Every night of the 2025-26 NBA season gives us a fresh set of games and numbers to pick apart. This daily column digs into the best sides and totals on the board, using in-depth basketball analysis, betting trends, and our VSiN NBA betting splits to spot value. We’ll also be tackling these slates relentlessly on our live VSiN programming, which is why basketball fans should really consider a VSiN Pro subscription. Below you’ll find some NBA picks and predictions for October 28.
MORE: Check out the VSiN Pro Picks page for more bets from our talented hosts and analysts!
Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards – 7:00 pm ET
I made the mistake of waiting to take Washington. The Wizards were available at +5.5 with a normal -110 attached on Monday night, but that was gone when I woke up this morning. Fortunately, I didn’t have to pay up too much to get back to that number, and I was still able to get a decent price with my moneyline sprinkle on Washington.
It’s just hard to ignore that this is the second night of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, plus a third game in four nights. I know a common sentiment is that it’s too early in the season for that stuff to matter, but how can it not? The Wizards haven’t played a single back-to-back to begin with, and they’re a much younger, livelier team — especially when Joel Embiid is out there for the Sixers. Since Nick Nurse took over as Philadelphia’s head coach, his team is just 9-20 straight-up and 13-16 against the spread when playing on back-to-back days. The Sixers are also 11-27 SU and 14-23-1 ATS when playing their third game in four nights under Nurse. Meanwhile, under Brian Keefe, the Wizards are 8-6 ATS when coming off a game in which they allowed 135 or more points. They should be more locked in defensively after being embarrassed last game.
There’s also a very interesting betting system that applies to Washington here. Home teams that are coming off losses to division rivals are 26-7 SU when facing opponents that are coming off upset wins by 10 or more points at home since 2017. The home team has also won those games by an average of 115.2 to 106.8, and the average moneyline price was +112 in those games. That system is also 1-0 in 2025-26.
Bet: Wizards +5.5 (-129 – 1.5 units) & Wizards ML (+160 – 0.5 units)
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 pm ET
The Knicks are currently fifth in the league in raw defensive rating (105.6), but they had no answers for a Tyler Herro-less Heat squad on Sunday. Miami came away with a 115-107 victory in that game, and some of New York’s defensive issues from last season — and last postseason — were on full display. The reality is that a team with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will always struggle a bit against good offensive teams, even with good wing defenders surrounding that duo. Well, Milwaukee is a very good offensive team, as the group has an offensive rating of 117.2 through three games. That would have been good for sixth in the NBA last season. And overall, I like Giannis Antetokounmpo and his supporting cast of snipers to hang a decent number on the Knicks.
Antetokounmpo is already averaging 36.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game this season. And while this matchup wasn’t too kind to him last season, the Bucks are built better around him now. Myles Turner is a big upgrade on Brook Lopez, giving Milwaukee a stretch big that can’t be played off the floor as easily. Doc Rivers has also figured out the rotation around Antetokounmpo, and it’s a group that could even get a boost from a potential return of Cole Anthony. The former Orlando guard had 23 points and seven assists against Toronto last Friday, and his playmaking and on-ball defensive tenacity would be nice to have in a matchup with Brunson.
Regardless, this is a game featuring two dangerous offensive teams with somewhat questionable defenses. However, it’s the home team that I trust a little more to get stops, and I also think some of Milwaukee’s role players will shoot well in Fiserv Forum.
It’s also hard not to like that the Bucks are 9-2 both SU and ATS as home underdogs under Rivers. They’re also facing a Knicks team that is just 13-16 SU when facing teams that score at least 116.0 points per game since 2023-24.
Bet: Bucks ML (+105)
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors – 11:00 pm ET
I’m very high on the Warriors this season. The addition of Al Horford gives them a really good option at the five, Jonathan Kuminga is playing some great basketball early on, and I love the depth Steve Kerr has to work with. Adding all of that to the core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler gives Golden State an outside shot at a making a title run. However, this is an older team that will struggle when playing the second leg of back-to-backs. And for whatever reason, Kerr played most of his key players at least 30 minutes in what was a pretty straightforward win over the Grizzlies last night.
The Clippers should be able to take advantage of a Warriors team that has tired legs, especially considering Los Angeles is arguably better than Golden State on both ends of the floor. Also, while Horford is a good addition at center, this is a matchup in which Ivica Zubac’s size and force around the rim could give the Warriors a lot of problems.
Los Angeles is also an impressive 80-35 SU when playing as a road favorite under Ty Lue. The Clippers are up for the challenge of winning at the Chase Center.
Bet: Clippers ML (-120)
2025-26 Sides/Totals: 9-5 (+3.23 units)
