NBA Picks for October 28, 2026
NBA Picks and Predictions for Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Wednesday brings a full 12-game NBA schedule, with everything from a struggling Washington defense visiting Cleveland to an interesting Western Conference matchup between Golden State and Minnesota. Oklahoma City heads to Dallas, Houston visits Milwaukee, and the Lakers and Clippers finish the night in Inglewood.
It's still October. I'm not going to treat a three-game winning streak like proof that a team is unbeatable. But some of these early results are telling us where the defensive problems are, which clubs are playing well on the road, and where the betting prices might be getting ahead of themselves. Here are my picks for every Wednesday game, along with our NBA Best Bet of the Day. For more predictions, check out our free NBA picks.
Today's NBA Picks for October 28, 2026
Charlotte Hornets vs. Detroit Pistons Best Bet
Charlotte has already shown it can compete, beating Miami 115-110 and Washington 110-103. The Hornets have done a better job defensively in those games than they did during their embarrassing 128-81 loss to Atlanta. Still, there are questions about whether Charlotte can sustain that improvement against stronger opponents.
Detroit has won road games against Miami and Philadelphia, showing two different ways to win. The Pistons scored 128 against the Heat, then held the 76ers to 93. That defensive performance in Philadelphia was particularly impressive. Detroit now returns home with an opportunity to build on its early momentum.
Best Bet: Detroit Pistons Moneyline (-303)
I'll back Detroit to win, although this is an expensive moneyline. The Pistons have been the more dependable defensive team, and their ability to win on the road suggests they're in good shape for their home opener. Charlotte has improved, but the Hornets haven't shown enough consistency to make me comfortable backing them in Detroit. The price isn't attractive enough for a major wager, but the Pistons are the preferred winner.
NBA Best Bet: Detroit Pistons ML (-303)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers Best Bet
Philadelphia has already beaten Cleveland and Milwaukee, but the 76ers followed those victories with a 106-93 home loss to Detroit. That was a disappointing offensive performance, and Philadelphia needs to get back to generating easier scoring opportunities.
Indiana has been inconsistent, beating New Orleans and Brooklyn while losing to Dallas and Milwaukee. The Pacers scored 136 against Brooklyn but managed only 102 in Monday's loss to the Bucks. Their offense can be dangerous, but it hasn't been dependable from one game to the next.
Best Bet: Philadelphia 76ers Moneyline (-130)
I'm taking Philadelphia in a close one. Indiana has home court and enough offense to win, but the Pacers haven't been consistent defensively. Philadelphia has already demonstrated it can beat quality opponents, and I expect a better offensive effort after the Detroit loss. At -130, the 76ers are a reasonable favorite.
NBA Best Bet: Philadelphia 76ers ML (-130)
Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks Best Bet
Miami has had a rough opening week, losing to Minnesota, Detroit, Charlotte and Dallas. The Heat have struggled to defend consistently, allowing at least 109 points in each game. That's not a great situation heading into a road matchup against an Atlanta team capable of scoring in bunches.
Atlanta opened with wins over Orlando and Charlotte before losing twice to Houston. The Hawks scored 132 against Orlando and 128 against Charlotte, but Houston held them to 110 on Monday. Atlanta has shown enough offensive ability to be dangerous, particularly against teams that struggle defensively.
Best Bet: Atlanta Hawks Moneyline (-137)
I'll back Atlanta at home. Miami hasn't demonstrated enough defensive consistency to inspire confidence, and the Hawks have already shown they can put together big offensive nights. Atlanta needs to do a better job defensively than it did against Houston, but Miami hasn't been efficient enough offensively to make me worried about laying a modest moneyline.
NBA Best Bet: Atlanta Hawks ML (-137)
Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Best Bet
Washington has produced some surprising wins, but the Wizards have also struggled defensively. They allowed 116 points to Milwaukee, 120 to Chicago and 112 to Toronto before losing 110-103 at Charlotte. The offense has been capable of scoring, but the defense hasn't been dependable.
Cleveland has been involved in several close games, including a 125-121 victory over Brooklyn and a 127-125 overtime win against Minnesota. The Cavaliers haven't dominated every opponent, but they've been able to finish close contests at home.
