NBA commissioner Adam Silver said more regulation is needed to reduce opportunities for game manipulation related to gambling and to combat bad fan behavior in arenas, which may stem from losing wagers.
The Lakers will open the season missing some frontcourt depth as backup big man Maxi Kleber has an oblique strain and will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.
The Thunder are commanding betting favorites to win another championship, listed at 2-1 at ESPN BET — the shortest preseason title odds since the Warriors in 2017-18.