Thursday's NBA predictions feature two marquee matchups, with the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Philadelphia 76ers before the Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Our Covers analysts are backing Philadelphia to win at home and a low-scoring showdown in Oklahoma City. Let's break down today's top predictions and free NBA picks for Thursday, Oct. 22.
NBA top picks at a glance (Thursday, Oct. 22)
| Matchup & time | Top pick & analyst |
|---|---|
| Cavaliers vs. 76ers 7 p.m. ET |
76ers moneyline Quinn Allen |
| Nuggets vs. Thunder 9:30 p.m. ET |
Under 236.5 Geoff Clark |
Picks courtesy of Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.
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Cavaliers vs. 76ers pick: 76ers moneyline
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: 76ers moneyline
Philadelphia opened its season with an impressive 106-100 road victory over the defending champion Knicks, with four starters scoring in double figures. The Sixers also showed excellent ball movement, as four starters recorded at least five assists, giving Quinn Allen confidence in his Cavaliers vs. 76ers predictions.
Allen prefers the Philadelphia moneyline over laying the points against a Cleveland team capable of keeping things close. The Sixers held New York to just 100 points in their opener, while Joel Embiid could have a favorable matchup inside if Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) is unable to play. With Philadelphia's revamped starting five already showing strong chemistry, Allen is backing the Sixers to make it two straight wins.
Nuggets vs. Thunder pick: Under 236.5
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Analyst: Geoff Clark
Top pick: Under 236.5
Oklahoma City's top-five defense has the personnel to make life difficult for Denver's biggest offensive weapons. The Thunder added 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara to help contain Nikola Jokic, while elite perimeter defenders Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso can pressure Jamal Murray. Those defensive advantages support the Under 236.5 in Geoff Clark's Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions.
The pace also points toward a lower-scoring affair. Denver ranked seventh in half-court offense volume last season, while Oklahoma City ranked third, suggesting another deliberate, possession-by-possession battle. Only three of the last 10 meetings between these Western Conference contenders reached 235 points, and one of those games needed overtime to get there.
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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