Every night of the 2026-27 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 Thursday, October 29.
MORE: Check out the VSiN Pro Picks page for more bets from our talented hosts and analysts!
NBA Best Bets Today – Thursday, October 29
Cavaliers vs. Hawks UNDER 238.5 (-105)
Cavaliers at Hawks – 8:00 pm ET
This total feels a little too high for these two teams. While Atlanta wants to speed things up — the team is currently fourth in pace (104.20) — Cleveland will do its best to try and slow this game down. The Cavaliers shouldn’t be looking to get involved in a track meet considering their big-man combination of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Hawks play a little smaller, so allowing them to play uptempo could be a death sentence.
These teams also happen to be solid defensively. While Atlanta is just 13th in raw defensive rating (110.6), we know this team can defend at a top-five level. Just look at what the Hawks did after the All-Star break last year. Meanwhile, Cleveland is currently 17th in raw defensive rating (111.9), but there’s also another level the Cavaliers can reach on that end of the floor — even with the poor defensive duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
The Under is also 3-2 when the Hawks play three games in five nights under Quin Snyder. And the Under has come in more often than the Over when Kenny Atkinson’s Cavaliers are underdogs — and that’s also true on the road.
Grizzlies +7.5 (-105 – 1.5 units) vs. Trail Blazers
Grizzlies at Blazers – 10:00 pm ET
I’m really starting to come around on Portland. Two nights ago, I put in a future on Micah Nori to win Coach of the Year at 16-1, and the team’s advanced stats speak for themselves. The Blazers are currently No. 1 in the NBA in points per 100 possessions (132.9), and their 112.2 points allowed per 100 is just fine considering how good the group is offensively. So far, Damian Lillard looks like Damian Lillard, Ja Morant is fitting in extremely well, and Deni Avdija continues to look like an All-Star. Meanwhile, Nori has everyone moving with purpose, all the role players are chipping in, and the vibes look immaculate.
The issue with this game is that Memphis has also been damn good. The Grizzlies don’t have an Efficiency Differential like the +20.7 of the Blazers, but they’re No. 6 in the NBA (+8.2) and rank seventh in both points (115.3) and points allowed per 100 possessions (107.1). That type of balance makes it hard to envision Memphis getting beat thoroughly, especially after two full days of rest. Under Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies are 9-5 against the spread when playing with two days rest, and they’re also pretty good about being stuck on the road for a while. Since Iisalo took over, Memphis is 8-2 ATS when playing a third road game in five days.
As far as the actual basketball goes, I like that the Grizzlies have a monster in Zach Edey to go to war with Donovan Clingan inside. Not many teams have centers with Clingan’s size, but Memphis happens to have one who plays both ends of the floor at a higher level than he does. Also, while it might seem like Ty Jerome is due to slow down in the near future, he’s capable of cooking all the non-Jrue Holiday backcourt players on this Blazers team. And not only will he put up his own numbers, he’ll also tire them out by making them guard.
Our VSiN matchup pages also have Memphis +7.5 as a massive value. Steve Makinen has the Grizzlies winning 116.9 to 116.2, meaning he has Memphis with an estimated line of -0.7. That’s way off from where Vegas has it.
Added Plays (Late Picks, Parlays, Teasers, Futures)
Nothing yet.
Head over to the Hardwood Handicappers YouTube channel for some more analysis!
