Four NBA games on Tuesday, and a Game Pick on every one. Two get the full treatment: the unbeaten Pistons at the winless Knicks, and Portland at the unbeaten Lakers.
How we pick NBA games right now: last season’s scoring margins plus two points for home court, compared with the board. A lot of rosters changed this summer, so these are leans, and when a team looks very different from last season, we go with the board. Every pick lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Nets at Celtics, 7:30 PM ET
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Brooklyn is 0-3 and just lost by 27 in Indiana. Boston beat Chicago 134-99 on Monday. Last season’s numbers say even more than this, but Boston’s roster isn’t last season’s, so we’re siding with the board. Celtics.
Pistons at Knicks, 8:00 PM ET, NBC
Detroit is 3-0 and New York is 0-3, but Jalen Duren is out. Full write-up: Pistons vs Knicks picks.
Kings at Spurs, 8:00 PM ET
Sacramento is 0-3 and missing Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud and Ben Simmons. Last season’s numbers make San Antonio about a 20-point favorite. It’s a big number, but Wemby against this roster is a mismatch. Spurs.
Trail Blazers at Lakers, 11:00 PM ET, NBC
The Lakers are 3-0, and Portland lost Shaedon Sharpe for six months. Full write-up: Trail Blazers vs Lakers picks.
Lines as posted Tuesday, after the morning injury report.
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Picks are opinion and analysis, not financial advice. Odds move; confirm at the book.