Night One of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the books. We're on to Night Two — and even more of our expert NBA predictions from the "Buckets" podcast. For tonight's 10-game slate, our expert crew has best bets across the board on spreads, totals, player props and more.
Currently, the biggest spread Wednesday is the -7.5 in both Nets vs. Hawks and Hornets vs. Rockets, where the Hawks and Rockets are each 7.5-point favorites. The tightest spread is in Magic vs. Heat, as Miami is just -2 against Orlando. The Bulls (+7) are the most popular spread bet, with 77% of the tickets against the Pelicans.
The highest total of the night is 234 points in Pacers vs. Pistons, while the lowest over/under is 208.5 points in that aforementioned Magic vs. Heat game. Coincidentally, the most popular total is the over in Orlando vs. Miami, with 90% of the over/under bets in that game.
Let's get to our NBA best bets and NBA picks for Wednesday, October 23.
NBA Predictions and Best Bets
Click on any of the links below to go directly to the specific expert NBA pick from "Buckets".
- Cavaliers (-6) to cover the spread vs. the Raptors
- Suns vs. Clippers Over (Bet to 224.5)
- Warriors vs. Blazers Under (Bet to 221.5)
- Bam Adebayo Over 0.5 3-pointers made
Best NBA Picks Today
Cleveland Cavaliers -6 vs. Toronto Raptors
Raptors Missing Players:
"The Raptors have already ruled out R.J. Barrett, Bruce Brown, and Kelly Olynyk. Remember, Kelly Olynyk said in the media day press conference that they weren’t really focused on winning this year."
Cavaliers' Offensive Strategy:
"The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are trying to push the pace, trying to initiate a lot of offense and trying to be a team that really steps on the gas. Now, the general travel trip through customs and through Canada to Toronto is difficult. However, doing it for night one when you’re already in Eastern Conference and East Coast team is less daunting than it will be throughout the regular season."
Suns vs. Clippers Over 224
Suns' Offensive Firepower:
"They are healthy, they have a point guard, they have an offensive coach, and they should really start to lengthen their offensive performance this year. They’re going to shoot more threes, finally, let’s hope."
Durant's Scoring Efficiency:
"Kevin Durant, 23 and a half points on a player prop, that’s too low in my opinion. He can score at will without a single play being called for him and end up with 28 like no one even looked."
Warriors vs. Blazers Under 222
Warriors' Defense Will Dominate:
"I think the Warriors' defense is going to be better. They looked extremely sharp in terms of defensive rotations and personnel, the kids look like they know what they’re doing. Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski, all of them look like fully formed NBA players who are ready to lock in and play defense, led by Draymond (Green)."
Warriors' Offense Not as Strong:
"The Blazers' defense is awful, that’s a counter here, but I don’t think the Warriors’ offense is still going to be great. I actually think much like the Chiefs are now a pretty good Patrick Mahomes with an elite defense, the Warriors might be,
Steph Curry is not as good as he once was, but he's as good once as he ever was' and an elite defense around him."
Bam Adebayo Over 0.5 Three-Pointers Made
Bam's Increased Three-Point Attempts:
"Last 17 games of the season, he made one three at least, one three in 11 of those. He also did it a couple of times in the playoffs. He did make more than one three three times."
Bam's Shooting Form and Open Looks:
"He has a nice form. He actually made 50% from three toward the end of last year to last 17 games of the season last year was 14 of 28. And like he is going to have open threes is the key to this too."
How Bam's Three-Point Shooting Will Impact the Game:
"There’s going to be games where he probably doesn’t shoot that many. I think against Orlando, they’re probably going to need it because this game could be very ugly, and they’re going to need the spacing. This could be an under spot depending on where that total ends up getting to."
NBA Odds and Schedule Today
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -112 | 234 -108o / -112u | -198 |
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -108 | 234 -108o / -112u | +164 |
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -108 | 224 -110o / -110u | -162 |
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -112 | 224 -110o / -110u | +136 |
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -108 | 224.5 -108o / -112u | -250 |
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -112 | 224.5 -108o / -112u | +205 |
| Magic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -112 | 208 -112o / -108u | +105 |
| Heat Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -108 | 208 -112o / -108u | -125 |
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -105 | 221 -108o / -112u | +250 |
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -115 | 221 -108o / -112u | -310 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | +220 |
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | -270 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 226 -110o / -110u | +215 |
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 226 -110o / -110u | -265 |
| Grizzlies Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -112 | 227.5 -110o / -110u | -148 |
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -108 | 227.5 -110o / -110u | +124 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -108 | 224 -108o / -112u | -198 |
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -112 | 224 -108o / -112u | +164 |
| Warriors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -112 | 222 -108o / -112u | -225 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -108 | 222 -108o / -112u | +185 |
