2022 NBA Opening Night Odds, Betting Predictions & Best Bets

The NBA season starts on Thursday, Oct. 18. Boston Celtics take on Philadelphia 76ers and the reigning NBA champion Warriors take against LeBron James and Lakers. Suns-Mavericks is the other game on the same night.

The NBA hasn't had a back-to-back champion since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Four teams have odds of +700 or lower to win the title. Suns, Bucks, Sixers, Heat and Lakers are among the teams with higher odds.

The Celtics and Grizzlies went from promising young teams to NBA title contenders last season. The Cavaliers went to the playoffs. We believe the Pistons will make a similar jump in 2023.

The Nets had a summer of drama with the will-they-won't-he trade of Kevin Durant and the arrival of Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. They are going to play the first two games of the NBA season.

The Celtics and Sixers are going to play each other on opening night. The Celtics have the NBA's best defense. Last season the teams met four times and the score was 175, 211, 210, and 222.

Golden State Warriors are the early favorite at -6 against the Lakers. The Lakers are still struggling and their coach Darvin Ham has many questions to answer.

Pistons are opening the NBA season against the Magic. Pistons are going to be solid and have a good young core. Magic have top pick Paolo Banchero onboard but the roster has too many question marks beyond that.