I have to say that when the NBA schedule was released this summer, I didn't think I'd care much about the Memphis at Portland matchup on Thursday, Oct. 29. But it's a surprising matchup of two of the last three NBA unbeatens standing and also is new Blazer guard Ja Morant's first game against the Grizzlies since this summer's big trade. I'd expect big numbers from him personally.
Claim the best Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55, trade $25, and receive a $55 bonus here: There are only three games on the NBA slate Thursday and no TNT doubleheader yet. This is the last tip at 10 ET. At -7.5, Portland is taking 86% of money and 82% of tickets, while on the total of 233.5 the Over is getting similar leans.
Fans interested in NBA betting can keep up with NBA news and follow our experts to be prepared before wagering at any of the top sports betting apps. Bet on NBA props and more at DraftKings and get $200 in bonus bets plus three free months of NBA League Pass: DraftKings: SGP price: +104 (subject to change) Tom Condon is the fairly new Blazers owner, and he already is reviled in Portland for some penny-pinching moves and letting coach Tiago Splitter leave after he led the team to a surprise Western Conference playoff spot last season. Splitter was quickly snapped up by the Bulls.
Condon then made the unprecedented decision to hire his full-time replacement, former Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, on a deal with just the first season guaranteed. The second and third years feature team options that are held by the franchise, so Condon and the front office have all the leverage. One wonders why Nori even took this job, but there are only 32 of them and this looks like a team on the rise.
And boy is it a fun team now with the additions of Morant and future Hall of Famer and franchise icon Damian Lillard. It's only the second time in the last 15 seasons that the Blazers have opened a season 3-0. Morant's value was at an all-time low in Memphis when he was acquired in June for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in a steal.
When Morant is healthy and doesn't have off-court nonsense surrounding him, he's arguably a top-20 player in the league and definitely top 10 for most exciting. The 27-year-old has happily fit in as a team player, not trying to dominate the ball, and he's averaging 16.3 points on 58.8% shooting from the field and 6.3 assists. For tonight, he's set at O/U 24.5 points + assists and the model has him at 18.4 points and 5.9 helpers.
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