Don’t Bet Against These Squads Seeking Bounce-Back Wins - NBA Week 3 Picks

NBA Week 3 Picks: Recommended Bets 

• Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Celtics to Win, -133 at BetMGM
• Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Point Total Over 221, -107 at PointsBet
• Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls: Hornets to Win, +185 at BetMGM
• Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls: Point Total Over 229, -107 at PointsBet
• Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers: Memphis (-3.5), -115 at BetMGM 

Early Season Surprises Bucking Betting Trends Across the Board

Upstarts sustained their surprising season-opening stretches, bucking expected betting trends and complicating NBA bets across the board. Slow starts by assumed contenders make settling on NBA Week 3 picks all the more difficult. 

Formulating NBA bets this season has proven problematic early on, as contenders like Brooklyn, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, and Miami all sport sub-.500 marks against the spread. Bettors backing presumably tanking teams like Charlotte, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Utah have all seen great returns on their NBA bets thus far. That said, targeting underperforming teams with superstars in the lineup might be the way to go with your NBA week 3 picks. 

For more NBA content, check out our Betting Resources. We’ll have regular previews and picks with guidance on how to find the best NBA bets.

NBA Week 3 Picks: Celtics vs Cavaliers

Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, November 2, 7:30 pm EST on ESPN

The first recommended bet among our NBA Week 3 picks comes from a clash of Eastern Conference contenders in Cleveland. The Boston Celtics (4-2, 3-3 ATS) started their season with three straight wins, including impressive victories over the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. But Boston dropped a pair of games last week before righting the ship against the Washington Wizards, hitting 21-of-47 3-pointers along the way. 

The Cavaliers (5-1, 5-1) enter near the top of the Eastern Conference, thanks mainly to the league’s second-ranked defense. Cleveland sports the East’s best average margin of victory (12.0) and leads the league in ATS (against the spread) +/-, covering the spread by an average of 10.7 points per game, making them among the best NBA bets so far this season. They’ve done this despite All-Star guard Darius Garland missing all but 13 minutes this season. 

Data from: basketball-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/31/22)

The offseason addition of Donovan Mitchell has paid dividends for the Cavs, as he’s scored at least 31 points in all but one game this season. He dropped a season-high 41 points in the Cavs’ victory in Boston last week. Caris LeVert matched his 41-point performance as Cleveland rallied to upend the Celtics in overtime. The Cavs covered bettors’ NBA picks as 7-point underdogs in the outright win. 

Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 32 points in that contest but couldn’t maintain their 15-point first-half lead. The third quarter stood out as a problem spot for Boston, as the team shot just 9-for-20 and committed six turnovers. The defensive lulls last week sabotaged the Cs’ hot start, and they won’t have their defensive anchor, Robert Williams III, back from injury until the second half of the season. 

The last matchup between these clubs hit the Over by a wide margin (+36.5). Cleveland’s seen the Over go 4-2 in point total NBA bets so far this season. The Celtics, meanwhile, have alternated Overs and Unders, going 3-3.  

NBA Week 3 Picks: Celtics vs Cavaliers

• Celtics to Win, -133 at BetMGM
• Point Total Over 221, -107 at PointsBet

NBA Week 3 Picks: Hornets vs Bulls

Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls, Wednesday, November 2, 8 pm EST on NBA League Pass

Another of our NBA Week 3 picks zeroes in on this intraconference matchup in the Windy City. Former NBA Central Division rivals, the Charlotte Hornets (3-4, 4-3 ATS) and Chicago Bulls (4-4, 4-3-1), face off at the United Center.  

Data from: basketball-reference.com (Accurate as of 11/01/22) 

The Hornets come to this contest having split their last two home games versus the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Charlotte surprised the Warriors to grab an upset win in overtime before falling flat in the second half of their game against Sacramento. The Hornets played both of those games without their starting backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, players who could also miss this contest. 

Despite missing some of their stars, Charlotte has consistently been able to score this season. The Hornets have scored at least 108 points in all but one game thus far and play at the seventh-fastest pace in the league (101.1 possessions per 48 minutes). This helps explain why the Over has been a solid NBA picks play this far (4-2-1). 

Chicago has some early marquee wins, including a season-opening victory on the road over the Miami Heat. But the Bulls’ erratic play this season remains its primary characteristic. Lineup instability continues to plague Chicago, who remain without Lonzo Ball and have seen Zach LaVine go in and out of the lineup. 

The Bulls play Charlotte on the second night of a back-to-back, where they are winless (0-2) this season. Those losses have come with an average margin of defeat of 18.5 points. Chicago’s defense surrenders an average of 121 points per game on the second night of a back-to-back, with both those subpar efforts coming at home. 

LaVine’s knee injury prevents him from playing on consecutive nights, so the Bulls will be without their presumed starting backcourt for this contest.  

NBA Week 3 Picks: Hornets vs Bulls

• Hornets to Win, +185 at BetMGM
• Point Total Over 229, -107 at PointsBet

NBA Week 3 Picks: Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers

Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers, Wednesday, November 2, 10 pm EST on ESPN 

The Portland Trail Blazers (5-1, 5-1 ATS) enter this early season engagement with Memphis (4-3, 2-4-1) surprisingly perched atop the Western Conference standings. The Blazers have been among the best underdog NBA bets this year, going 4-1 against the spread, making them prime among NBA picks. Portland posted impressive wins over NBA title contenders Phoenix and Denver, and their lone loss came against the East’s top seed from last season, the Miami Heat. 

That loss to the Heat went with a heavy price, as Damian Lillard suffered a calf strain that will keep him out of this contest and possibly the majority of Portland’s upcoming six-game road trip. But unlike seasons past, this Blazers group features several talented players ready to fill the scoring void in Lillard’s absence.  

Data from: basketball-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/31/22)

Memphis, meanwhile, has had some head-scratching performances early this season, including a 41-point blowout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks and back-to-back losses to the rebuilding Utah Jazz. Ja Morant returned after missing a game to non-COVID illness and impressed, scoring 37 points on 12-of-18 shooting, but that wasn’t enough for the Grizzlies in their 121-105 loss in Utah. 

Dropping two in a row like this should light a fire under the Grizzlies as they wrap up their West Coast road trip in Portland. Only twice last season did Memphis lose three games in a row. Although the Blazers haven’t played since last Friday, Memphis does have a 2-1 record when playing at a rest disadvantage this season.

NBA Week 3 Picks: Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers

• Memphis (-3.5), -115 at BetMGM 

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is the Boston Celtics record?

For the 2022-23 season, the Boston Celtics are 4-2 with a win-loss percentage of 66%. The two losses came against the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers during games 4 and 5. 

What does +1.5 mean in Basketball?

If a team has a +1.5 ahead of their team, they would be seen as the underdog for that game. For a winning bet, you'll need a result of anything other than losing by more than two points. 

Bottom Line

There is much on the line as the Celtics seek revenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers. If you're interested in more NBA betting picks, be sure to read our guide: How To Bet on NBA Games, and visit our odds comparison tool to compare betting odds and take advantage of the latest sportsbook bonuses.

Written by David Fernandez - ROI: +7.64%

David has more than 15 years of writing experience in sports and sports betting. Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a high school English, Creative Writing, and Journalism teacher for nearly 20 years. He holds a Master's Degree in English and Creative Writing.

David writes for various publications, including Sidelines, Scorebook Live (SBLive), and Five Reasons Sports, and has previously been published in the Miami Herald and USA Today.