Best Betting Odds for Nets and Pelicans NBA Season Opener

The Brooklyn Nets host the New Orleans Pelicans at Barclays Center to tip off the 2022-23 season, one in which the franchise seeks its first NBA championship. After a tumultuous offseason, the team weathered trade demands and staff uncertainty. But now, Brooklyn seems poised for a deep playoff run. The Nets start the season as betting odds favorites against the Pelicans. 

After all the coaching changes, trade demands, and roster moves, the 2022-23 NBA Championship odds look very similar to that initial release. Each of the last five seasons have ended with a new NBA champion, and no team has repeated as title winners since the Warriors did so in 2018 and 2019. While the Nets have made a few Finals appearances, the franchise still seeks its first NBA Title. That said, Brooklyn stands among the betting favorites for next season. 

Here’s a look at the best betting odds for this Nets and Pelicans NBA season opener on Wednesday. 

The Nets and Pelicans saw fairly consistent betting odds for their season opener. The line movement for this matchup maintained a 3-to-4.5-point spread in favor of the Nets, though it shifted back toward the Pels once Joe Harris and Seth Curry were deemed unavailable. 

Last season, Brooklyn went 34-21 as the Moneyline favorite, winning 61.8 percent of the time. New Orleans went 19-40 as an underdog last season. As a Moneyline ‘dog of +133 or more, the Pelicans went 14-34 (29.2 percent).

The Pelicans allowed 110.3 points-per-game last season, and when the Nets scored at least 111 points, they went 26-18-1 against the spread. Last year, the Nets saw the Under go 44-42-1 in their games. The Pels, meanwhile, saw the Under hit at the second-highest rate in the league last year, 57.8 percent (52-38).    

The Nets went 2-2 this preseason, but saw Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the court in all four contests. After a disappointing first-round sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics, the Nets hope to make a deeper push in the playoffs this season. Heading into the 2022-23 season, most sportsbooks set Brooklyn’s win total at 50.5, among the highest in the NBA, with FanDuel setting the highest mark (51.5) and PointsBet the lowest (49.5).

The Pelicans went 4-1 this preseason, with their only set back coming to the Miami Heat. Williamson played in four of those games, averaging 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds-per-game over just 17.7 minutes played per game. Nets star Kevin Durant praised Williamson, calling him ‘one of one,’ ahead of tonight’s matchup. 

Ben Simmons looked rusty this preseason, averaging just 4.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists-per-game across four contests. How he’ll be integrated into the offense remains to be seen, though it doesn’t help Steve Nash and the Nets coaches that the team’s two best shooters are unavailable.  

The injury report indicates Brooklyn’s bench will be thinner than normal. The Nets will be without Seth Curry (ankle surgery recovery), Joe Harris (foot soreness), and T.J. Warren (foot surgery recovery). For the Pelicans, Kira Lewis (knee), and E.J. Liddell (knee) are out, while Jaxson Hayes remains day-to-day.

Neither of these teams is particularly adept defensively, so the Over might be a solid play in this one. The combination of Durant, Irving, Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum should get this game close to the 230.5 total. 

Several betting trends affect the odds in this Nets and Pelicans matchup. The Nets have covered in each of the last four matchups with the Pelicans in Brooklyn. What’s more, Brooklyn enjoys a 7-1 mark against the spread in the last eight games between these clubs. 

The Over hit in four of the last five times these teams have playing in Brooklyn, and in 23 of the 28 matchups overall.