NBA tips: Boogie to clip Hawks’ wings while Bulls can blow away Brooklyn
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NBA tips for October 31
NBA basketball has finally tipped-off for another rollercoaster season of dazzling dunks, brilliant blocks and game winning buzzer-beaters.
Multiple fixtures are played almost every night in America’s glamourous elite league so, in light of this quality action, Coral basketball writers have picked out some top NBA tips for the October 31 action…
Boogie to clip Hawks’ wings
Mike Budenholzer’s Atlanta Hawks head into their home clash with Sacramento Kings on a 2-0 opening win streak, while Kings are quietly recording impressive results.
Sacramento were a mess last season, there is no two ways about it, but a change in coach and a revitalised DeMarcus Cousins has seen them collect wins against Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns already this term.
The cross-conference clash will be the first real test of Dwight Howard’s fledgling Hawks career and, with Cousins strutting into town, he will have his hands full.
Howard may not be the focus in Atlanta, but he has a valuable role to play up against Boogie, a player averaging 30 points in his first three outings this campaign.
Far from the slack defending of last season, Kings have stayed defensively active throughout their opening games, forcing Minnesota into several shot-clock violations in their win at the weekend.
At 14/5 with Coral to record a road win, take advantage of this tremendous value and back Kings to silence the Georgians.
Rampant Raptors can run riot
Toronto Raptors have won three of their last four encounters against Denver Nuggets and this theme looks set to continue.
DeMar DeRozan was often the man to grab the team by the scruff of the neck when Kyle Lowry failed to perform. This season has been no different, with DeRozan scoring a total of 72 points in his first two games – the most in the Canadian franchise’s history over a two game period.
However, it looks to be the big man battle that will decide this matchup. Toronto’s Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas is experiencing a superb start to the season, averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Meanwhile, fellow European and emerging star Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic, has averaged 14 points and 12 boards from two games.
Expect Valanciunas’ speed and nous to be tested, but for Dwane Casey’s Raptors to cover their -11.5 handicap at 7/4.
Bulls to blow away Brooklyn
Chicago Bulls will look to continue their unbeaten record with a win over Brooklyn Nets, a team that looks destined to occupy the Eastern Conference’s bottom berth.
Bulls have shocked many with their new found shooting ability, especially hometown hero Dwyane Wade and his new knack of knocking down threes.
Wade has already sunk four treys this campaign, after hitting just three in the entirety of last season, while Jimmy Butler – a two-time All-Star – continues to delight in Illinois.
Brooklyn may be led by Jeremy Lin, but it is his supporting cast that has many Nets fans rueing trading their future, in the form of draft picks, to Boston Celtics.
With this sort of momentum gathering in Chicago, Nets could be on the end of a nasty Bulls blowout. Fred Hoiberg’s men are 10/3 to cover a -15.5 point handicap tonight.
Suns to challenge Clippers
Phoenix Suns may have lost all of their games so far, but have been unlucky not to emerge victorious from the past couple of outings.
Their previous matchup was against Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors, losing out by just six points, while a trip to the Oklahoma City Thunder proved fruitless after being defeated in overtime.
Despite consecutive wins, Los Angeles Clippers won’t destroy Phoenix, especially with Devin Booker in excellent form.
The two sides have averaged a total of 204.3 points per game since the season’s tip-off and are super value to continue the trend by scoring between 202-212 points at 12/5.
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