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NBA

NBA returns: Nets-Bucks, Warriors-Lakers preview and odds

The NBA is back for its 75th season. The 2021-22 schedule will get underway on Tuesday with two games set to take place on opening night.

Brooklyn at Milwaukee

The first game of the double header will feature the visiting Brooklyn Nets who will be hosted by the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

It will be the first regular season home game since Milwaukee’s title run. Therefore the Bucks will hold a ceremony before tip off where they unveil a championship banner, as well as hand out rings to players returning from last year’s roster.

On the court, the two teams present an excellent matchup. The Nets and Bucks met in the second round of last year’s East playoffs and if that series was any indication, tonight’s game will be one that you will not want to miss.

The Bucks took the series in seven games after trailing 2-0 and 3-2, and capped it off with a wild overtime victory in Brooklyn to secure game seven.

Players to watch

Both clubs are loaded with offensive weapons.

James Harden is among the greatest one-on-one scorers that have ever played in the NBA, while Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday both collectively bring a lot to the table. However, the matchup everyone is waiting to watch will be Kevin Durant vs Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The two superstars went back-and-fourth in last-year’s playoff series and it was incredible to watch.

Durant posted a stat line of 35.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game on 49.7% shooting, 35.2% from three and 83.3% from the free throw line.

Kevin Durant Props:

Points: 30.5 (Over: 1.83 | Under: 1.74)

Rebounds: 8.5 (Over: 1.90) | Under: 1.68)

Assists: 4.5 (Over: 1.90 | Under: 1.68)

Points + Rebounds + Assists: 43.5 (Over: 1.83 | Under: 1.74)

Threes-made: 2.5 (Over: 1.80 | Under: 1.80)

To be leading scorer: 2.55

Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, put up 31.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 57.4% shooting.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Props:

Points: 29.5 (Over: 1.62 | Under: 2.00)

Rebounds: 12.5 (Over: 1.74) | Under: 1.83)

Assists: 4.5 (Over: 1.64 | Under: 1.95)

Points + Rebounds + Assists: 46.5 (Over: 1.60 | Under: 2.05)

To be leading scorer: 2.45

“We have got to do it as a team,” Antetokounmpo said of the matchup against Durant. “There’s nobody in this world that can slow down KD.”

Game Odds

The Bucks are favored slightly in this one, listed as 1.5-point favorites.

Spread: Nets (+1.5) 1.93 | Bucks (-1.5) 1.91

Money Line: Nets 2.05 | Bucks 1.83

Over/Under: Over (233.5) 1.90 | Under (233.5) 1.95

Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

Golden State at LA Lakers

Following Nets-Bucks will be the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors from Staples Center.

The Warriors and Lakers last met in last season’s NBA play-in tournament. The two highly-talented rosters had less-than-ideal luck with injuries all year and found themselves at seventh and eighth in the West standings. LeBron James’ triple-double would be enough to overcome a 13-point deficit, despite Stephen Curry’s 37 points. The final score finished 103-100 in what was a game for the ages. However, both clubs have much higher aspirations than the play-in tournament this season.

Players to watch

Who doesn’t want to watch Steph Curry after a long offseason? The 33-year-old has been must-see TV for years and is coming off the highest-scoring season of his outstanding NBA career. In 2020-21 he put up 32.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game on 48.2% shooting, 42.1% from three and 91.6% from the free throw line.

Stephen Curry Props:

Points: 32.5 (Over: 1.66 | Under: 1.95)

Rebounds: 5.5 (Over: 2.00 | Under: 1.62)

Assists: 5.5 (Over: 2.25 | Under: 1.48)

Points + Rebounds + Assists: 43.5 (Over: 1.76 | Under: 1.80)

Threes-made: 5.5 (Over: 1.71 | Under: 1.90)

To be leading scorer: 1.42

Of course James is always a player to watch but tonight there will be another player suiting up for the Lakers that fans have been waiting to see and that is Russell Westbrook. Westbrook was traded to Los Angeles in an offseason deal, and will now have a chance to pursue a title with a loaded Lakers roster, while living close to home. The veteran point guard recorded a stat line of 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season with the Washington Wizards.

Russell Westbrook Props:

Points: 19.5 (Over: 1.83 | Under: 1.83)

Rebounds: 8.5 (Over: 1.71 | Under: 1.86)

Assists: 8.5 (Over: 1.62 | Under: 2.00)

Points + Rebounds + Assists: 37.5 (Over: 1.74 | Under: 1.86)

Threes-made: 1.5 (Over: 2.45 | Under: 1.40)

To be leading scorer: 19.00

Odds

The Warriors are listed as underdogs in this one with the home Lakers favored by 3.5 points.

Spread: Warriors (+3.5) 1.89 | Lakers (-3.5) 1.96

Money Line: Warriors 2.35 | Lakers 1.64

Over/Under: Over (226) 1.90 | Under (226) 1.95

Tip off will take place at 10:00 pm ET.