Home-court advantage is important in the postseason, but the best teams in the NBA are often those that can win big games away from home. The best road teams through the first quarter of the NBA season include the Phoenix Suns (9-2), Golden State Warriors (7-2), Brooklyn Nets (10-3), and Utah Jazz (9-3).
An unvaccinated Kyrie Irving thought he could work out a deal with the Brooklyn Nets and just play road games this season. New York City has a health mandate that requires proof of vaccination for any indoor gyms or venues like Barclay’s Center or Madison Square Garden. However, the Nets took a hardliner approach and requested that Irving get vaccinated to play and practice with the team, otherwise he must sit out.
| NBA BEST ROAD TEAMS |
| ROAD | OVERALL | |
| Phoenix Suns | 9–2 | 21–4 |
| Golden State Warriors | 7–2 | 21–4 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 10–3 | 18–8 |
| Utah Jazz | 9–3 | 19–7 |
The Nets are 18-8 and occupy the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference without Irving suiting up for a single game. Without Irving, the Nets still have two of the top scorers in the NBA with Kevin Durant and James Harden. However, they’ll need all three members of their Big 3 if they expect to win an NBA championship. The Nets are the consensus favorite to win the NBA championship. You can back the Nets at +250 odds, according to a recent update by the South Point Casino in Las Vegas.
Wild West Roadies
The Golden State Warriors played only nine games away from Chase Center in downtown San Francisco this season. The Warriors boast a 14-2 home record for the best home-court edge in the league, but they’re also one of the premier road teams in the league. They’re also an impressive 6-3 ATS on the road this season.
Steph Curry and the Warriors hit the road for a five-give sojourn against the Eastern Conference with games against the Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Toronto Raptors. Curry has a chance to set a new NBA record for most 3-pointers, but he’ll do it on the road.
The Utah Jazz won six games in a row, but they’re on the tail end of a four-game road trip. They meet the Washington Wizards on Saturday night to keep their winning streak alive. They cannot wait until this road trip is over because they get three days off in a row before hosting a six-game homestand through Christmas. The Jazz are 9-3 on the road this season with the fourth-best winning percentage away from home. Meanwhile, the Jazz are only 7-5 ATS record on the road.
The Phoenix Suns have a rare weekend off before the hit the road for a back-to-back against the LA Clippers on Monday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Suns are 9-2 on the road this season (but only 6-5 ATS). They’re also tied with the Golden State Warriors for best record in the NBA at 21-4, and proved that last season’s run to the NBA was not a fluke.
Worst Road Teams: Blazers, Rockets, Pistons, Magic
Let’s take a peak at some of the worst road teams in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers won just one game on the road this season with a 1-11 clip, plus a fade-worthy 2-10 ATS record. They have a solid home record 10-4 this season at the Moda Center, but struggle away from Rip City.
It’s no surprise to see that the Houston Rockets also struggled on the road this season, especially during their 15-game losing streak. The Rockets can’t buy a win on the road with an atrocious 1-11 away record, yet they’re a winning squad at home in Houston with a 7-6 clip.
| NBA WORST ROAD TEAMS |
| ROAD | OVERALL | |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1–11 | 11–15 |
| Houston Rockets | 1–11 | 8–17 |
| Detroit Pistons | 2–11 | 4–21 |
| Orlando Magic | 3–13 | 5–21 |
The Detroit Pistons are fighting the Orlando Magic for the dubious honor as the worst team in the league. Both bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference are horrendous away from home. The Pistons won just two road games with a 2-11 record, yet they’re only 2-10 at home in the Big D this season. The Orlando Magic struggled with a 3-13 road record, yet they’re not taking advantage of that Disney magic with a 2-8 home record this season.
