Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards at Target Center in what should be appointment television, even in the preseason, and headline our NBA moneyline picks.
I'm all in on LaMelo Ball and the Minnesota Timberwolves. If you haven't watched the Wolves throughout the preseason, I highly recommend tuning in.
For more analysis across the slate, check out my latest NBA picks for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026.
NBA preseason moneyline picks for Oct. 14
For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.
| Matchup | Pick |
|---|---|
 Netsvs  Heat |
34% |
 Hornetsvs  Celtics |
70% |
 Pelicansvs  Mavericks |
45% |
 Bullsvs  Bucks |
56% |
 Pistonsvs  Timberwolves |
61% |
 Sunsvs  Spurs |
64% |
 Nuggetsvs  Clippers |
57% |
Prices courtesy of Polymarket.
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Expert NBA preseason moneyline predictions for October 14
Nets vs Heat: Nets
The Brooklyn Nets' young guards, including Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Mikel Brown Jr., make me nervous in this matchup. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, two elite defenders, will meet their drives to the paint and attempts at the rim.
A crafty veteran might know how to navigate those matchups, but relying on this much youth is a definite red flag.
That said, I'll take the Nets at 34%. You're always willing to pay a price to overlook a matchup disadvantage, and 34% is that number for me.
Not to mention, the entire Heat roster is listed as questionable, so this 34% could become a steal once we know who's actually available for Miami.
Hornets vs Celtics: Celtics
The Charlotte Hornets are dealing with a rash of injuries, with Kon Knueppel and Coby White both sidelined. That puts the offensive burden on Brandon Miller, who isn't accustomed to this role after LaMelo Ball shouldered much of the load last season.
This is a tough matchup for Miller, and it gets even harder without his supporting cast. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Paul George can all switch onto Miller with little defensive drop-off.
I don't see how the Hornets can consistently create advantages for their primary offensive hub, which is why I'm backing the Celtics at 70%.
Pelicans vs Mavericks: Pelicans
The Dallas Mavericks return to American Airlines Center after playing two games against the Houston Rockets in China.
Something doesn't sit right with me about the travel involved, especially with the preseason still underway and the Mavericks trading as 60% favorites in this spot.
Dereck Lively, Morez Johnson Jr., and Santi Aldama are all questionable for the matchup against the Pelicans. If the Mavericks miss key frontcourt pieces, Zion Williamson could have more opportunities to attack the rim downhill.
It would also help compensate for a Pelicans roster that lacks talent and depth in the frontcourt.
Bulls vs Bucks: Bucks
This is a preseason special for me because I'd have a completely different opinion in a regular-season matchup.
However, given how the preseason minutes are projected to shake out, I agree the Bucks should be healthy favorites. I price them closer to 59% than 56%, which is why they’ve caught my attention in the market.
I call this a preseason special because projecting 35 minutes from the starters produces a completely different outlook than projecting 20 minutes before the second units take over.
The Bucks' edge comes from their depth, particularly when the bench is on the floor. They have five players in AJ Green, Kel'el Ware, Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. who have all played significant NBA roles.
That experience and depth can make a meaningful difference when backing a team in the preseason.
Pistons vs Timberwolves: Timberwolves
This is where you see the value of having not one, but two players who can create offense in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball on the same roster.
Ausar Thompson is an elite point-of-attack defender who would have disrupted Edwards and blown up several actions for the Timberwolves last season. Now, if Thompson is assigned to Edwards, the offense can flow through Ball instead.
Give me the Timberwolves as a 61% favorite. I price them much higher at 67%, giving us a solid edge.
Suns vs Spurs: Spurs
I have to question who will suit up for the Phoenix Suns and how many minutes they'll play.
They're on the road tonight against the San Antonio Spurs, then play the Utah Jazz at home Friday. This feels like a chance for Phoenix to rest some players and treat Friday's matchup as a final dress rehearsal before the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Spurs rested their starters in Monday's preseason game and now return home. This is definitely a game to monitor on the injury report, but once the news breaks and we know who's playing, I expect to be much happier holding Spurs shares at 64%.
Nuggets vs Clippers: Nuggets
Nikola Jokic's vision and passing against Brook Lopez's deep drop coverage could be one of the biggest mismatches we see all season. The Clippers simply don't have another option at center, leaving the 38-year-old Lopez to deal with Jokic.
I've also been more impressed with the Nuggets' bench than I expected throughout the preseason, which is another important factor in this trade. At 57%, give me Denver to win in Los Angeles.
Odds and probabilities are subject to change. Verify current Polymarket prices before publishing. Preseason outcomes can be particularly sensitive to player availability and minutes restrictions.
Not intended for use in MA.
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