NBA Picks Today: 4 NBA Predictions and Best Bets for Monday, October 26

Today’s Best NBA Picks at a Glance

• Wizards Moneyline (+122)
• Timberwolves +4.5 (-110)
• Suns-Thunder Under 221.5 (-115)
• Nuggets -7.5 (-106)

Monday's NBA slate features nine games, giving us a wide range of options across the moneyline, spread and total markets.

For today's best bets, we're targeting an underdog with outright-win potential, a low-scoring matchup involving one of the league's best defenses, and two spread spots where the current number looks appealing.

Here are four NBA bets to consider for today via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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.

What are the top NBA player props for today?

NBA Predictions for Today: Picks and Best Bets

Wizards Moneyline (+122)

Wizards at Hornets — 7:00 p.m. ET

The Washington Wizards catch my eye as a small plus-money road underdog against the Charlotte Hornets.

Washington has split its first two games, opening the year with a 128-116 victory over Milwaukee before falling 112-102 to Toronto. Charlotte has started 2-1, but its availability concerns make the Hornets difficult to trust as a favorite.

Charlotte will be without both Coby White and Kon Knueppel, who have been listed out with calf and hamstring injuries, respectively. Knueppel entered Monday averaging 18.3 points per game while White was at 17.1 points per game, leaving the Hornets without two significant sources of offense.

With Charlotte missing that much scoring and the spread sitting at only 2.5, I'd rather take the plus-money ML odds with the Wiz than grab the points.

Timberwolves +4.5 (-110)

Timberwolves at Cavaliers — 7:00 p.m. ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the league's most impressive teams during the opening week, but they are 4.5-point ‘dogs tonight at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Minnesota enters Monday 3-0 after beating Miami, Orlando and Toronto. Those victories have come by 25, 22 and 23 points, respectively, giving the Wolves a combined scoring margin of +70 through three games. FanDuel lists Minnesota at +4.5 despite that dominant opening stretch.

The scheduling situation is the main concern. Minnesota is playing on the second night of a back-to-back after Sunday's 117-94 victory over Toronto while Cleveland has been off since Saturday. Still, I like Minny at +4.5 against a Cavs team that I don’t fully trust yet — and one that beat the lowly Nets by only four in Cleveland last time out.

Even accounting for the rest disadvantage, I'd rather have the points with the team that has been playing substantially better basketball early on.

Suns-Thunder Under 221.5 (-115)

Suns at Thunder — 8:00 p.m. ET

The matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder sets up well for a full-game under.

Oklahoma City has opened 3-0 while leaning heavily on its defense. Early-season data has the Thunder second in defensive rating at 94.9 points allowed per 100 possessions, and they've also played at just the 26th-fastest pace. Phoenix has been even slower, ranking 30th in pace through two games.

The Thunder held Denver to 84 points and the Clippers to 101 in their last two games. Phoenix, meanwhile, has produced wildly different results offensively, scoring only 83 in its opener before bouncing back with 131 against Golden State.

Oklahoma City's ability to limit efficient possessions is the biggest factor for me, and OKC will also be sans star wing Jalen Williams, which could make life tougher than usual for them on offense. The Thunder have also been excellent at generating turnovers, and Phoenix's slow tempo should keep the overall possession count manageable.

Nuggets -7.5 (-106)

Warriors at Nuggets — 10:00 p.m. ET

The injury situation makes it difficult for me to pass on the Denver Nuggets against the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State enters the matchup without Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody. Several other Warriors have also appeared on the injury report, leaving Golden State's rotation significantly thinner than normal.

The Warriors are 0-3, and their defense has allowed 123 points per game through the opening stretch, ranking near the bottom of the league. That's an uncomfortable matchup against a Denver offense built around Nikola Jokic, who averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists last season.

Denver is only 1-1, but its home opener showed how explosive this offense can be, with the Nuggets putting up 141 points against New Orleans in an OT game. Golden State simply doesn't have the same margin for error with so many pieces missing.

Even though Denver hasn’t looked great so far this season, I think they can run away from the struggling Warriors.

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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.