pelicans but losing to the Bucks and Clippers. This makes for a really interesting clash of two teams that should be around the playoffs mark in their respective conferences.
We give the slight advantage to the Blazers here given they are at home and the Raptors will likely be without two key big men in Jonas Valanciunas and Lucas Nogueira for the clash.
TIP: Portland Trailblazers -2 - $1.91 at Ladbrokes
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