The 2018-19 NBA season continues this Saturday, the 3rd of November with a fantastic eight game slate on offer! The day’s action is headlined by an all-star clash between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. We take a look at some of the key matchups of the day and five our betting tips below.
NBA Betting Tips Saturday 3rd November
Oklahoma City Thunder at Washington Wizards (11am AEDT)
The Wizards have not gotten off to the start they were hoping for so far in 2018-19. Through seven games they currently hold a 1-6 record, which is the second worst record in the Eastern Conference and have lost their last four games in a row. A 32-point loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday was the low point of a season that the Wizards will be desperate to turn around in the coming days.
Like the Wizards, the Thunder entered the 2018-19 season with high hopes, but have been lackluster in their opening seven games. They currently hold a 3-4 record and sit in 11th place in the Western Conference. After missing the first two games of the season, Russel Westbrook has re-entered the OKC lineup and has picked up right where he left off last season, averaging 25-10-7.8 through four games.
The Wizards have looked horrible to start the season but on a bright note, off-season recruit Dwight Howard finally looks ready to make his season debut against the Thunder on Saturday. Not sure how much of a difference Dwight will make though, considering they have lost their last three games to teams we predict will be outside of the playoffs in the Western Conference. We think the Thunder win this one on the road.
Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz (12pm AEDT)
After a slow start to the season, the Jazz have finally gotten moving in 2018. They have won three of their last four games and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference with a 4-3 record. Aussie duo Joe Ingles and Dante Exum have been great for the Jazz so far this season, averaging over 24 points between them and shooting over 35% from the three-point line.
The Grizzlies have been one of the surprise packets of the NBA season so far. They boast a 4-2 record through six games and currently sit in sixth place in the West. The return of Mike Conley to the lineup after missing the majority of last year has been the catalyst for the Grizzlies hot start. The point guard is averaging 19 points and over 6 assists per game so far this season and should continue to improve as his minutes increase.
At their best, these are two of the most stiffling defences in the league. Opposing centres Marc Gasol and Rudy Gobert are both defensive player of the year candidates at their best and over the past five years, the two teams have regularly featured amongst the top teams in fewest points allowed. Utah allow just the fifth fewest three-point attempts per game and Mike Conley has been well below his standard in that field so far this season. He is averaging just 1.8 three pointers made per game and shooting just 28% from the arc. Back his unders Saturday.
Mike Conley UNDER 2.5 threes
$1.91
Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors (1.30pm AEDT)
The game of the day sees the Warriors hosting the Timberwolves in Oakland from 1.30pm. The Wolves had a great win on Thursday as Derrick Rose dropped 50 points on the Utah Jazz as they claimed an overtime win. It was a fantastic performance from Rose, who was injected into the starting lineup with Jeff Teague on the sidelines with injury. Teague remains a game time decision to lineup against the Warriors while the status of star shooting guard Jimmy Butler is still completely unknown.
Golden State have won their last six games in a row and currently sit first in the Western Conference with an 8-1 record. They look unbeatable at the moment and starting guard combo Steph Curry and Klay Thompson already boast 50 points games this season. They will start as 11 point favourites for this game, which is hard to deny given they have won four of their last six games by over 20 points.
By all reports, Butler looks likely to suit up against the Warriors, unless of course he is traded before Saturday. However, with Butler in the line-up we think the Wolves remain competitve in this match, and should be able to cover the 11-point line.
