The NBA's 2024 Las Vegas Summer League kicks off at 4:30 p.m. EST with the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A few teams have already played games this summer, but both of these teams are making their Summer League debuts.
New Orleans has some fun young talent on its summer league roster including lottery pick Jordan Hawkins, last season's first-round pick Dyson Daniels and forward E.J. Liddell, who just signed a new deal with the team.
Minnesota didn't have a first-round pick this offseason, but Jaylen Clark, the team's second-round selection headlines a roster that also has Wendell Moore, a first-round pick last offseason.
New Orleans is a slight favorite in this game, with a total all the way up at 180.5. There were a lot of high-scoring games in the Salt Lake City and California Summer Leagues, but will that happen in Vegas?
Let's examine the odds and my best bet for the Pelicans-Timberwolves matchup:
Pelicans vs. Timberwolves odds, spread and total
Spread
- Pelicans -1.5 (-110)
- Timberwolves +1.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Pelicans: -120
- Timberwolves: +100
Total
- 180.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
Pelicans vs. Timberwolves prediction and pick
Feeling out the first matchup of Summer League can be tough, but I think New Orleans is the team to back in this spot.
The Pelicans have a little more top-line talent than the Timberwolves, and Hawkins should be the main attraction after winning the NCAA Tournament with the UConn Huskies last season.
I have been mainly betting totals this summer, but this line is a little too high for my liking, especially since it doesn't have as much NBA talent as some of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies or other matchups in Salt Lake City.
Let's take New Orleans to win this opening matchup.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.