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On Tuesday night, NBA opening night tips off with two big-time matchups. Along with the reigning champions hanging their banner, three of the top contenders in the Western Conference will be in action to kick off the new year.
The first matchup on the NBA opening night slate is a rematch of the Western Conference finals as the Denver Nuggets take on the LA Lakers. After that, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors will be the first time to face the new-look Phoenix Suns in regular season action.
For those that want to tune in to the opening night action, both of these matchups are going to be aired on TNT. The Lakers and Nuggets kick things off at 7:30 p.m., with Warriors-Suns following them up at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
Given the circumstances, both of these matchups should deliver and exciting opening night. There is no love lost between the Nuggets and Lakers following their postseason battle, and each side is looking forward to this meeting.
As for the Suns, they'll be looking to cement themselves as a contender with their trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be looking to prove that they are still a threat in a stacked Western Conference.
What are the betting odds for NBA opening night?
NBA opening night already has a lot of hype around it, and the betting odds are adding fuel to the fire. The lines for both games are tight, meaning even the sportsbooks don't know which side to go with.
Looking at the first game, the Denver Nuggets come in as four and a half point favorites over the LA Lakers. Because they're facing off against the defending champs on the road, LeBron James and the Lakers are a good value pick for the money line (+168).
Moving on to the second game, the line gets even tighter. As the home team, the Golden State Warriors are one point favorites over the Phoenix Suns.
Part of why these odds might be so close is the unknown status of Draymond Green. The former All-Star injured his ankle during training camp, but has begun working on five-on-five drills. Green is currently listed as day-to-day, leaving his status for opening night up in the air.
All four of these team have a lot to gain from getting a big win on opening night. Because of this, they'll be hitting the floor Teusday night looking to make a statement.
