Top NBA Picks and Predictions Today (Back Cavs, Nuggets and a Total to Play in Warriors-Pistons)
By Peter Dewey
There's a loaded NBA slate on Sunday to get you from afternoon football to Sunday night's acton, and I've got you covered with three of my favorite picks tonight.
If you're looking for more plays, head to my NBA Best Bets column where I share my favorite picks for every NBA slate.
Golden State Warriors vs. Detroit Pistons Odds, Prediction and Pick
These are two of the best OVER teams in the NBA, with both teams going 5-1 on OVERs through their first six games.
Both teams do it in different ways, as the Pistons have the worst defensive rating in the NBA, while the Warriors play at a frenetic pace, the second fastest in the NBA.
Golden State has combined for 230 or more points in all six of its games this season, while the Pistons have done it in four of six matchups.
Can you guess where I’m leaning here?
Neither team is in the top half of the NBA in offensive rating, but they both play fast and are in the bottom 10 in defense. On the second night of a back-to-back, I’d expect some tired legs on Golden State’s side, which should help the Pistons’ offense.
Let’s root for points in Detroit.
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Odds, Prediction and Pick
Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert went crazy in Cleveland’s last game against the Boston Celtics, leading the team to an overtime win.
The Cavs are 4-1 against the spread this season, covering in each of their wins. The Knicks have failed to cover in back-to-back games after doing so in their first three games of the season.
Cleveland is the better team, especially defensively, so far this season. The Cavs rank third in the NBA in defensive rating and seventh in offensive rating. New York hasn’t been bad, ranking ninth and 12th in those categories through five games.
The Knicks struggled to shoot the ball against the Bucks, and with RJ Barrett in a brutal slump to start the season, I have a hard time backing New York against a strong Cavs offense.
New York has yet to get a road win this season, so I’ll back Cleveland to cover the short spread at home on Sunday.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds, Prediction and Pick
In all honesty, how can anyone bet on the Lakers right now?
Sure, there is the LeBron James factor, but Los Angeles is a downright awful basketball team right now, ranking dead last in the NBA in offensive rating.
The Lakers are second in the league in defensive rating but it hasn’t mattered since the team’s offense has been so bad.
Denver is still getting great production from Nikola Jokic, but we have yet to see the best of Jamal Murray (12.4 points per game on 41.0 percent shooting) as he returns from his torn ACL.
Once Murray starts getting back to his borderline All-Star self, the Nuggets are going to be a problem in the West.
With Davis’ status up in the air, I have no choice but to fade the Lakers once again. Los Angeles is due for a win, but you have to actually play well to pick one up. That hasn't happened in the 2022-23 season.
This is Denver or nothing for me.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.