NBA Picks & Predictions: Friday (10/23)
After a small slate last night, there are 12 NBA games this evening. With the larger slate, we have plenty of options to choose from. Here are my two best bets for NBA on Friday, October 23rd.
- More NBA Betting Advice
- Player Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- First Basket Cheat Sheet
- Best +EV NBA Props
- Prop Bet Analyzer
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Friday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards
The Toronto Raptors couldn’t have asked for a better start to their season, dominating the Chicago Bulls in a 135-92 blowout win on Wednesday. What stood out most was Toronto’s defense. The Raptors held Chicago to an ugly 4-for-36 shooting from three-point range while forcing 27 turnovers, which led to 35 points. It was an impressive performance on both ends of the floor.
What’s even more encouraging is that Toronto put up 135 points despite Kawhi Leonard shooting just 5-for-17 from the field. Leonard still finished with 23 points, while Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley added 23 apiece. They should be able to keep it rolling against Washington.
The Wizards are coming off an impressive 128-116 win over Milwaukee. However, they’ll once again be without No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Anthony Davis gives Washington a legitimate scoring threat, but I still like Toronto’s chances of controlling this game.
Given how dominant the Raptors looked defensively against Chicago, this has the makings of another convincing win. I’m riding with Toronto to cover -8.5 here.
Pick: Raptors -8.5 (-108)
Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs got off to a disappointing start to their season, falling 116-104 at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Victor Wembanyama had a nightmare performance, shooting just 1-for-13 from the field. That’s not what you expect from the superstar big man, especially with San Antonio entering the season as the NBA title favorites.
With that said, this feels like a great bounce-back spot for the Spurs. Wembanyama is simply too talented to struggle like that in consecutive games. I expect a much better performance from him here. San Antonio has plenty of offensive firepower. Playing at home should give the Spurs an edge as they look to avoid an 0-2 start.
Houston won’t be an easy matchup after cruising to a 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks in its opener. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 30 points, showing just how dangerous this Rockets offense can be. But I’m not going to overreact to one bad game from the Spurs. San Antonio came into the season as a co-favorite to win the NBA championship for a reason. I expect Wembanyama and company to respond with a strong performance, covering the 5.5-point spread.
Pick: Spurs -5.5 (-110)