Heading into Wednesday’s action, only three more days of regular season games remain at the 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas before the playoffs kick off this weekend. Three of the five remaining undefeated teams, the Indiana Pacers, the Utah Jazz, and the Los Angeles Lakers, are in action on Wednesday. Here are the winning picks for their games – plus more – in our 2023 NBA summer league preview and betting guide for July 12th.
2023 NBA Summer League Preview & Betting Guide – July 12th
Minnesota vs. Atlanta – 4:00 PM ET – ESPN2
Minnesota -1.5 (-110)
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks have split their first two games in Las Vegas, both going 1-1. Minnesota has been led by NBA veteran (sort of) Brandon Williams, who has put up averages of 20.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 2.5 SPG. Josh Minott, Leonard Miller, and Wendell Moore Jr have also played well for the team.
No one has really stood up too much for the Hawks, and the Minnesota roster is being given more respect by the oddsmakers, so I’ll take the Wolves and only lay 1.5 points.
Oklahoma City vs. Indiana – 7:30 PM ET – NBA TV
Indiana ML (-105)
Perhaps the premier game on the slate on Wednesday sees the talented Oklahoma City summer league squad going up against the undefeated Indiana Pacers, currently the favorite to win the NBA 2K24 Summer League championship after the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last year’s #2 overall pick, Chet Holmgren, has been playing quite well this summer (in both this league and the Salt Lake City Summer League), putting up 16 points, ten boards, three assists, a steal, and two blocks in his Vegas debut.
But Indiana’s roster is stacked. Veterans Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Isaiah Jackson have all been excelling for the Pacers this summer, and the #10 overall pick this past June, Cason Wallace, has shown flashes of brilliance. I’ll take the Pacers on the moneyline as a slight underdog, -105.
Denver vs. Utah – 9:30 PM ET – NBA TV
Utah -3.5 (-110)
After only going 1-2 in their home summer league, the Salt Lake City Summer League, the Utah Jazz have turned things around, going 2-0 in Las Vegas so far. The #16 draft pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Keyonte George, has made the Jazz look like geniuses for grabbing him, as he’s averaging 29.5 PPG, 8.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, and has hit 11 threes so far. Ochai Agbaji has played well for the Jazz throughout the summer as well.
Not much was expected from the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets’ summer league team, and they haven’t disappointed, going 0-2 thus far. Utah -3.5 is the play.
Lakers vs. Boston – 10:00 PM ET – ESPN
Lakers -3.5 (-110)
One of the sport’s greatest rivalries. The Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Boston Celtics – resumes on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Ok, maybe the rivalry doesn’t really carry over to the summer league. But the undefeated Lakers will look to go 3-0 while the Celtics look for their first win in Vegas (on the court, at least).
Some dude named Colin Castleton, an undrafted rookie has been getting the job done for the Lakers. After having a very solid showing at the California Classic Summer League, Castleton has been even better in Vegas, averaging 17.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.5 SPG. Second-year pro Max Christie has also played well for LA.
Boston has been struggling in Vegas, so I’ll go with the Lakers and am willing to lay the 3.5 points.
