After one day off, the NBA is back with the most packed slate of the entire season. All but two teams are in action Wednesday night.
Our season record is 20-18 for our best bets through two weeks. Here are Wednesday's best bets with a side and three player props.
Celtics @ Sixers (+2.5, 227.5)
Let's not overthink this: Although they're coming off their first loss of the season, the Celtics are the best team in the NBA.
Boston versus Philly is a heavyweight matchup featuring the top two records in the Eastern Conference. But the Sixers' record (5-1) is a little more fluky. Since its opening-day loss to the Bucks, Philadelphia has won five straight, but none of those wins came against an opponent that currently has a winning record.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse still needs to figure out his rotations since Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, and Marcus Morris have been with the team for under a week. The Celtics, however, have already successfully incorporated their offseason additions.
This line opened at 1.5 and has moved up to 2.5, indicating bettors are on the Celtics. The Sixers are a perfect 6-0 against the spread this season, but that ends tonight.
Pick: Celtics -2.5
Joel Embiid: Over 29.5 points
Joel Embiid is having another dominant season. He's averaging 32.5 points per game, which leads the league. He also consistently shows up in marquee regular-season games (the playoffs are a different story). Wednesday night's visit from the Celtics is the biggest game the Sixers have played this season.
Although I'm picking the Celtics, that's more about Embiid's supporting cast than his individual performance.
Embiid's averaged 32.2 points in six career games against Kristaps Porzingis, who will be his primary defensive matchup. That includes a dominant 48-point showing against Porzingis' Wizards last season.
Porzingis is a good defender, but Embiid's strength is too much for him. Stopping Embiid is a team effort, and no smart coach would consistently leave him in one-on-one situations. It won't matter, though; Embiid averaged 36.8 points in his four regular-season games against the Celtics last season.
Odds: -110 (playable to -130)
Ivica Zubac: Over 8.5 rebounds
Ivica Zubac is averaging 7.8 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game, and he should get more run versus the Nets on Wednesday night. Backup center Mason Plumlee reportedly sprained his MCL on Monday and is out versus Brooklyn. He was averaging 17 minutes and 5.5 rebounds per game.
The Clippers lack depth at center, so they'll be forced to play Zubac more. Plumlee's absence also creates an avenue for Zubac to grab more boards in his increased playing time. They could go small and play without a center for stretches, but that won't work for most of the game.
The Nets are a solid rebounding team, although without center Nic Claxton - who hasn't played since the first game with an ankle injury - they aren't particularly big, so Zubac should take advantage.
Zubac has gone over his rebounding total in four of the Clippers' six games.
Odds: -140 (playable to -150)
Tyler Herro: Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists
You could argue that Tyler Herro has been the struggling Heat's best player. Jimmy Butler has been in and out of the lineup and Bam Adebayo has been inconsistent.
Herro, though, has played every game and leads the team in scoring, averaging 25.3 points. He's also shooting over 40% from three. Herro's scoring prowess has never been a secret - the concern has always been about the other aspects of his game.
But this season, Herro is showing signs of evolving into a well-rounded offensive player. He's averaging career highs in rebounds (5.6) and assists (five).
The Grizzlies have an average defense, but they've been struggling as a group. Herro should find success against Memphis as a scorer and playmaker.
Herro has hit the over on his combined points, rebounds, and assists in five of the Heat's seven games.
Odds: -110 (playable to -120)
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.