Best Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers Moneyline (-400)
Cleveland is the clear preferred winner, although laying -400 doesn't offer much value. Washington has enough offense to stay competitive, but its defensive problems make this a difficult road matchup. The Cavaliers have demonstrated they can win close games, and I expect them to control this one. The moneyline is a winner prediction rather than an attractive standalone wager.
NBA Best Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers ML (-400)
Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors Best Bet
Orlando has been inconsistent, losing to Minnesota before going into New York and beating the Knicks 111-102. That road victory was encouraging because the Magic didn't need a spectacular offensive performance to win. They controlled the game defensively and limited New York's opportunities.
Toronto opened with a 135-92 victory over Chicago and followed with a 112-102 win at Washington. The Raptors then lost 117-94 to Minnesota. Toronto has home court, but its offense has struggled when opponents have defended effectively.
Best Bet: Orlando Magic Moneyline (+189)
I'll take Orlando at the underdog price. Toronto deserves to be favored at home, but +189 is a substantial return for a Magic team that just demonstrated it can win at Madison Square Garden. Orlando needs another strong defensive performance, and Toronto could control the game if its offense gets going. Still, the price makes the Magic worth a look.
NBA Best Bet: Orlando Magic ML (+189)
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans Best Bet
Denver beat New Orleans 141-135 on Saturday, and that game tells you plenty about the defensive issues both teams have been dealing with. The Nuggets scored freely, but they also allowed 135 points. Denver then lost 134-114 to Golden State on Monday, giving up another big offensive performance.
New Orleans has been competitive offensively, scoring 120 against Indiana, 119 against Utah and 135 against Denver. The Pelicans haven't been defending particularly well either, but they've shown enough scoring ability to make this another high-possession matchup.
Best Bet: Over 239.5 Points — Target
I'm looking at the over if the total is 239.5 or lower. These teams combined for 276 points in their first meeting, and Denver's defense followed that performance by allowing 134 to Golden State. New Orleans has enough offense to contribute, and the Nuggets should generate opportunities against a Pelicans defense that hasn't been dependable. The danger is that both teams make defensive adjustments after Saturday's shootout, but the recent scoring numbers support another high total.
NBA Best Bet: Nuggets-Pelicans Over 239.5 — Target
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Best Bet
Golden State is coming off an impressive 134-114 victory over Denver on Monday. The Warriors had struggled defensively during their first few games, but their offense finally put together a complete performance against the Nuggets.
Minnesota has been one of the stronger teams during the opening week. The Timberwolves beat Miami 131-106, Orlando 115-93 and Toronto 117-94 before losing 127-125 in overtime at Cleveland. Minnesota has been scoring efficiently while generally defending well.
Best Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves Moneyline (-217)
I'm taking Minnesota at home. Golden State's victory over Denver was impressive, but the Warriors have been inconsistent defensively, and Minnesota has demonstrated it can score against different opponents. The Timberwolves have the stronger defensive foundation, and that should help them control the game if Golden State's shooting cools off. The price is substantial, but Minnesota is the preferred side.
NBA Best Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves ML (-217)
New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls Best Bet
New York has struggled offensively, losing 107-103 to Boston and 111-102 to Orlando. The Knicks haven't been getting enough easy baskets, and that has made their offense look stagnant at times.
Chicago has had serious defensive problems, allowing 135 to Toronto, 125 to Milwaukee, 124 to Washington and 134 to Boston. The Bulls have enough offense to compete when their shots are falling, but giving up that many points makes it difficult to win consistently.
Best Bet: New York Knicks Moneyline (-255)
I'll back New York to win. The Knicks haven't been playing their best basketball, but Chicago's defense gives them an opportunity to get the offense moving again. The Bulls could make this competitive if their perimeter shooting is strong, but New York has the better defensive situation. The moneyline is expensive, so this isn't my favorite wager on the board.
NBA Best Bet: New York Knicks ML (-255)
Houston Rockets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Best Bet
Houston has opened with victories over Dallas, San Antonio and Atlanta twice. The Rockets have been productive offensively, scoring at least 114 points in each game, and they've demonstrated they can win both at home and on the road.
