Our NBA predictions for Sunday, Oct. 25 feature the Lakers looking to stay unbeaten in Utah, a defensive showdown between the Raptors and Timberwolves, and the Thunder aiming to dominate the Clippers at home.
We're backing Los Angeles to win outright, a low-scoring battle in Minnesota, and Oklahoma City to cover a hefty spread. Let's break down today's top predictions and free NBA picks.
NBA top picks at a glance (Sunday, Oct. 25)
| Matchup & time | Top pick & analyst |
|---|---|
| Lakers vs. Jazz 5 p.m. ET |
Lakers moneyline Chris Walder |
| Raptors vs. Timberwolves 7 p.m. ET |
Under 232.5 Zak Hanshew |
| Clippers vs. Thunder 7 p.m. ET |
Thunder -14.5 Chris Walder |
Picks courtesy of Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.
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Lakers vs. Jazz pick: Lakers moneyline
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- TV: Spectrum Sports Network, KJZZ-TV
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Lakers moneyline
Los Angeles has found an effective offensive identity without LeBron James, leaning on Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler rather than a heavy dose of three-pointers. The Lakers rank first in early-season offense despite playing at a more deliberate pace, giving Chris Walder confidence in his Lakers vs. Jazz predictions.
The Lakers swept Utah last season and have won five of their last seven visits to Salt Lake City. While Los Angeles has struggled against the spread in this matchup, going 1-7 ATS against the Jazz since 2022, Walder prefers the moneyline to avoid laying 6.5 points. Utah's turnover issues only strengthen the case for another Lakers victory.
Raptors vs. Timberwolves pick: Under 232.5
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NBA TV, DAZN MIN
- Analyst: Zak Hanshew
Top pick: Under 232.5
Two of the NBA's stingiest defenses square off in Minnesota, where Zak Hanshew's Raptors vs. Timberwolves predictions back Under 232.5 points. Toronto leads the league in defensive rating (88.6) through two games, while Minnesota ranks third (96.1), with both teams shutting down opposing shooters.
The Raptors boast an elite defensive pairing in Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes, while the Timberwolves counter with Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. Both teams rank among the league leaders in limiting field-goal attempts and points allowed, and three of their last four head-to-head meetings finished Under the total. Minnesota has also opened the season with two straight Unders, reinforcing the case for a low-scoring battle.
Clippers vs. Thunder pick: Thunder -14.5
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: ClipperVision, KSBI
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Thunder -14.5
Oklahoma City has dominated the Clippers at home for nearly a decade, with Los Angeles going just 1-15 straight up across its last 16 visits to OKC. The average margin of defeat in those games was 21.6 points, giving Chris Walder plenty of confidence in his Clippers vs. Thunder predictions despite the hefty 14.5-point spread.
The defending champions have already flexed their defensive muscle, holding the Nuggets and Spurs to just 95.9 points per 100 possessions through two games. Meanwhile, the Clippers are adjusting to life without Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, leaving an undermanned roster facing one of the NBA's toughest road environments. Oklahoma City went 29-2 straight up when favored by at least 14 points last season, including the playoffs, and Walder expects another comfortable victory.
More NBA picks
Want to build a bigger card? These Covers picks and tools provide more ways to approach 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.
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