NBA Odds: Saturday, October 31 2015 Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by Alan Matthews - 10/30/2015

Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Since I won't write another one of these until Monday for Tuesday's games, be aware that Nov. 2 is an important day around the NBA. The deadline -- which normally is Oct. 31 but was moved because that falls on a Saturday this year -- for players currently on rookie contracts to sign extensions is Monday. Already, Houston has said it won't extend Donatas Motiejunas or Terrence Jones. The biggest names in this category are Detroit's Andre Drummond, Washington's Bradley Beal and Golden State's Harrison Barnes. Even if those guys don't sign now, it's still likely they stay put. Jimmy Butler was in this situation last year, didn't agree with Chicago and then played well enough to get a much bigger contract as a restricted free agent this past offseason.

Jazz at Pacers (-4, 191)

Second of a back-to-back for Utah, which looked for its first win on Friday in Philly. Indiana is a disappointing 0-2 for the first time in six years, losing Wednesday in Toronto and then 112-103 at home to Memphis on Thursday. First-round pick Myles Turner, who missed the season opener with a sore ankle, made his NBA debut vs. the Grizz and had eight points and four rebounds. Indiana wants to play more small-ball this season, but the Grizzlies have a big frontcourt. So Coach Frank Vogel replaced C.J. Miles in the lineup with the bigger Jordan Hill. The Jazz also have a lot of size, so expect similar here. The Pacers have swept the season series with the Jazz each of the past two seasons and won four straight in the series at home.

Key trends: The Jazz are 6-0-1 against the spread in their past seven in the second of a back-to-back. Indiana has covered just one of its past 11 on Saturday. The "over/under" has gone under in five of Jazz's past seven in second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Pacers and under.

Knicks at Wizards (-7, 202)

Washington was in Milwaukee on Friday night. New York followed an impressive win in Milwaukee on Wednesday with a 112-101 home loss to Atlanta on Thursday. Carmelo Anthony had another lousy shooting game, going 10-for-27 for 25 points. Once again the Knicks were without projected starting guard Arron Afflalo, and he's not going to play here. Sasha Vujacic started for him and scored six points. Sasha Vujacic is starting in the NBA. That's hilarious. The Wizards have owned this series of late, winning seven straight overall and three in a row at home.

Key trends: The Knicks are 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: Wizards and under.

Warriors at Pelicans (+5, 212)

This is the first game of an NBA TV doubleheader. Golden State beat the visiting Pelicans 111-95 on Tuesday in which Steph Curry had 24 first-quarter points and finished with 40. That was also the game in which Warriors center Andrew Bogut suffered a concussion. He didn't play Friday night in Houston and won't in this one, either. The winless Pelicans are decimated by injury. Point guard Jrue Holiday can't play back-to-backs, so he missed the first meeting with the Warriors. So did Omer Asik and Luke Babbitt. Holiday should play here at least as New Orleans doesn't play again until Tuesday. The Warriors have won 11 of the last 12 regular-season games against the Pelicans, seven of the last eight in New Orleans. But that lone loss was the last meeting at Smoothie King Center on Dec. 14, 2014. The Warriors also won both games there in the playoffs.

Key trends: New Orleans is 6-1 ATS in its past seven at home. The under is 4-1-1 in the past six meetings.

Early lean: Pelicans will cover vs. tired Warriors and over.

Nets at Grizzlies (-11.5, 193)

Brooklyn was in San Antonio Friday so no doubt will be 0-2 entering this one. After laying an egg in its home opener Wednesday, Memphis bounced back with a 112-103 win in Indiana on Thursday. Marc Gasol had 20 points to lead seven players in double figures. Memphis, not exactly a great offensive team, shot 50 percent overall and scored 39 fourth-quarter points. Memphis took advantage of its size differential by outscoring Indiana 48-26 in the paint. The Grizzlies swept last season against Brooklyn by scores of 103-92 and 95-86. Current Nets coach Lionel Hollins was head coach of the Grizzlies for four‐plus seasons from 2009‐13 as well as two stints as an interim head coach in 1999‐2000 and 2004‐05.

Key trends: The Nets are 1-4 ATS in their past five in the second of a back-to-back. The under is 25-3 in Memphis' past 28 at home.

Early lean: Grizzlies and under.

Suns at Trail Blazers (-3, 204)

This is the second of a home-and-home as the teams were in Phoenix on Friday night. These two teams by all accounts finished second and third in the LaMarcus Aldridge free-agent sweepstakes this summer. Aldridge was very impressed with the Suns, especially after they signed Tyson Chandler. And Aldridge isn't one of those guys who likes change, so he considered staying in Portland. But the lure of playing in his native Texas and for championships with the Spurs was too much to turn down. Too bad as the Suns would have been really interesting had he gone there. Portland won both regular-season home games vs. the Suns last year. Portland is 10-2 in its past 12 regular-season games played at home against the Suns dating back to the 2008-09 season.

Key trends: The Suns are 6-1 ATS in their past seven in the second of a back-to-back. The under is 4-0 in the past four in Portland.

Early lean: Bet against whichever team wins Friday as it's rare to sweep these. Go under as both clubs will be tired and obviously will know each other well.

Kings at Clippers (-11.5, 215.5)

This is the NBA TV nightcap. Sacramento hosted the Lakers on Friday night. Los Angeles beat visiting Dallas 104-88 on Thursday behind 26 points and 10 rebounds from Blake Griffin. Against the team he spurned this summer, DeAndre Jordan had six points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. This is the third rematch of this young season already on Saturday's schedule. The Clippers and Kings opened the season against one another in Sac-town and the Clips won 111-104, shooting 52.5 percent. Chris Paul had 18 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins nearly had more points (32) than the rest of the Kings' starters combined (35). It was L.A.'s fourth straight win in the series and 17th in the past 20. The Kings did win once at Staples Center last year, almost a year to the day.

Key trends: The Clippers are 4-9 ATS in their past 13 at home. The over is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings.

Early lean: Clippers and over.

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