After 16 games in the first two days of regular season action, basketball betting takes it easy Thursday night for a pair of games featuring one home favorite (Portland) and one small road favorite when San Antonio tips off at Chicago.

The Spurs (-3) are already 1-0 on the season after a 113-96 home win Wednesday night against the New Orleans Hornets. Odds at sportsbooks opened with the Spurs listed as high as four-point favorites but the Bulls have had support from bettors suggesting Chicago can build on a positive training camp. Chicago is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games at home and after a playoff appearance last season expectations are high in the Windy City.

Over/Under betting has led the total down one point from an opening total of 194, no doubt helped by a trend between these two teams that has seen five of the last six games land under the number.

In a game that tips off at 10:30 ET, a pair of 1-0 Northwest rivals will treat fans to the first of what promises to be a highly contested battle for the division title in 2010 when the Denver Nuggets travel to Portland (-7.5) to take on the Trailblazers.

Denver earned its first win of the season on 30 points from Carmelo Anthony which led the team past the Utah Jazz 114-105. The total has also stayed under in five of the past six meetings between these two teams but public money is calling for a reversal tonight as online wagering has inched the total above 200 at sportsbooks across the board.

Friday night the NBA betting card goes back to full strength when 26 teams go into action, starting at 7 pm ET with the New York Knicks vs. the Charlotte Bobcats (-2.5) and the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers (-8).

Expect to see plenty of early line movement as bettors weigh in on the first full weekend of pro basketball betting of the season.