NBA Weekly Predictions: Schedule, Odds & Best Bets

Three weeks into the season and the Philadelphia 76ers look the part of a championship team. This week’s NBA schedule has the Sixers playing three games at home all against Eastern Conference foes. The first is a Tuesday showdown with the Boston Celtics. Memphis began last week as the only undefeated team in the Association, but the Grizzlies dropped a pair falling down the standings in a congested Western Conference. The top spot in the West has changed hands frequently with the Lakers the first time in the conference to eight wins with a win over previously first-place Portland. LA plays three road games this week 

NBA Schedule This Week

It’s a busy week for the Lakers with three away games this week to finish their first extended road trip. They play Atlanta on Monday in the second of a back-to-back then get Milwaukee on Wednesday and close the trip Sunday at Phoenix. The marquee game takes place on Tuesday when East heavyweights Boston and Philadelphia collide.

Top NBA Games This Week

• OKC is playing shorthanded as it is with four All-Defensive players currently on the shelf. That doesn’t help when they play consecutive road games against Portland. Tuesday’s game tips at 11 p.m. ET and will air on NBC. Wednesday’s game tips at 10 p.m. ET.
• Also on Tuesday Boston and Philadelphia meet for the first time in an Atlantic Division showdown at 8 p.m. ET. The Sixers enter the week with the best record in the NBA.
• San Antonio and Golden State both opened the season with multiple losses but they’ve overcome the slow starts and are scorching hot. The teams meet on Friday in San Antonio with tipoff at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Biggest Matchups to Watch

• Not only are Boston and Philadelphia two of the top teams in the East, this game marks the first for Philly’s Jaylen Brown against his former team. A key piece in the Sixers success, Brown is averaging more than 21 points. Boston has gotten a good return from Paul George, who is averaging 21.3 points per game.
• You can’t teach or defend height which is why Victor Wembanyama is an early MVP favorite. His line against Dallas last week was ridiculous with 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocks. Wemby’s inside game will counter the 3-point shooting of Stephen Curry when the Spurs and Warriors meet on Friday.
• One day after their emotional game against former leader and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, the Celtics head to Toronto to finish a 4-game road trip. Boston is 0-2 against the NBA odds in the second game of a back-to-back.

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NBA Standings and Weekly Playoff Picture

We’re only about one-eighth into the NBA season with a lot of basketball remaining to be played. However, there is a clear divide in the Eastern Conference between the top four to five teams and the other clubs. In the West, NBA standings show 10 teams with a legitimate playoff and play-in chance.

Eastern Conference Standings

• Philadelphia saw its 5-game win streak end Friday at Cleveland, 119-95, when LeBron James (8) and Joel Embiid (6) scored 14 points between them. Still, the Sixers hold down first in the conference with the top six teams separated by 2.5 games.
• Any team that goes on a run can climb the standings quickly. The defending champion Knicks reached .500 for the first time winning four of five games after starting 0-3.
• Just a few seasons ago the Milwaukee Bucks were winning the NBA championship. This year they’re trying to stay out of last place in the East. 

Western Conference Standings

• The race in the West figures to be a dogfight all season. The conference has been more balanced with 10 teams entering the week above .500.
• Those 10 teams will likely battle all season for playoff and play-in spots with a clear gap right now between them and the other five clubs. The bottom five teams enter the week with a combined nine wins.
• Two of the hottest teams in the NBA reside in the West. San Antonio has won eight straight games and Golden State seven in a row. The teams meet in Texas on Friday as the Warriors continue a 5-game road trip.

NBA Predictions for This Week

After completing a 6-game home stand on Monday against New Orleans, the Warriors hit the road for the first time in two weeks with games against West powerhouses Houston on Wednesday and San Antonio on Friday. The teams are packed tightly in the conference standings, but the Texas squads are good at home giving them the NBA predictions edge.

Predictions for the Biggest NBA Games

• The Atlantic Division showdown between Philadelphia and Boston on Tuesday marks the first time Jaylen Brown faces his former team. Brown averages more than 21 points and the Sixers are fourth in defensive efficiency giving the Sixers the edge at home.
• Victor Wembanyama has sparked San Antonio’s surge with outstanding play. In a win over Dallas last week he had 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocks. He scored 29 and 30 points in wins over Sacramento and Portland and presents a big problem for the Warriors in their Friday matchup. 
• With LeBron James gone the Lakers are Luka Doncic’s team. And he responded, lifting LA to the top of the West standings. Through 10 games Luka leads the NBA averaging more than 40 points and LA tops the NBA in scoring and field goal percentage. They play Milwaukee and Phoenix, two of the worst defensive teams in the league, later in the week.

