NBA betting: First bets to make on opening night and Christmas Day

Now that the NBA schedule has been released, early odds are posted at ESPN BET on the opening slate of games on Oct. 21, as well as the Christmas Day games.

So which bets immediately jump out to our betting experts? Here are Andre Snellings and Eric Moody with the bets they plan on making on each slate.

Two bets for opening night

Lakers (-155) vs. Warriors: I think the Lakers are set to make a big leap this season. They had stretches where they played well last season, but the sea-change of the Luka Doncic trade plus the wear-and-tear injuries to Luka and LeBron James kept them from reaching full potential. Plus, after trading away Anthony Davis for Luka, the Lakers had a massive hole in the middle that was their ultimate demise in the playoffs. On opening night, when everyone should be healthy and fresh, I expect LeBron and the newly-in-peak-shape Luka to work together to lift the squad over the Warriors. The Warriors also finished last season strong after trading for Jimmy Butler III, so this should be a good game, but I expect the Lakers to ultimately win it. — Snellings

Rockets Moneyline (+200): The Thunder may be the defending champs, but opening night sets up perfectly for a Houston upset. Oklahoma City will be celebrating its ring ceremony, a night when focus can slip, and is facing a Rockets team that’s drastically reloaded. With Kevin Durant debuting alongside Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet, Houston mixes proven star power with exciting young talent. With Durant facing his former team, expect an inspired performance and an offense that can stretch OKC’s defense. Add in the fact that emotions and distractions often make champions vulnerable in season openers, and Houston looks like an underdog worth backing. — Moody

Two bets for Christmas Day

Spurs +9.5 at Thunder: Victor Wembanyama is transforming the Spurs into one of the league’s most intriguing teams. Paired with back-to-back top-four draft picks Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and with De’Aaron Fox providing long-term stability, San Antonio blends elite talent with rising stars. Facing the defending champion Thunder on Christmas Day, the Spurs’ depth, youth and the Wembanyama-Holmgren matchup give them the tools to challenge OKC. That makes them a strong candidate to cover the spread in this high-profile showdown. — Moody

Cavaliers +3.5 at Knicks: I don’t understand this line. The Cavaliers swept the Knicks in four matchups last season on their way to the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs won all four games by at least six points, with an average win margin of 17.0 PPG on the strength of two blowout victories. Both teams return largely the same rosters this season, and any players with known injuries are expected back well before Christmas, so I’m not sure why the Cavs would be getting points in this matchup. Nevertheless, it makes this my favorite bet for that slate of games. — Snellings