Milwaukee finally picked up a victory Monday, beating Indiana 110-102 after opening with three losses. The Bucks defended much better in that game, but their earlier performances were concerning. Milwaukee allowed at least 125 points in each of its first three contests.
Best Bet: Houston Rockets Moneyline (-360)
Houston is the preferred winner. The Rockets have been more consistent offensively and have demonstrated they can handle road environments. Milwaukee's defensive improvement against Indiana is worth noting, and the Bucks could make this competitive if they sustain it. Still, Houston has been the more dependable team. At -360, though, this is another prediction rather than a particularly attractive straight wager.
NBA Best Bet: Houston Rockets ML (-360)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz Best Bet
San Antonio bounced back from its opening loss to Houston with a 122-106 road victory over Dallas. The Spurs have shown enough offensive ability to take advantage of defensive mistakes, and they should have opportunities against a Utah team that has struggled to get stops.
Utah lost 123-103 to Memphis, beat New Orleans 120-119, lost 132-123 to the Lakers and then fell 110-105 to Memphis on Monday. The Jazz have been competitive at times, but their defense hasn't been consistent enough to protect leads.
Best Bet: San Antonio Spurs Moneyline (-556)
San Antonio should win this game, but the moneyline is extremely expensive. Utah has home court and enough offense to keep things interesting, particularly if the Spurs struggle from the perimeter. Still, San Antonio has the stronger overall matchup and should generate plenty of opportunities against the Jazz defense. I wouldn't make -556 a major wager, but the Spurs are the preferred winner.
NBA Best Bet: San Antonio Spurs ML (-556)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks Best Bet
Oklahoma City has started the season with victories over Denver, the Clippers and Phoenix. The Thunder held Denver to 84 points in their opener, then beat the Clippers 108-101 and Phoenix 125-114. Their defense has been particularly dependable.
Dallas has been inconsistent. The Mavericks lost to Houston, beat Indiana, lost to San Antonio and then won 113-109 at Miami. Dallas has enough offense to compete, but it hasn't demonstrated the defensive consistency needed to handle a team like Oklahoma City.
Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder Moneyline (-347)
I'll back Oklahoma City on the road. The Thunder have been defending well, and their ability to win lower-scoring games gives them an advantage against a Dallas team that has been inconsistent. The Mavericks could keep this competitive at home, but Oklahoma City has been the more dependable team. The price is high, so I'd be more interested in a reasonable spread than laying -347.
NBA Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder ML (-347)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers Best Bet
The Lakers have opened with victories over Golden State, the Clippers and Utah. Their offense has been productive, scoring at least 125 points in each of those games. Los Angeles has also demonstrated it can win close contests, including its 125-117 victory over the Clippers last Friday.
The Clippers have been inconsistent, losing to the Lakers and Oklahoma City after beating Sacramento. Their offense has been capable of scoring, but they haven't been dependable enough defensively to control stronger opponents.
Best Bet: Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline (-188)
I'll take the Lakers to win another meeting with the Clippers. They've been more consistent offensively, and their recent head-to-head victory gives them a reasonable advantage. The Clippers have home court this time, and that could change the matchup, but the Lakers have shown more offensive reliability. At -188, the Lakers are my preferred side.
NBA Best Bet: Los Angeles Lakers ML (-188)
NBA Best Bet of the Day
Atlanta Hawks Moneyline (-137) against the Miami Heat is my NBA Best Bet of the Day. Miami has struggled defensively throughout the opening week, and Atlanta has demonstrated enough offensive ability to take advantage. The Hawks have home court and a reasonable moneyline price compared with several of Wednesday's heavy favorites.
Atlanta has defensive problems of its own, and Miami could make this competitive if the Heat finally put together a more efficient offensive performance. But the Hawks have the better matchup at a manageable price.
Final Pick: Atlanta Hawks ML (-137)
Betting lines, injuries and starting lineups may change before tipoff. Moneylines reflect an October 28 market snapshot; the Denver-New Orleans total is an unverified target. Confirm the latest prices before placing a wager.