NBA Cup Picks Today: 3 NBA Predictions and Best Bets for Friday, Oct. 30

Today’s Best NBA Picks at a Glance

• Raptors -5.5 (-108)
• Pacers-Heat Under 237.5 (-105)
• Nuggets -4.5 (-110)

Friday’s NBA slate is loaded with betting options as the league begins NBA Cup group play.

With several sizable spreads and a handful of teams dealing with significant injuries, there are some interesting spots to target in both the side and total markets.

Let’s break down our three best NBA bets for today, featuring two spread picks and one game total.

All NBA odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change after this article is published. You can also check out our player news page to stay up to date with injury news.

NBA Predictions for Today: Picks and Best Bets

Raptors -5.5 (-108)

Magic at Raptors — 7:30 p.m. ET

The Toronto Raptors have been one of the NBA's most impressive teams through the opening week, and this matchup gives them an excellent opportunity to keep rolling.

Toronto enters Friday at 3-1 while ranking first in defensive rating at 97.9 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, have had major problems offensively, sitting near the bottom of the league with an offensive rating around 103 points per 100 possessions.

We don't have to look far to see how this matchup can play out. These teams met in Toronto on Wednesday, and the Raptors rolled to a 129-99 victory. Orlando shot just 41.0% from the field and committed 20 turnovers in that loss.

The Magic are also severely shorthanded, with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs — two of their most important offensive pieces — unavailable. That's especially problematic against a Toronto defense that has been creating turnovers and making life difficult on opposing offenses.

Toronto to cover tonight is my favorite spread bet for Friday.

Pacers-Heat Under 237.5 (-105)

Pacers at Heat — 8:00 p.m. ET

The injury situation makes the under my preferred approach to Indiana's matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Indiana Pacers enter Friday extremely short-handed. They're missing their starting point guard (Tyrese Haliburton), backup point guard (T.J. McConnell) and starting center (Ivica Zubac, among others, leaving Indiana without several players who normally play significant roles in its offense.

Despite Indiana's reputation for playing quickly, its offense hasn't been especially dominant this season, even when healthier. The Pacers have posted a 112.4 offensive rating through five games, ranking in the middle of the league.

Miami hasn't exactly been lighting up scoreboards, either. The Heat are averaging 113.0 points per game and have connected on just 31.7% of their three-point attempts. That outside shooting has been a major issue, and it makes a total approaching 240 points difficult to get behind.

Indiana's depleted backcourt should also make it tougher for the Pacers to maintain their usual tempo and efficiency for 48 minutes. With 238 points required for the over to hit, this total looks a little too high.

Nuggets -4.5 (-110)

Nuggets at Suns — 10:00 p.m. ET

The Denver Nuggets haven't been at their best to begin the season, but this matchup offers a good opportunity for them to put together another convincing performance.

Denver is coming off its best defensive outing of the young campaign, holding New Orleans to 91 points in a 104-91 road win on Wednesday. The Nuggets limited the Pelicans to 39.5% shooting and held them to just 9 made three-pointers.

The bigger reason to like Denver, however, is what we've seen from the Phoenix Suns‘ defense.

The Suns have surrendered 123.7 points per game through their first three contests, the fifth-most in the league. Their defensive rating is even worse, checking in at 124.9 points allowed per 100 possessions, which ranks 30th.

Phoenix has also been hammered on the glass, allowing opponents to average 49.3 rebounds per game while collecting only 39.7 itself. That's a difficult weakness to hide against a Denver team capable of controlling possessions in the half court.

With Phoenix sitting at 1-2 and producing a -14.5 net rating through three games, I'm comfortable asking Denver to win by at least five on Friday night.

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NBA Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What does the point spread mean in NBA betting?

The point spread is a margin set by oddsmakers to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. For example, if the Golden State Warriors are listed at -7.5, they need to win by 8 or more points for a bet on them to cash. Conversely, a bet on their opponent at +7.5 wins if that team loses by 7 or fewer points — or wins outright.

What is the moneyline?

The moneyline is a straight-up bet on which team wins the game, with no spread involved. Favorites carry a negative number (e.g., -200, meaning you must risk $200 to win $100), while underdogs carry a positive number (e.g., +170, meaning a $100 bet returns $170 profit).

How does the over/under (game total) work?

Oddsmakers set a projected combined score for the game, and bettors wager on whether the actual total will go over or under that number. For instance, if the total is set at 224.5 points, an over bet wins if both teams combine for 225 or more points. NBA totals can swing based on pace of play, rest situations, and injuries, so it's worth tracking those factors before placing a total bet.

What are NBA player props?

Player props are bets tied to an individual player's statistical performance rather than the game's outcome. Common prop bet markets include points scored, assists, rebounds, three-pointers made, and combinations of those stats.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.