The 2026-27 NBA season tips off today with a three-game slate, and we're targeting two Eastern Conference stars with our favorite NBA player props for Oct. 20.
Jalen Duren and Jalen Brunson headline our opening-night selections, with more expert analysis available in our free NBA picks.
NBA player props at a glance Tuesday, Oct. 20
| Matchup & time | Player prop & analyst |
|---|---|
| Celtics vs. Pistons 3 p.m. ET |
Jalen Duren Over 9.5 rebounds Tom Oldfield |
| 76ers vs. Knicks 7 p.m. ET |
Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points Shawn Krest |
| Thunder vs. Spurs 9:30 p.m. ET |
De'Aaron Fox 2+ threes Geoff Clark |
Picks courtesy of Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.
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Celtics vs. Pistons prop: Jalen Duren Over 9.5 rebounds
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC, Peacock
- Analyst: Tom Oldfield
Top pick: Jalen Duren Over 9.5 rebounds
Looking for someone to bring the fire to this season opener? Look no further than Duren, who's had his game picked apart all summer. His matchup with Robinson will be a key battleground, and he averaged 10.5 rpg last year.
Duren averages 10.6 boards against the Celtics in his career, and his athleticism provides an edge in chasing down misses from Boston's 3-point barrage.
With both teams shaking off the rust, I'll take Detroit's best rebounder to cash in.
Oldfield also provides a moneyline pick and combo in his Celtics vs. Pistons predictions.
76ers vs. Knicks prop: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC, Peacock
- Analyst: Shawn Krest
Top pick: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
The Knicks' biggest star was in demand all offseason, but he'll be ready to take the spotlight in the opener. Jalen Brunson scored 40 points in 51 minutes during the preseason, a 37.6-point average over 48 minutes that was higher than last season's scoring average (35.7 per 48).
Brunson hit 40% of his preseason threes, which was better than last season's shooting percentage, and his overall accuracy from the field was on par with last season's production.
Krest believes Brunson's effort will help New York cover in his 76ers vs. Knicks predictions.
Thunder vs Spurs prop: De'Aaron Fox 2+ threes
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC, Peacock
- Analyst: Geoff Clark
Top pick: De'Aaron Fox 2+ threes
I'm willing to trade Fox's made threes prop up to 51%. Fox hit at least two 3-pointers in 39 of 72 regular-season games in 2025-26, and Harper joining San Antonio's starting five should create even cleaner looks.
Harper, Wembanyama, and Castle all demand defensive attention, so Fox shouldn't be the main focus of OKC's coverage.
Fox can operate more as a catch-and-shoot threat instead of carrying as much of the creation burden. With Harper and Castle initiating more offense, Fox should get more opportunities to attack a scrambling defense from behind the arc.
De'Aaron Fox threes isn't the only pro-San Antonio pick Clark made in his Thunder vs. Spurs predictions.
More NBA picks
Want to build a bigger card? These Covers previews and picks provide more betting analysis for Tuesday's games:
Check the NBA injury report before finalizing today's picks.
All of today’s matchups are also on the NBA scores and matchups page, and the full pick archive lives in free NBA picks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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