Free NBA Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 22, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
Spread |
Total |
ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
115.62 |
+6.5 +100 
|
o232.5 -115 
|
+195
|
|
119.30 |
-6.5 -110
|
u234.5 -109 
|
-215 
|
Golden State
L.A. Lakers
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
Spread |
Total |
ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
116.05 |
+3.5 -110 
|
o232.5 -105 
|
+140
|
|
117.42 |
-3.5 -110
|
u232.5 -105
|
-150
|
Phoenix
Portland
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
Spread |
Total |
ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
113.40 |
+6.5 -135
|
o226.0 -110
|
+163
|
|
115.29 |
-6.5 +105
|
u226.5 -105 
|
-175
|
Sacramento
L.A. Clippers
GS
@
LAL
Wed, Oct 21 • 10:00 PM ET
Walker Kessler o11.5 Total Rebounds (+105)
With both offenses looking to be aggressive in terms of field goal attempts, there will be a surplus of rebounding chances. Kessler has a notable size edge over the Warriors’ frontcourt, with Kristaps Porzingis out and backup big Charles Bassey doubtful. That leaves the smaller Green and the slower Horford to share center duties. His projections for tonight sit between 11+ and 12+ boards but given the matchup and injection of tempo for both teams, I like Kessler to corral at least a dozen rebounds for L.A.
Stephen Curry o24.5 Points Scored (-104)
Brandin Podziemski will miss the season opener for the Warriors, sliding De'Anthony Melton into the starting five and shouldering point guard duties. That has Curry playing more off-ball versus the Lakers, running through screens and finding space in the retooled five-out playbook. Projections for Wednesday sit between 24.9 and 27.5 points with the majority of models coming in north of 25 points. My number is at 26+ considering a poor L.A. defense and a negative game script pushing Curry to score more.
PHO
@
POR
Wed, Oct 21 • 10:00 PM ET
Miles Bridges o14.5 Points Scored (-133)
Bridges only needs 15+ points, while Brooks and Green are priced at 20+. He cleared 15 points in 47 of 77 games last season, and I'm projecting a larger offensive role for him in Phoenix.
Donovan Clingan o11.5 Total Rebounds (-117)
Clingan averaged 12.8 rebounds against Phoenix last season, and the Suns ranked 27th in defensive rebounding rate. His improved shooting should also keep him on the floor longer, giving Cling Kong even more opportunities to dominate the glass.
SAC
@
LAC
Wed, Oct 21 • 10:30 PM ET
Brook Lopez o9.5 Points Scored (-110)
Lopez could easily match Isaiah Jackson's minutes despite coming off the bench. If he gets 20+ minutes, his post game, free-throw shooting, and 3-point range give him several ways to reach double figures against Sacramento.
Zach LaVine o19.5 Points Scored (+127)
LaVine 20+ points is playable up to 52%. With DeRozan gone, he should take over as Sacramento's primary scorer, while Sabonis and Acuff handle much of the creation around him against a Clippers defense I'm projecting to finish bottom 10.
CLE
@
PHI
Thu, Oct 22 • 7:00 PM ET
CLE (+133)
Philadelphia opened the season with a win over the Knicks on ring night, but its new starting five still needs time to build chemistry. Jarrett Allen is questionable, though his status matters less against a 76ers team that could play small and push the pace. Evan Mobley at center may be a better fit for Cleveland, with Sam Merrill's shooting another reason to limit the two-big lineup. At 42%, I'll back the Cavaliers, who I price closer to 45%.
DEN
@
OKC
Thu, Oct 22 • 9:30 PM ET
OKC (-285)
Oklahoma City's defense just gave Victor Wembanyama problems, and Nikola Jokic is next. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein provide the size to challenge Denver's star, while Aday Mara and Alex Caruso add even more defensive versatility. A 74% probability is steep against a Western Conference contender, but I still see value in the Thunder, pricing Oklahoma City closer to 77% favorites on Thursday.
Our experts and prediction models are hard at work analyzing the data. Check back shortly for today's picks, or explore our Computer Picks for inspiration.
The table above displays our sports betting computer’s picks based on the last 100 NBA games played. It gives basketball bettors a data-backed look into which games and NBA odds could hold some hidden value.
It can be tricky to nail down the “perfect” bet, but our expert predictions will teach you how to bet on basketball matchups with confidence.
Following the computer picks blindly is not a surefire way to make gains when betting on NBA action. If anything, it's merely a guide to place bettors in the best position possible to achieve success, whether you're betting the moneyline, spread, or OVER/UNDER.
We use statistical analysis and machine-learning projections to make our selections, but don't forget to do your own research to find the best value!
Betting the moneyline in the NBA means you're picking the winner of the game, no strings attached. If the team you bet on emerges victorious, then so do you.
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -120 |
| Golden State Warriors | +150 |
In this example, the Los Angeles Lakers are the favorites to win the game as their moneyline odds have a minus sign (-) in front of the number. The favorites will have the minus sign present, and the underdogs will have a plus sign (+).
Betting $100 on the Lakers would pay you $180, your original $100 bet, plus $80 in winnings. If you bet $100 on the Warriors, since oddsmakers believe they're less likely to win this game, the payout would be $250, with a profit of $150.
Betting the spread in the NBA provides more wiggle room to bettors for games that may appear one-sided on paper. Rather than simply picking the winner like you would with the moneyline, you can instead pick the point differential to give underdogs more of a fighting chance with your wagers.
| Team | Spread |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -4.5 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | +4.5 (-110) |
In this example, the Lakers are favored to not only win the game against the Warriors, but to do so by at least 4.5 points. As a gentle reminder, the minus sign (-) determines the favorite for the game in question.
Should the Lakers win by five points, that would mean Los Angeles "covered the spread," resulting in a win for those who bet in their favor. However, if the Lakers won by four points, that would mean the Warriors "covered the spread" instead.
The -110 betting line enclosed in parentheses is fairly common for spread bets. That is the number bettors would follow to determine potential gains and losses, just like the moneyline. Odds are usually equal on both sides of the line, but can range from -105 to -120 (or more) in either direction.
An Over/Under bet in the NBA has nothing to do with which team wins the game. Instead, all that matters is the total combined score for that game and whether it exceeds a preset number established by oddsmakers.
| Team | Total |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | O 240.5 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | U 240.5 (-110) |
In this example, oddsmakers have set the total score for the Lakers and Warriors at 240.5 points.
As a bettor, you can select the Over if you believe the two teams will combine to score more than 240.5 points, 241 or more, or bet the Under if they'll score fewer than 240.5 points, 240 or fewer.
If the set number was a whole number like 240 points, for example, and the two teams combined to score exactly that amount, then the result would be a push and you'd get your money back on the wager.
Our moneyline picks, point spread predictions, and Over/Under estimates are solid tools to start betting with. Don't glance over other tools, though, especially NBA analytics. You can find a collection of resources below, ranging from databases to NBA betting tips; browse through them and find the best value on every NBA betting site.
Covers NBA picks generally release on game day. Some significant matchups like playoff games release in the days leading up to the game.
Covers provides free NBA picks covering many markets, including point spreads, totals, moneylines, player props, and more.
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