NBA Summer League 2018 Tips, Spreads for July 6 Late Games

Mark Strotman

July 6th, 2018

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Quick Tips:

• Bet Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5 on 888sport
• Bet Phoenix Suns -3.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks on 888sport
• Bet Minnesota Timberwolves -1.5 vs. Denver Nuggets on 888sport
• Bet Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers +1.5 on 888sport

The late slate of games on Day 1 of the Las Vegas Summer League should yield plenty of exciting action. Let’s jump right in and preview the final four contests in Sin City for basketball betting fans, per spreads from 888sport!

Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5

Still licking their wounds from LeBron James departing for Hollywood, the Cavs still have plenty to cheer about in Las Vegas. Collin Sexton should thrive in this up-and-down setting, while Cedi Osman and Ante Zizic provide help on the wing and inside. Look out for Billy Preston, the former Kansas forward who never played a minute with the Jayhawks but was a five-star recruit in 2017. He is oozing with potential.

The Wizards will counter with first round pick Troy Brown Jr. and Thomas Bryant, who they claimed on waivers from the Lakers. Washington will also look to get some production from Aaron Harrison, the former Kentucky guard who has bounced around in three NBA years.

With Sexton ready to roll and NBA experience in Osman and Zizic, the Cavaliers should do something they couldn’t in the NBA Finals: pick up a win.

Phoenix Suns -3.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks

The long-awaited debut of top pick Deandre Ayton has arrived. But they’ll also unveil No. 10 pick Mikal Bridges, the Villanova sharpshooter who should have plenty of open looks given the pace of Summer League. They also have first round picks from 2017 (Josh Jackson) and 2016 (Dragan Bender) in play, as well as intriguing French point guard Elie Okobo, who Phoenix took with the No. 31 pick in June. From a potential standpoint, the young Suns are loaded.

Dallas will be without its top pick in Luka Doncic after he spent the summer winning a EuroLeague title. But star rookie Dennis Smith Jr. has decided to play, and he’ll have a huge impact for the Mavs. Others to watch for include Villanova rookie Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Kostas Antetokounmpo, the brother of Bucks’ star Giannis.

Phoenix has the talent advantage, though Dallas has the most established player in Smith Jr. Still, we like Ayton, Bridges and the rest of the first round Suns to get the job done. They could turn heads in Vegas.

Minnesota Timberwolves -1.5 vs. Denver Nuggets

Minnesota had one of the best drafts last month, nabbing wings Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop. They’ll lead the charge along with bigs Amile Jefferson and Perry Jones for the Timberwolves; Jefferson averaged 17.8 points 12.9 rebounds in the G-League last season.

It’s too bad we won’t see Michael Porter Jr. as he continues to rehab, but the stage is set for Malik Beasley to have a huge summer. 2017 first round pick Tyler Lydon will also get significant run, and keep an eye on a pair of undrafted rookies in Kennedy Meeks (North Carolina) and Thomas Welsh (UCLA).

Minnesota’s balance on the wings and inside should get it done in this one.

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers +1.5

The Warriors just finished up in Sacramento and will make the quick trek to Vegas for a back-to-back. Jordan Bell and Damian Jones rested on Thursday and should be ready to go in this one.

The Clippers were the lone team in the NBA to have two Lottery picks, and they put them to use in selecting Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Boston College’s Jerome Robinson. They’ll join last year’s rookies Juwan Evans and Sindarius Thornwell, both of whom got plenty of run in the NBA, to form a really solid Summer League core. Undrafted Seton Hall center Angel Delgado could be a wild card to keep an eye on. That talent up front – and the Warriors being on a back to back – means we’re giving the Clippers the edge in this one.