NBA Picks Opening Day: 3 NBA Predictions and Best Bets for Tuesday, October 20

Tuesday’s Best NBA Picks at a Glance

• Celtics Moneyline (-112)
• Knicks -5.5 (-105)
• OKC-Spurs Under 231.5 (-114)

The 2026-27 NBA season gets underway on Tuesday with a three-game opening-day slate, giving us our first chance to dive into NBA betting markets after a long offseason.

The action begins with the Boston Celtics visiting the Detroit Pistons before the defending champion New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. The night concludes with a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

With three intriguing matchups on the schedule, let's check out the best NBA bets to target on Tuesday.

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 Opening Night: Tomorrow’s Picks and Best Bets

Celtics Moneyline (-112)

Celtics at Pistons, 3 p.m. ET

Two squads that had underwhelming playoffs last year open the 2026-27 NBA season tomorrow afternoon in Detroit as the Detroit Pistons host the Boston Celtics.

Despite finishing just 44-38 a year ago, Boston had excellent underlying numbers, ranking second in offensive rating (120.8), fourth in defensive rating (112.7), and fourth in net rating (+8.1). The Celtics also played at the NBA's slowest pace, which helped them allow a league-low 107.2 points per game.

Now, Jayson Tatum is fully back after missing most of last season while recovering from his Achilles injury, and his preseason work provided plenty of encouragement. Tatum averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals across his two preseason appearances while shooting 48% from the field and 39% from three.

Detroit was a difficult matchup for Boston last season, winning three of their four meetings, but three of those games were decided by six points or fewer. Boston's only two trips to Detroit resulted in six- and one-point losses.

Time will tell what the blockbuster Paul George-Jaylen Brown move means for this Boston squad, but I think the Celtics will still be one of the top teams in the East.

With Tatum back alongside Derrick White and a Celtics team that still profiles well at both ends of the court, I like Boston to get a season-opening road win over Detroit.

Knicks -5.5 (-105)

76ers at Knicks, 7 p.m. ET

The defending champs open the season at home against a Philadelphia 76ers team that generated a lot of headlines this offseason.

Philadelphia has plenty of star power after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a group featuring Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. But assembling that much high-usage talent creates some obvious questions about how quickly everything will click offensively.

The New York Knicks don’t have the same continuity concerns. The Knicks return the core of a championship roster built around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, giving them a much more established foundation entering opening night.

There was also a massive swing in last season's series. Philadelphia won the first two meetings at Madison Square Garden, but New York responded by winning both games in Philadelphia. The second of those was a 138-89 demolition in which the Knicks shot 52.7% from the field, 45.5% from three, and handed out 41 assists. The Knicks then swept Philly in the second round of the playoffs.

With New York getting its championship celebration at home and Philadelphia potentially needing some time to sort out its new-look squad, the Knicks to cover is my favorite spread bet on Tuesday.

Thunder-Spurs Under 231.5 (-114)

76ers at Knicks, 9:30 p.m. ET

The final game of opening night features two loaded Western Conference teams, but the defensive talent on both sides makes the under appealing at 231.5.

The Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the NBA's No. 1 defense for the second consecutive season in 2025-26, while Victor Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year for the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama and OKC’s Chet Holmgren actually finished first and second, respectively, in DPOY voting.

That defense was on display when these teams met last season. Oklahoma City averaged only 109.2 points across five regular-season games against San Antonio while shooting 44.8% from the field and 33.0% from three.

The five meetings finished with combined point totals of 220, 240, 219, 217, and 222. That gives us an average of 223.6 points, with four of the five contests finishing below Tuesday's 231.5-point line.

Both teams obviously possess enough offensive firepower to turn this into a shootout, and OKC’s defense may take a step back sans Luguentz Dort. But this is a sizable number for a matchup featuring two potentially elite defenses. With Wembanyama protecting the rim for San Antonio and OKC's defense capable of making life difficult at every level, I'll side with under 231.5 points.

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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.