# Cavaliers vs. 76ers NBA Predictions & Betting Preview > Bet Cavaliers vs. 76ers at Prime Sportsbook. Get NBA predictions, odds, best bets, schedule details and key matchup insights. Published 2026-10-22 · By [Tom Wilkinson](https://www.primesportsbook.com/author/tom/) The Cleveland Cavaliers open their 2026-27 NBA season Thursday night against a Philadelphia 76ers team that has added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Cleveland won all four meetings last season, but Philadelphia’s revamped lineup presents a different challenge. The second game sends Denver to Oklahoma City, with Nikola Jokić facing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Our NBA predictions call for a Cleveland upset and an Oklahoma City victory, while the best NBA bets today focus on the point spreads. Here’s the NBA schedule, [**Prime odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/basketball/nba/), and key matchups for Thursday, October 22. ## **NBA Schedule Today** Thursday’s NBA schedule includes two nationally televised games on ESPN. Philadelphia and Oklahoma City are scheduled to play Tuesday, while Cleveland and Denver will make their regular-season debuts Thursday. All four teams have at least one day off before these matchups. ### **Today’s NBA Games and Tipoff Times** **Thursday, October 22 (All Times Eastern)** Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 PM, ESPN. Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder – 9:30 PM, ESPN. ### **Top NBA Matchups to Watch Today** Cleveland faces a Philadelphia lineup featuring several major offseason additions. The late game matches two MVP contenders in Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander, with Oklahoma City favored by 8.5 points. Both games present opportunities for bettors to evaluate underdogs against teams with higher preseason expectations. ## **NBA Standings and Today’s Playoff Picture** The 2026-27 NBA standings have yet to develop, so last season’s results and current futures odds provide a better starting point for evaluating Thursday’s matchups. All four teams reached the playoffs last season, although their postseason results varied. ### **Eastern Conference Standings** Cleveland’s fourth-place standing came with a 52-30 record and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Philadelphia finished seventh at 45-37 before losing in the conference semifinals. Prime sets Philadelphia’s season win total at 50.5, compared with Cleveland’s 47.5. ### **Western Conference Standings** Oklahoma City finished first in the West at 64-18 last season, while Denver was third at 54-28. Their respective season win totals are 61.5 and 49.5. ## **NBA Predictions for Today’s Games** Thursday’s NBA predictions favor Cleveland and Oklahoma City to win outright. The Cavaliers have enough returning talent to challenge Philadelphia’s new lineup, while Oklahoma City’s defense makes the Thunder the preferred winner against Denver. ### **Predictions for Today’s Top Matchups** **Cleveland is the pick to defeat Philadelphia outright.** Donovan Mitchell and James Harden give the Cavaliers an established offensive combination, supported by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Philadelphia has tremendous talent, but developing chemistry among its new stars could take time. **Oklahoma City is the pick over Denver.** The Thunder’s defensive strength provides the advantage, although Jokić and Jamal Murray give the Nuggets enough offensive potential to remain competitive. ### **Potential Upsets to Watch** Cleveland is our outright upset selection at +114 on the moneyline. The Cavaliers have maintained their core while Philadelphia adjusts to major offseason changes. Denver faces a more difficult assignment at +245 against Oklahoma City. ## **Best NBA Bets Today** The best NBA bets today center on Cleveland and Denver against the spread. The Cavaliers have the returning talent to win outright as small underdogs, while the Nuggets have shown they can challenge Oklahoma City even when they don’t win. Both recommendations carry early-season uncertainty, particularly after offseason roster changes. Here are the [**Prime NBA odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/basketball/nba/) for Thursday’s games: | **Matchup** | **Spread** | **Moneyline** | **Total** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cavaliers at 76ers | CLE +2.5 (-112), PHI -2.5 (-108) | CLE +114, PHI -134 | 236.5 | | Nuggets at Thunder | DEN +8.5 (-115), OKC -8.5 (-105) | DEN +245, OKC -300 | 236.5 | ### **Best Spread and Moneyline Bets** **Cleveland +2.5 (-112)** is the top spread selection. The Cavaliers are also our pick to win outright, making their +114 moneyline an alternative for bettors seeking a higher return without the points. **Denver +8.5 (-115)** is the second selection. The Nuggets have covered seven of their last 10 meetings with Oklahoma City, giving them a reasonable opportunity to stay within the spread. ### **NBA Totals and Over/Under Bets** Both games carry totals of 236.5. Denver-Oklahoma City went Over the posted total in all four meetings last season, although only two exceeded Thursday’s number. **Over 236.5 (-105)** is a smaller secondary play rather than a primary recommendation. ## **NBA Picks and Parlays Today** Our NBA picks favor Cleveland and Oklahoma City to win outright. Cleveland +2.5 and Denver +8.5 are the preferred spread selections, while the Cavaliers’ +114 moneyline provides another way to back our predicted upset. ### **NBA Picks for Today** - **Cavaliers +2.5 (-112):** Cleveland’s returning core makes this the preferred spread selection. - **Nuggets +8.5 (-115):** Denver’s offensive talent provides a path to covering against Oklahoma City. - **Nuggets-Thunder Over 236.5 (-105):** A smaller totals play based on the matchup’s scoring potential. ### **NBA Parlay Ideas** One [**NBA parlay**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/basketball/nba/) idea combines Cleveland +2.5 with Denver +8.5. Both underdogs would need to cover for the wager to cash, increasing the risk compared with separate bets. The individual spread selections remain the preferred approach. ## **NBA Betting Tips for Today’s Games** The opening week presents challenges for NBA betting