NBA Odds: Opening Lines For Return To Play

After Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 way back on March 11, the NBA is finally set to return to action on July 30 and it just so happens that Gobert and the Utah Jazz play in the opening game. They’ll be colliding with the New Orleans Pelicans when we finally have hoops back in our lives as we move toward crowning the 2020 NBA champion.

See Odds Shark’s Best NBA Sites

Online sportsbook Bovada has released odds for each of the games for the opening three days of the NBA’s reboot. In the opening game, the Jazz are 2.5-point underdogs to the Pellies while in the nightcap we have the battle of LA between the Clippers and Lakers, with the Lake Show as 4.5-point favorites.

New to betting on the NBA? Check out our great NBA betting guide to get you in on the action. Also, be sure to keep an eye on our NBA odds page for the latest up-to-date betting lines.

Thursday, July 30, NBA Odds

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Friday, July 31, NBA Odds

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup 

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada | Matchup

Saturday, August 1, NBA Odds

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada

Odds as of July 30 at Bovada

Los Angeles Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers

When the Hallway Series moves from the West Coast to the East Coast, I’m liking the original line UNDER 220 points, which has shifted down to 216. I anticipate things could be played at a bit slower pace without the crowds to hype up the players, while the deafening silence could be an asset as players try to communicate defensively.

In the three meetings between these squads already this season, the total went UNDER 220 points in each one with an average combined score of 215.3.

Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks

While I’m digging the UNDER in the late game of Friday’s slate, I expect the OVER 227 to come through 24 hours later with two offensively talented squads coming together for their first games since the pandemic began. Houston and Dallas linked up once in the regular season, in late January, playing to a combined score of 249, with James Harden leading the charge, dropping 35 points with 16 boards.

Kristaps Porzingis also buried 35 in the losing effort, while 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic was absent from the Mavs lineup due to an ankle injury.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Clippers

I have listed a couple of totals plays that I like at first glance, so why not have a pick on a side? I’m looking at the Pellies +4.5 against the Clippers on Saturday. These two teams met three times earlier this year, with LA winning two of those meetings, though the Clips lost one on the road and the second meeting in New Orleans was a narrow three-point win.

The biggest thing here is that the game will be on a neutral-site court and will be the first time that the Clippers see Zion Williamson, who as we know is a complete game-changer.