NBA odds, prop bets, predictions: Knicks vs. Celtics, Timberwolves vs. Lakers featured on Opening Night

The defending champion Celtics get their rings ahead of their NBA season opener against a stacked division rival, while the new-look Timberwolves face the J.J. Redick-coached L.A. Lakers as the curtain comes up on the 2024-25 regular season.

Here are a few odds-related nuggets and props to consider. 

Knicks vs. Celtics odds: Boston favored to carry preseason form into Opening Night

Here are live Knicks vs. Celtics odds from BetMGM Sportsbook:

It’s rarely a good idea to wager on the NBA preseason since coaches are tinkering with rotations and close most games with roster hopefuls, but Boston beat most opponents so badly that it didn’t matter who was out there in the fourth quarter. The Celtics ended up going 4-1, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown looked as sharp as ever, and it’s a good bet that one of the dynamic duo will end up leading the team in scoring. 

However, New York has added Mikal Bridges to the mix via trade with Brooklyn opposite OG Anunoby, so two of the league’s top perimeter defenders will look to make everything difficult for the defending champs.

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Knicks vs. Celtics prop bets and predictions

Here are some prop bets to consider from BetMGM Sportsbook.

• Jayson Tatum points 26.5 (over -125, under -105)
• Jrue Holiday points 13.5 (over +100, under -130)
• Jalen Brunson points 27.5 (over -125, under -105)
• Karl-Anthony Towns points + assists + rebounds 35.5 (over -115, under -115)
• Jaylen Brown points + assists + rebounds 33.5 (over -110, under -120)

Because Jrue Holiday is often viewed as the player you can live with beating you among Boston’s star-studded starting five, he’d be worth riding on OVER 12.5-13.5 points since that’s a low bar for a physical guard who can post up the smaller Jalen Brunson, hit you a 3-pointer or two, and finish in transition. 

The Knicks added Karl-Anthony Towns a few weeks ago and have already featured him offensively in exhibitions, breeding chemistry between him and Brunson to hit the ground running. Despite fouling out in his lone visit to TD Garden with the Wolves last season, Towns had 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and his P+R+A number for this game with a new team is in the 36.5 range. Considering he’s making his team debut, facing the length of Kristaps Porzingis and always foul prone, riding the UNDER on this prop is probably a sound decision. 

Over nine career matchups featuring Joe Mazzulla and Tom Thibodeau, Boston owns a 5-4 edge, we’ve seen a pair of games go OT, and there’s been a healthy balance between low- and high-scoring games. Boston has won the first meeting of the season each time, and does have an advantage in established continuity if you trust the Celtics to handle their emotions on ring night. Defending champs have won 20 of the last 28 home openers, and are on a strong 10-2 run, covering eight of the last 12.

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Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds: Tight point spread as LeBron James begins season No. 22 

This game is basically a pick 'em as the Lakers face the team that finished with the Western Conference’s best record last season. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis coming off helping the US Men’s Olympic Team's win a gold medal in Paris and then enjoying solid preseasons, there’s no reason L.A. can’t compete for a title if they’re healthy entering the playoffs.

Here are live odds from BetMGM on tonight's Lakers-Timberwolves clash:

The only chance we’ll see LeBron James and his 20-year-old son, rookie guard Bronny James, play together in this one is if it’s pre-determined to get the moment out of the way. That’s just one of the decisions J.J. Redick will have to make in his first regular-season game as the Lakers’ new head coach, moving from TV analyst and host of a popular podcast into the fire as James’ likely final head coach as he makes a few more runs at a fifth championship.

Reddick will employ the same starting lineup that Darvin Ham used at the end of his tenure, and he’ll get no grace period despite his previous coaching experience being with his kid’s 4th-grade team.

The journey begins against the Timberwolves, who traded Towns to the Knicks in a cost-cutting measure for increased flexibility down the road, getting Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick. Randle will be playing his first regular-season game since Jan. 27 after undergoing shoulder surgery in April, and he excelled in his first preseason game with Minnesota, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists over 26 minutes.

He’ll start in Towns’ spot next to Rudy Gobert, while DiVincenzo will come off the bench behind Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards, rounding out one of the deepest reserve corps in the NBA, with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid leading the way.

Timberwolves vs. Lakers prop bets

Here's a sampling of prop betting options for tonight's Western Conference showdown

• LeBron James points + assists + rebounds 39.5 (over -105, under -125)
• Anthony Davis points + rebounds 36.5 (over -120, under -110)
• Anthony Edwards points 26.5 (over -105, under -125)
• Anthony Edwards assists 5.5 (over +110, under -145)
• Donte DiVincenzo 3-pointer made 2.5 (over -105, under -130)

Depth, a more experienced coaching staff led by Chris Finch, and a core that won three of four over L.A. last season are reasons why the visitors may ruin Redick’s debut. Edwards should be great, but you should expect the Lakers to run bodies at him and test Minnesota’s spacing without Towns to help spread the floor. 

For that reason, it’s worth taking the OVER on Edwards’ assists (5.5) and DiVincenzo 3-pointers made (2.5), since that combination should do damage. Edwards’ points total (26.5) looks attainable as well. James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30 has his P+R+A set in the 39.5-40 range, which is remarkable.