NBA betting preview: home teams big favorites

The Los Angeles Lakers’ ugly 0-3 start dominated the headlines of the NBA’s opening week, but the Lakers weren’t the only team to get off to a slow start.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets both had losing records through their first three games and will look to turn things around this week.

The NBA odds situation sees home teams as big chalk Tuesday, with more marquee matchups involving the Heat and Thunder later in the week.

Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets (Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET)

One of the Detroit Pistons or Denver Nuggets will get their first win of the season Tuesday, as both teams enter this game 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS. Detroit’s struggles were foreseeable, but Denver had a strong year last season (38-28 SU) and is expected to be in contention for a playoff spot out West this season.

All three of Denver’s games have been on the road this season. The Nuggets return home where they are 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS over their last nine games. The total has gone OVER in each of the last six meetings between these two teams including a 116-115 Denver win last season.

Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat (Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET)

The Brooklyn Nets made moves this offseason to join the NBA’s elite, and they’ll get a chance to prove themselves against the defending champions this Wednesday night. The Nets, who won their first game in Brooklyn 107-100 over Toronto, could be without Gerard Wallace, who was unable to start Monday night against Minnesota with an ankle sprain.

Miami has won 10 straight games against the Nets with a 7-3 ATS record over that span. The Heat are 17-3 SU and 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 games at home, including a current 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS run.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls (Thursday, 8:00 PM ET)

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost by a buzzer-beater in their season opener on the road against San Antonio, but their much more surprising loss came Sunday when they fell 104-95 to the Atlanta Hawks as a nine-point favorite at home. Oklahoma City will be looking for its first road win of the season on Thursday.

Chicago is off to a 2-1 SU start without Derrick Rose, but has faced soft competition so far in Sacramento, Cleveland and New Orleans. The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six meetings between these two teams, including last year’s 92-78 win in Oklahoma City. Chicago is 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS in its last 11 home games, but 0-2 ATS at home this season.