Potential Upsets to Watch

• Cleveland had its biggest win of the season over Philadelphia last week, but overall they are a .500 team. They play four games this week with Saturday’s tilt against Dallas the second of a back-to-back. With a huge rest advantage the Mavs get the upset on the road.
• Three straight wins to close the week pushed the Knicks over .500, but they’ve been inconsistent and face a stiff test at Indiana on Friday in the first game of an extended road trip. The Pacers have recovered from early season defensive woes and are competitive.

Best NBA Bets Today and This Week

With early season trends starting to take hold, several games this week present clear situational advantages. The strongest NBA betting angles focus on defensive mismatches and target lines for teams dealing with rest and/or depth disadvantages. NBA betting tips suggest targeting Portland playing back-to-back home games against the depleted Thunder.

Spread and Moneyline Best Bets

• With the best defensive rating in the NBA, Detroit’s defense has been elite. Washington hit bottom in Saturday’s 114-75 loss to OKC, and they are turnover prone, giving the Pistons a major execution advantage.
• In the second game of a back-to-back, New Orleans’ depleted wing rotation will have a hard time tracking Stephen Curry, who is averaging 35.8 points over his last five games. The Dubs are looking to secure another win ahead of an extended road trim, making them a moneyline NBA predictions winner.

Totals and Over/Under Bets

• Toronto consistently gives up points but they’ve remained competitive and above .500 by putting up high point volumes. They get a fatigued Celtics group on Wednesday after the Cs emotion encounter with Philadelphia. This game will go OVER a relatively low total.
• With Luka Doncic averaging more than 40 points and the Lakers leading the NBA in points per game and field goal percentage, Wednesday’s matchup with Milwaukee has the potential to clear the total. The Bucks allow more than 122 points a game and rank in the bottom half in field goal and three-point defense.

NBA Picks and Parlays This Week

Same game and multi-team parlays are a good way to enhance your NBA betting portfolio. And the league is set up to provide numerous opportunities with at least four games on the NBA schedule every day this week. Analysts are focusing heavily on roster health and player availability.

NBA Picks for the Week

• Backing San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama against the Warriors on Friday is one of the best NBA bets today.
• He may say otherwise, but Jaylen Brown wants nothing more than to beat his former Boston teammates on Tuesday. Brown headlines a stacked group along with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and LeBron James at home against the Celtics.
• Detroit allows the fewest points per game and boasts the most efficient defense in the NBA. They get a struggling Washington outfit on Thursday playing its second of a back-to-back and third game in four nights with points hard to come by for the Wiz.

NBA Parlay Ideas

• Not only can the Pistons shut down Washington’s offense, they also have the firepower to cover the spread at home. They have the second best cover rate in the NBA at 75 percent and they are worth backing in NBA picks and parlays.
• Facing struggling defenses in Milwaukee and Phoenix this week, the Lakers and Luka Doncic should be considered when NBA betting. LA has a few days off in between games giving the league’s scoring leader enough rest to continue his hot spell.

NBA Betting Tips for This Week

As the NBA betting week unfolds, working around a league-wide injury epidemic is the most critical factor for having success at the betting window. NBA stars Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Chet Holmgren are out for several weeks while others work around minor ailments. As a result the market is frequently mispricing depth charts.

Injuries and Player Availability

• Luka Doncic has been mentioned several times because he is expected back in the Lakers lineup after missing Sunday’s tilt at Detroit with low back tightness.
• The Pistons are also without a key figure in Jalen Duren, who hasn’t played since the first two games of the season. 
• OKC has been hit hard with injuries and remains without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, who are all dealing with longer term injuries.
• The league’s biggest stars routinely take a day off when teams play back-to-back. An NBA betting tip is checking participation reports ahead of games.

Back-to-Back Games and Rest Advantages

• Cleveland enters the week with losses in three of four games and will play four games in six nights, including a back-to-back at Miami on Friday and home to Dallas on Saturday.
• Overcoming a slow start will be difficult for the Bucks with a busy week ahead. Not only do they play four games in six nights, they alternate between road and home. They open the week at New York on Tuesday before hosting the Lakers on Wednesday.

