Betting on games always brings with it the unknown, but certain situations offer even more.

A case in point is Tuesday’s NBA Cup, where the Los Angeles Lakers host the Phoenix Suns. All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal return from injury and that changes the handicap significantly.

A left calf strain has kept Durant out since Nov. 8, and Phoenix is ​​1-6 without him in the lineup.

The Suns performed worse last year, but they have played a high level of basketball this season with Durant, Beal and Devon Booker in the starting lineup. That will be the case against LA, but what version will we have considering two are returning from a layoff?

“Sometimes there are minute limits if players have been away for a long period of time. I wouldn’t expect that here, although Durant’s calf injury could play a role,” Las Vegas SuperBook chief NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman told Only Players. “I would expect an adjustment period if these are players with little history together, but given that this is the Suns trio’s second season, I don’t expect that here.”

Lakers vs Sounds odds

The Lakers have now lost two games in a row, but with an NBA Cup game, the stakes and focus change. In fact, the Lakers won the in-season tournament last year with an undefeated record and are off to a 2-0 start in West Group B this year.

The Lakers are coming off a conventional regular-season home loss in which they were outscored by 31 points in the second half by the Denver Nuggets. Rookie coach JJ Redick had strong criticism that was delivered constructively and what you should watch if you plan on betting on the Lakers.

After a strong start, I expect LA and Phoenix to go through a bit of an adjustment period with Durant and Beal returning to a lineup that looked a little lost without them.

That’s why I’m guessing that the Lakers are one point underdogs in the first half.

I also like to use these situations to think outside the box.

For example, bettors often forget to isolate a prop, such as the first team to score 10 points, 15 points, 20 points, etc., instead of betting on the first quarter or first half.

Betting on the NBA?

However, I don’t see any particular advantage here, as the Lakers have a respectable bench and could apply pressure in the second quarter, and then Phoenix’s rhythm could be severely tested.

The Lakers are 11th in the first half but eighth worst in the second half.

I feel comfortable rooting for them in the first 24 minutes and hope Redick pushes the right buttons for a team that has performed well in these NBA Cup games.

BEST BET: Lakers first half +1 (-110, DraftKings)

Why you should trust New York Post Betting

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor and currently Chief Content Officer for Only Players, a sports betting media company. Doug has more than two decades of sports betting experience, including 11 years as an anchor, columnist and betting analyst at ESPN. He also made headlines by winning $297,000 in the 2021 NFL Draft.