Friday features a packed slate to tip off the NBA Cup group stage, with the action kicking off on the East Coast before wrapping up on the West Coast in San Francisco.
Our NBA predictions highlight the featured picks from Covers analysts across the slate.
See more expert betting angles in our free NBA picks for Oct. 30.
NBA top picks at a glance (Friday, Oct. 30)
| Matchup & time | Top pick & analyst |
|---|---|
| Knicks vs. 76ers 7:30 p.m. ET |
Knicks -2.5 Chris Walder |
| Bulls vs. Celtics 7:30 p.m. ET |
Norman Powell Over 19.5 points Geoff Clark |
| Magic vs. Raptors 7:30 p.m. ET |
Raptors -5.5 Chris Walder |
| Pacers vs. Heat 8 p.m. ET |
Pascal Siakam Over 3.5 assists Quinn Allen |
| Rockets vs. Mavericks 8 p.m. ET |
Rockets -5.5 Chris Faria |
| Nuggets vs. Suns 10 p.m. ET |
Nuggets -3.5 Quinn Allen |
Picks courtesy of Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.
Trade on the NBA at Polymarket!
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $25 trading bonus after you deposit $10 to trade on any event contracts!
*Eligible locations only
Knicks vs 76ers pick: Knicks -2.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, MSG
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Knicks -2.5
Play up to 55%.
After dropping three in a row to begin the campaign, the New York Knicks enter Friday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers with some positive momentum, winning their last two with a net rating of 10.0 compared to -7.2 during their initial losing skid.
What cost them on Oct. 20 in their 106-100 loss was poor efficiency. New York converted just 37% of its shot attempts, including 33% from behind the arc. Those percentages have risen to 44% and 40.5%, respectively, over the last two games, but the former still isn't up to par.
Philadelphia sits atop the standings at 4-1, but it's a touch misleading. It needed double-digit comebacks to knock off both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Now, Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable with knee soreness.
The Knicks arguably have more at stake here for tiebreaker scenarios later in the season. As the reigning Cup winners, there's no better time to make a statement over an elite division and conference rival in the Sixers.
Read Chris Walder's full Knicks vs. 76ers predictions for more picks.
Bulls vs Celtics pick: Norman Powell Over 19.5 points
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Boston, CHSN
- Analyst: Geoff Clark
Top pick: Norman Powell Over 19.5 points
Norman Powell's 20+ points prop is playable up to 54%, and it's my favorite pick in this game.
He is a microwave scorer that can heat up regardless of the game state. Powell leads Chicago's starting 5 in true shooting rate, which blends 2-point, 3-point and free-throw shooting.
Through his first five games, Powell has a career-high "points per shot attempt," according to CleaningTheGlass.com, and he scored a team-high 20 points against Boston Monday.
I also like the fit with Chicago PG Josh Giddey. He can handle the table-setting and organize Chicago's offense, allowing Powell to focus on scoring.
If this game turns into another track meet, Powell should have plenty of opportunities to get his 20.
Read Geoff Clark's full Bulls vs. Celtics predictions for more picks.
Magic vs Raptors pick: Raptors -5.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: Sportsnet, FanDuel Sports Network
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Raptors -5.5
Play up to 60%.
Both the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors are dealing with major injuries, yet it was Toronto that managed to overcome key absences — mainly Kawhi Leonard (knee) — en route to a 129-99 drubbing on Oct. 28.
Not having Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Jonathan Isaac decimated Orlando's viable offensive options, with the team shooting just 41% from the field. All three will be out of the rotation once again on Friday.
The Raptors' three victories have come with a league-best net rating of 25.9, fueled largely by a defense that's held opponents to just 91.4 points per 100 possessions. Even without their 2019 Finals Most Valuable Player, the defensive arsenal head coach Darko Rajakovic still has at his disposal remains deep, long, and tenacious.
Scottie Barnes scored 28 points, matching the combined total of Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane. That's not a recipe for success for Orlando, especially with Banchero sidelined after averaging 24.5 points per game.
Read Chris Walder's full Magic vs. Raptors predictions for more picks.
Pacers vs Heat pick: Pascal Siakam Over 3.5 assists
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: Pascal Siakam Over 3.5 assists
Play up to 63%.
Nembhard will be the main facilitator with Haliburton out, but Siakam will also be key in distributing the ball. The veteran has cashed the Over in dimes in two of his last three contests, and the Heat's defense isn't exactly elite at limiting ball movement.
Additionally, Miami is giving up four assists per night to opposing power forwards. With McConnell not suiting up either, the Pacers will need Siakam to step up as a passer. Although he had only three dimes against Philly earlier this week, this matchup is much easier.
He'll hit 4+ assists.
Read Quinn Allen's full Pacers vs. Heat predictions for more picks.
Rockets vs Mavericks pick: Rockets -5.5
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: Space City Home Network, KFDA
- Analyst: Chris Faria
Top pick: Rockets -5.5
Play this up to 57%.
The Houston Rockets aren't just off to a perfect 5-0 start this season - they're also 5-0-0 ATS with an average margin of victory of 14.2 points. That stretch includes a dominant 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks in their season opener.
38-year-old Kevin Durant is proving he's still a difference-maker, averaging 22.4 ppg and drawing seven fouls per game, tied for fifth-most among all players.
Durant and the Rockets will find success on the interior, where they'll either score in the paint or draw contact from the Mavs' defense. Dallas is allowing 53.2 ppg in the paint (26th), and that's not a good stylistic matchup for a Houston team that loves to attack the rim.
Read Chris Faria's full Rockets vs. Mavericks predictions for more picks.
Nuggets vs Suns pick: Nuggets -3.5
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: Nuggets -3.5
The Denver Nuggets haven't been at their best offensively to start the season, but this is an excellent matchup to get rolling against the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix ranks last in defensive rating and has surrendered at least 122 points in all three games. The Suns are also without starting center Mark Williams, leaving them vulnerable on the glass against Nikola Jokic.
Jokic is coming off a triple-double against New Orleans, finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. Phoenix ranks last in rebound percentage, so Denver should generate plenty of second-chance opportunities.
The Nuggets have won both of their games this season by at least six points, and I expect them to control the interior again.
Read Quinn Allen's full Nuggets vs. Suns predictions for more picks.
More NBA picks
Want to build a bigger card? These Covers roundups cover every bet type for today'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.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
