NBA picks and wagers, 10-25

Suns at Nuggets (DEN -11)

Suns: The first game of the season was a good one for the Suns, as they earned an impressive win over the revamped Sacramento Kings. Their new additions were playing well, and the group was solid. BUT, now without DeAndre Ayton for the first of 25 games, wins will be hard to come by for Booker and co. Aron Baynes cannot hold down the center spot in the same way.

Nuggets: Alternatively, Denver was a win away from the conference finals last year, and all they did was improve. They return an NBA-high 12 players from last year’s team, led by superstar Nikola Jokic. This is an easy bet folks, as Denver is going to roll. They are the superior team, by a significant margin.

PICK: DEN -11

Bulls @ Grizzlies (EVEN)

Bulls: Chicago opened their year with a competitive game against the Hornets, and came away with a one-point loss. Zach LaVine never got going, leaving Lauri Markkanen on his own among the stars. Coby White had a tremendous debut, and will be a key for the Bulls getting their first win.

Grizzlies: Meanwhile on opening night in Miami, the Grizzlies their first loss in a game that they lever looked to be in. Jonas Valanciunas battled through foul trouble, and was limited to just 16 minutes. Look for more playing time from Ja Morant, who basically split the reps with Tyus Jones. Morant will play a tremendous role tonight in picking the Grizzlies!

PICK: Memphis

Raptors @ Celtics (BOS -3)

Raptors: Toronto’s first game on ESPN was a smashing success. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet both turned in dominant performances, while Nick Nurse’s tight rotation worked out well. This looks to be a team that can seriously compete in the East, and will have a good chance at knocking off Boston.

Celtics: Boston did not start the season too strong, getting destroyed by Philly, in a forgettable debut by Kemba. This team is very different from a year ago and they have a lot of work to do. They will drop to 0-2 as Toronto beats them in Boston.

PICK: TOR -3

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