NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (10/25)
A brand-new season is here, and it brings excitement to all 30 teams. As the season moves along, we'll see who the real contenders are, but it will be great to see what teams surprise us all. Let's break down some key matchups today in the NBA. Below are our top NBA picks & predictions for Sunday, October 25.
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Saturday's NBA Best Bets & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Oklahoma City Thunder (-6.5) at Atlanta Hawks | O/U 238.5 (-110/-110)
The defending champions are off to another incredible start, winning their first two games, but it has come with its challenges. It's taken double overtime to secure wins against the Rockets and Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a stellar year by winning the regular season and Finals MVPs, and he's playing like he wants to win them again. He scored 50+ points for the fifth time in his career, which ties Russell Westbrook for the most in Thunder history.
Just because they are giving up a lot of points right now due to the extra time doesn't mean their defense isn't still one of the best. The top-ranked team in defensive efficiency last season is eighth this season (1.064).
The Hawks are riding high after a comeback win against the Magic, where Atlanta outscored Orlando 33-21 in the fourth quarter. There is potential for this team led by Trae Young; Jalen Johnson is coming off his best season, a healthy Kristaps Porzingis could be a great presence in the front court, and they hope Zaccharie Risacher can take that next leap after his rookie season.
This will be a great test by hosting the Thunder, but they’re catching a tough break by playing on the second leg of a back-to-back with a rest disadvantage against Oklahoma City, who were 11-7-1 ATS with a rest advantage.
Pick: Thunder -6.5 (-110)
Phoenix Suns (-6.5) at Denver Nuggets | O/U 233.5 (-112/-108)
It was a heartbreaking season debut for the Nuggets. Denver held a seven-point lead with 2:42 left, but Steph Curry did typical Steph Curry things, forced overtime, and the Warriors won.
Even in the same conference as the reigning champs, the Nuggets are still a strong candidate for championship status. With the same core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, they should be a contender.
Will that be the same case for the new look Suns? The experiment with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal was a disaster, and both were traded in the offseason, leaving Devin Booker with a new squad. One of the additions was Dillon Brooks, and he had a great debut with 22 points, and Phoenix erased a 17-point halftime deficit against the Kings in the season debut. However, the second game did not go as well, as it was a tough Friday night, as the Clippers crushed them 129-102.
By being down that early, the bench got more minutes, so the starters could be fresher for this game. Both were near the bottom of the league in scoring defense last year, so expect a lot of points in this matchup.
Pick: Over 233.5 Total Points (-112)