Team Trends and NBA Standings to Watch

A rejuvenated Stephen Curry and the play of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg have the Warriors surging up the NBA standings. Lendeborg has been a revelation averaging 21.2 points and 7.2 rebounds helping the Dubs take a 7-game winning streak into the week. Curry is averaging nearly five made 3-pointers per game.

Teams Moving Up the NBA Standings

• Closing the week with eight straight wins moved San Antonio into a tie for first overall in the Western Conference. Victor Wembanyama is making an early case for MVP averaging 29.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game.
• With seven wins in a row the Warriors have also climbed in the West. They haven’t lost since dropping their first three games and they are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games.
• The hottest team in the East entering the week is Atlanta. The Hawks have won four straight but have a tougher schedule with West contenders the Lakers and OKC on the docket.

Teams Trending in the Wrong Direction

• With the NBA’s worst scoring defense and a minus-18.0 point differential, the Bulls are having a hard time winning. They have just one victory in their first nine contests.
• The basement in the West is reserved for the Clippers, Utah and Sacramento. The Kings were the last team to win a game and lost twice by double-digits after their lone victory.
• Memphis ran into hard times last week losing three games. Their 6-0 start is now just a memory.

Key Player Matchups This Week

A huge game in the East takes place on Tuesday when Boston visits Philadelphia. The teams are fighting for first overall and former Celtic Jaylen Brown goes against Boston and Jayson Tatum for the first time.

Star Players to Watch

• Assuming Luka Doncic is able to play after sitting out Sunday’s game in Detroit, expect big numbers from him against Milwaukee and Phoenix, two of the weaker defensive teams in the NBA.
• Another matchup to watch takes place on Friday when Stephen Curry and the Warriors visit Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Anchored by their starts, both teams carried lengthy winning streaks into the week.

Player Prop Betting Angles

• This is a good time to fade Doncic in the points department. Again, assuming he returns from a sore back that forced him out of the Detroit game, he won’t be as aggressive pursuing his shots and will be more of a facilitator.
• I can see Jaylen Brown’s Philly teammates setting him up for a big game against his former team Boston in their matchup making his lines a target.
• With several players out of the lineup, OKC’s Isaiah Hartenstein has seen his usage increase. He generates a high number of assists and clears his line with extended minutes.

What Channel Is the NBA Game on Tonight?

ESPN, NBC, Prime Video and NBA TV have fans covered during the week. NBCSN carries the Washington-Detroit matchup on Monday with an NBC doubleheader on Tuesday, two ESPN games on Wednesday and a Prime twin bill on Friday. NBA TV airs select games on the NBA schedule. 

NBA TV Schedule This Week

• Monday’s game between the Wizards and Pistons airs on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET
• Boston at Philadelphia (8 p.m. ET) and OKC at Portland (11 p.m. ET) make up Wednesday’s NBC doubleheader.
• ESPN carries the Cavs at Knicks game at 7 p.m. ET followed by the Warriors at Rockets at 9:30 p.m. ET
• Prime Video airs the Knicks at Pacers game at 7 p.m. ET and the Warriors at Spurs game at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday. 

How to Watch NBA Games This Week

• Watch NBA games through a mix of national networks, streaming services and regional broadcasters.
• ESPN airs a Wednesday doubleheader and Prime Video streams two games on Friday. NBC has a Tuesday doubleheader while NBCSN and Peacock air the Monday game between Washington and Detroit.
• NBA League Pass streams all non-national, non-local blackout games throughout the week. Subscribe directly or add it through a provider.

NBA 2K27 and This Week’s Matchups

The virtual Golden State Warriors are one of the most explosive MyTEAM or Play Now options, heavily utilizing Stephen Curry’s perimeter shooting to exploit New Orleans’ lack of backcourt depth. Real life NBA teams are managing difficult schedules and roster attrition entering the week and virtual hoopsters are mimicking those exact matchups in NBA 2K27

Final NBA Weekly Predictions and Betting Outlook

With the standings in the West tightly packed, NBA betting becomes a chess match when top contenders square off with each other. The Warriors and Spurs enter the week on huge winning streaks that lifted them to the top of the West. A game between them in November doesn’t seem like a big deal, but a tiebreak advantage come playoff team will have its benefits since both are strong at home. The biggest storyline of the week is Jaylen Brown facing his former team for the first time in an Eastern Conference showdown between the Celtics and 76ers on Tuesday.