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 31.
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Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies – 9:30 pm ET
It feels like Memphis is being a little undervalued in the market right now. The team’s statistical profile looks worse than it really is because of a 32-point loss to Miami on October 24. The reality is that this team looks a lot like the one that won 48 games a year ago. The Grizzlies are still waiting on Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Zach Edey, but Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. look good, Cedric Coward looks like an awesome replacement for Desmond Bane, and Memphis can still count on production from a wide range of bench options.
As far as this matchup goes, it’s just hard not to feel like the Grizzlies are a little better than the Lakers on both ends of the floor. Austin Reaves is undoubtedly going to get his tonight. He’s playing some awesome basketball right now, and Memphis doesn’t have the greatest on-ball options for guards at the moment. However, the Grizzlies should be able to do a decent job defending everybody else. Generally speaking, they also have a few more reliable players. This is also a game in which Jackson could really dominate. He’ll be defended by either smaller wings or slower bigs. That sets up nicely for him to cook.
Los Angeles is also just 10-17 straight-up as a road underdog under JJ Redick. The team is also 7-10 SU when coming off a win by six or fewer points in that span. Meanwhile, under Tuomas Iisalo, Memphis is 7-2 SU as a favorite.
There is a chance that Luka Doncic returns here. That’ll impact the odds quite a bit. However, I’d still like the Grizzlies to win. That said, if you want to wait for that domino to fall, you might be able to get plus-money odds.
Bet: Grizzlies ML (-120 – 1.5 units)
Added Plays
PARLAY: Celtics Alt +7.5 vs. 76ers & Bulls Alt +12.5 vs. Knicks (-123 – 1.5 units) – I think there’s a decent chance Boston will win tonight’s game outright, but I’m giving myself a little extra cushion with an alternate line parlay. The Celtics are starting to figure things out with their new rotation, and the Sixers have been living dangerously close to the edge. Boston should be able to hold its own in a matchup of perimeter firepower versus perimeter firepower. The Sixers will have an edge at center in the Joel Embiid minutes, but there shouldn’t be many of those. And to get a better price on Boston +7.5, I’m taking Chicago on an alternate line of +12.5. There’s a chance the Bulls take their first loss of the season tonight, but I’m not sure I see them getting blown out at home. While this team is missing Coby White, they’re playing connected, inspired basketball. And their combination of pace and offensive execution should trouble a Knicks team that is pretty hard to trust defensively.
2025-26 Sides/Totals: 13-11 (+0.23 units)
