NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (10/26)
The National Basketball Association has 10 games on tap for Saturday, with the first tip-off at 5 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets battling in the Mile High City, with the game on NBA TV.
At 8 p.m. ET, the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves battle, also on NBA TV. The schedule wraps up at 10:30 p.m. ET at the newly renovated Crypto.com Arena with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Kings in the final game of a tripleheader on NBA TV.
Let’s get that bankroll in the black with our best NBA picks for Saturday, Oct. 26.
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Saturday’s Best NBA Picks
NBA odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All NBA picks are for 1 unit
Cleveland Cavaliers (-405) at Washington Wizards (+320) | O/U 228.5 (-110/-110)
The Cavaliers (2-0) have fired out of the chute with a pair of victories against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons. In Friday’s game against the Pistons at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs won 113-101 to cover a 10.5-point spread. Cleveland is 2-0 against the spread (ATS), too.
Last season, however, Cleveland was just 5-8 ATS in 13 regular-season games when playing on no rest. The Cavaliers ended up sweeping the regular season series against the Wizards in 2023-24, but Washington covered as a double-digit underdog at home in both of the meetings.
The Wizards were on the short end of a 122-102 loss against the Boston Celtics on Thursday as a 14-point underdog, while the under (231) cashed. The Wizards hit just 43.2% (41-of-95) from the field and a dismal 19.4% (7-of-36) from the three-point line. Washington was also a dismal 72.2% (13-of-18) from the free-throw line while getting outrebounded by nine, with 10 fewer three-pointers than the Celtics.
Cleveland should get the job done straight up, but you cannot bet the Cavaliers on the Moneyline, risking four times your potential return. Based on Washington covering both meetings at home with Cleveland as a double-digit underdog last season, take the Wizards plus the double-digit points.
Looking at the total, it’s all about the under. The total went low in Washington’s opener against Boston, while the Cavaliers have split the total to date. In this series, the under is 7-2 in the past nine meetings, including three of their four meetings in the 2023-24 season. The under has cashed in each of the past four meetings in the nation’s capital, too.
Picks: Washington Wizards +9.5 (-110) & Under 228.5 Total Points (-110)
Orlando Magic (-116) at Memphis Grizzlies (-104) | O/U 222.5 (-110/-110)
The Magic (2-0) head to Memphis in the second end of a back-to-back against the Grizzlies (1-1) on Saturday evening at FedExForum.
Orlando posted a 116-97 win in Miami to start the season Wednesday, cashing easily as a 2-point underdog. On Friday, the Magic scored a 116-101 win as an 11.5-point favorite as the over (214) cashed for a second straight game.
The Magic went just 5-9 straight up (SU) and 8-6 ATS last season when playing the second end of a back-to-back. These teams split the regular-season series straight up and against the spread. The home team has won and covered each of the past three meetings, while going 6-2 ATS in the past eight dating back to April 30, 2021.
This is the home opener for the Grizzlies. They’re taking on a Magic team which might be a little on the tired side, even though the season just started. The Grizzlies are 0-2 ATS on the road, splitting with a win in Utah and a loss at Houston.
Memphis has won five of the past six in this series, with the Grizzlies going 4-2 ATS in the span. It’s a good idea to back the Grizzlies straight up, as the Magic had difficulty playing on no rest last season.
As far as the total is concerned, the under is 3-1 in the past four meetings in Memphis. The under is a little on the risky side, as the over has hit in both games for Orlando, with the Magic averaging 116.0 points per game while allowing 99.0 points per game.
Picks: Memphis Grizzlies Moneyline (-104) & Under 222.5 Total Points (-110)
Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, check out his archive and follow him @danieledobish.