We are banking on a handful of young guards to show out on opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season. In Oklahoma City, Reed Sheppard finally gets the big call as he should play extremely meaningful minutes for Ime Udoka’s squad.
In the other matchup tonight, Brandin Podziemski will continue to serve as a spark for this aging Warriors team that needs his scoring and rebounding.
G Reed Sheppard (HOU) OVER 8.5 Points
Four days ago, Reed Sheppard dropped 29 points on 22 shot attempts to wrap up his preseason campaign. With Fred VanVleet out for the year and the Houston true point guard rotation consisting of Amen Thompson (more of a wing), Aaron Holiday, Josh Okogie, and JD Davidson, there is a world where Reed plays 25+ minutes to start this season out as the lead ball handler for Udoka’s squad.
This prop feels low, given in games where the top pick out of Kentucky played 25+ minutes last season, he scored 16/25/20/14 points. Take Sheppard to have a solid opening night.
G Cason Wallace (OKC) OVER 0.5 Made 3-Pointers
If there is a Thunder player that I believe will break out in the 25-’26 campaign, it has to be Cason Wallace. Wallace was an integral part of the Thunder’s playoff run, in which he played 22.3 MPG in the Finals.
His incredible two-way abilities were able to give the Thunder the pivotal Game 5 and Game 7 victories, forcing 7 total turnovers in those outings. Alongside a few defensive props I’d take for Wallace, his three-pointer O/U is set at 0.5, which is too low in my book.
The Thunder are going to push in transition, especially with SGA out of the ball game. Wallace is projected to play 25 minutes in this one, and with Jalen Williams out, there will be more opportunity for Cason to make a big impact.
G Brandin Podziemski (GSW) OVER 21.5 PRA
Podz enters his third year with the Warriors, already setting the tone as a feisty guard who can shoot the three-ball and rebound at a high rate. After a solid season in which he played 26.8 MPG, the Santa Clara product is back and ready to serve as the young gun on this aging roster.
Curry and the Warriors will look to push against a Lakers defense due to struggle in Game 1 with their inconsistencies at Center and injury to James. With Moses Moody out and the depth at the wing spot extremely thin, I’m expecting a 30+ minute game from Podz and plenty of opportunities to crash the glass and serve as the secondary playmaker.
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