because teams are adjusting to new rotations and playing combinations. One of the most useful NBA betting tips is to avoid drawing major conclusions from a single game, particularly when evaluating the early NBA standings or recent preseason performances. ### **Injuries, Rest and Back-to-Back Games** None of Thursday’s teams is scheduled to play on consecutive nights. Philadelphia and Oklahoma City will have played Tuesday, while Cleveland and Denver make their season debuts. **Player availability remains important**, particularly for a Philadelphia team relying on Joel Embiid. Bettors should review the injury reports before placing wagers. ### **Home Court, Recent Form and Matchup Trends** Philadelphia and Oklahoma City have home court, but the visiting teams have enjoyed success against the spread in recent meetings. Those results deserve consideration without ignoring the roster changes entering this season. ## **NBA Team Standings and Matchup Trends** Last season’s records and recent head-to-head results help explain expectations surrounding Thursday’s games. Cleveland and Denver return established offensive combinations, while Philadelphia and Oklahoma City enter with different roster adjustments and preseason expectations. ### **How Each Team Enters Tonight’s Game** Cleveland returns Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and Allen while adding Peyton Watson. Philadelphia introduces LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside Tyrese Maxey and Embiid. Denver added DeMar DeRozan to support its second unit, while Oklahoma City continues building around Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. ### **Recent Records and Head-to-Head Results** **Cleveland is 7-3 straight up** in its last 10 meetings with Philadelphia, although the 76ers are 6-3-1 ATS. Oklahoma City is also 7-3 straight up against Denver in their last 10 meetings, while the Nuggets are 7-3 ATS. ## **What Channel Is the NBA Game on Tonight?** Wondering what channel the NBA game is on tonight? ESPN has both Thursday matchups, beginning with Cleveland at Philadelphia and continuing with Denver at Oklahoma City. Fans can watch both games on the same network without switching channels. ### **NBA TV Schedule Tonight** The ESPN doubleheader starts at 7:00 PM Eastern with the Cavaliers at 76ers. Nuggets at the Thunder follows at 9:30 PM Eastern. Cleveland and Denver are playing their regular-season openers, while Philadelphia and Oklahoma City are scheduled to make their second appearances of the season. ### **How to Watch and Stream NBA Games** Both contests are available through ESPN on participating television providers and streaming services carrying the network. Viewers can also check ESPN’s game pages for broadcast information and viewing options. Streaming access depends on the service and subscription. ## **Player Matchups and Props to Watch** The individual matchups could significantly influence Thursday’s results, especially with several MVP candidates involved. [**NBA betting**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/basketball/nba/) tips for player markets begin with understanding each team’s offensive approach before considering individual scoring, rebounding, or assist totals. ### **Star Player Matchups** Donovan Mitchell and James Harden lead Cleveland against Philadelphia’s combination of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. Denver’s Nikola Jokić (+543) and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+346) are prominent MVP candidates. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley (+2852) and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren (+972) have Defensive Player of the Year futures odds. ### **Player Prop Betting Angles** Watch how Philadelphia distributes offensive opportunities among its stars and how Denver performs when Jokić rests. Individual player prop prices have not yet been posted, so there are no specific prop recommendations. ## **NBA 2K26 and Today’s NBA Matchups** NBA 2K26 gives basketball fans another way to enjoy familiar teams and players, but video game results should not determine real NBA predictions. Thursday’s matchups involve new roster combinations, established stars, and different preseason expectations. Those factors require analysis of actual team performance, player availability, and current betting odds. Fans can enjoy NBA 2K26 while keeping its simulated outcomes separate from the NBA standings and real-world betting decisions. ## FAQ ### What NBA Games Are on Today? Two NBA games are scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026. Cleveland visits Philadelphia at 7:00 PM Eastern, followed by Denver at Oklahoma City at 9:30 PM Eastern. Cleveland and Denver are opening their seasons, while Philadelphia and Oklahoma City are scheduled to play Tuesday. ### What Channel Is the NBA Game on Tonight? ESPN carries both Thursday games. Cavaliers at 76ers starts at 7:00 PM Eastern, followed by Nuggets at Thunder at 9:30 PM Eastern. Viewers can watch through participating television providers or streaming services carrying ESPN. ### Where Can I Find the Latest NBA Standings? The latest NBA standings are available through the NBA’s official website. Early in the season, records can change quickly. Philadelphia and Oklahoma City have games scheduled Tuesday, while Cleveland and Denver will begin their regular seasons Thursday. ### What Are the Best NBA Bets Today? Cleveland +2.5 (-112) and Denver +8.5 (-115) are the preferred spread selections. Cleveland +114 is a moneyline alternative for our predicted upset. Nuggets-Thunder Over 236.5 (-105) is a secondary totals option. Bettors should confirm current [**Prime odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/basketball/nba/) before placing wagers. ### How Are NBA Predictions Made for Daily Games? NBA predictions consider team strength, player availability, home court, recent results, matchup history, and betting lines. Early-season analysis also weighs offseason roster changes and preseason expectations. Predicting the winner and selecting the best bet are separate decisions, particularly when evaluating point spreads. Source: https://www.primesportsbook.com/gaming-insider/cavaliers-vs-76ers-nba-predictions-betting-preview/