We've assembled more expert picks for tonight's slate of games in the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League with moneyline, spread, and total wagers across several key matchups.
Here's a look at some bets to consider for tonight's slate on Thursday, July 18.
Past NBA Summer League Expert Picks
| Bet | Record | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | 3-1 | 0.83 |
| Spread | 2-2 | -0.2 |
| OVER/UNDER | 2-2 | -0.21 |
| Overall | 7-5 | -0.33 |
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +5 (-110) | +176 | O 178.5 (-110) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | -5 (-110) | -220 | U 178.5 (-110) |
Expert Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers ML
As impressive as it was for the Los Angeles Lakers to pull off a narrow one-point comeback victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday sans the services of first-round pick Dalton Knecht, this remains a team where offense is difficult to come by with the second-fewest points per game across the entire competition.
They'll also be on the second night of a back to back on Thursday, although Knecht is expected to return to action. A case could be made, though, that the Lakers' best effort thus far came without him versus Atlanta.
The same rings true for the Cleveland Cavaliers after getting thoroughly handled by the Golden State Warriors yesterday, yet even so, in this particular matchup, Cleveland should still be able to outscore a fatigued roster that hasn't broke the 90-point mark as of yet.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies | -8.5 (-110) | -400 | O 181.5 (-110) |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +8.5 (-110) | +300 | U 181.5 (-110) |
Expert Pick: New Orleans Pelicans ATS +8.5
The 8.5-point slate is the largest discrepancy of the evening, and one bettors should jump on.
The New Orleans Pelicans are the massive underdogs here with their 0-3 record, yet none of those defeats have come by seven or more points, including the last two against the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs by five points each.
The Memphis Grizzlies being undefeated at 3-0 with their sights set on competing for a Summer League title helps paint the picture of why they're favored by so much, including the fact that their first two wins came by an average of 20 points. Still, the spread is so large that it's hard not to lean towards the Pelicans considering how competitive they've been in their losses.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | -1.5 (-110) | -128 | O 179.5 (-110) |
| Houston Rockets | +1.5 (-110) | +104 | U 179.5 (-110) |
Expert Pick: OVER 179.5 Total Points
Redemption can be had here for the Houston Rockets following their worst performance thus far with just 73 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, with reigning Summer League Most Valuable Player Cam Whitmore shooting an uncharacteristic 1-of-15 from the field for five points.
Houston averaged 104 points per game in its two prior outings, so the drop-off was substantial on Monday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have broken 179.5 points in their last two games, as well, so that paired with the Rockets being well rested and due for a bounce back should result in an OVER wager connecting.
