New York Knicks (moneyline)

New York travel to Toronto as the clear market favourite, and I am happy to follow that verdict. Both clubs report clean bills of health tonight, no absentees on either side, which is more than most of this slate can offer, with Bradley Beal missing for the Clippers and rotation pieces out elsewhere. When neither dressing room has a doubt, the stronger squad usually tells over 48 minutes.

The rest of the card is a minefield: Houston, San Antonio and Boston are asked to cover 16 to 25 points, and double-digit handicaps this early in the season are coin flips, while Clippers-Hornets is a pick'em shaped by Beal's knee. The honest risk is that this is a road game and short-priced travelling favourites do lose; I have no decisive form angle beyond the market's clear preference and two clean team sheets.

Even so, needing only a win rather than a margin makes this the steadiest play on the board. The bet: New York Knicks moneyline.