The NBA is back! To start off the season, there is a two-game slate with four top-tier teams in the NBA. In Game 1, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers face off against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. And in Game 2, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
This article features a two-leg parlay using Stokastic’s projections on FanDuel, with an Expected ROI of 98% and an expected win rate of 48%.
Best NBA Picks and Parlay Today
James Harden O/U 8.5 Assists (-111)
Harden is the main ball handler on this 76ers team, and they open the year against one of the best defenses in the NBA in the Boston Celtics. Boston allowed the fewest assists in the NBA last year, at just 21.6 per game. These players should come out a little slow to start the season, and Harden and the rest of the 76ers will have a tough task against one of the best defenses in the NBA. Stokastic has Harden projected for 7.0 assists, with the under on 8.5 assists getting an expected win rate of 73%.
Best NBA Bet: James Harden UNDER 8.5 Assists
LeBron James O/U 5.5 Assists (+110)
LeBron is listed as a forward, but everyone understand that he plays more of a point forward role, running the offense on most trips down the court. LeBron and the rest of the Lakers have a tough matchup against a top-three defense from last season. The Warriors allowed the second-fewest assists in the NBA, at just 22.9 a game. In three games against the Warriors last year, James only hit the over on 5.5 assists once, and through the three games he had a total of 16 assists (5.33 a game). Stokastic projects LeBron for 4.8 assists, with the projected win rate of under 5.5 assists at 66%.
Best NBA Bet: LeBron James UNDER 5.5 Assists
