The NBA Cup is back with a full slate of games on Friday night, with a total of 8 matchups on the docket scheduled for today, featuring an excellent nationally televised doubleheader on Amazon Prime Video, as Celtics vs. 76ers takes center stage at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Lakers vs Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified a total of 6 NBA picks for tonight's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Friday, October 31.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Friday, October 31
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Celtics vs. 76ers
By Joe Dellera
The Sixers face off against the Celtics for the second time in five games.
This is the start of the NBA Cup though, and each team should put forward their best effort.
I’m targeting Tyrese Maxey in a strong matchup.
Maxey scored 40 points in the opener against Boston, and he has played 40+ minutes in every game this season.
The volume is tremendous. Maxey is averaging 37.5 points on a whopping 25.3 FGA per game.
The Celtics have been hit hard by lead guards recently. Maxey dropped 40, Brunson 30, and Mitchell lit them up in the first quarter before his Houdini act.
Boston is playing at a slower pace; however, the defense is just middle of the road.
Philly’s offense has been very free flowing, and without much rim protection for the Celtics, Maxey can get downhill while also maintaining his ability to pull up from long range.
Pick: Tyrese Maxey Over 28.5 Points (-115)
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Hawks vs. Pacers
By Allan Lem
This feels like such a ridiculously low bar for Risacher, but he's taken a step back early this season, averaging 0 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Last season, Risacher averaged 1.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds. So, I do expect positive regression for him at some point.
The Hawks will be without Trae Young, so we should expect Risacher to have more opportunities.
Still, when Young got hurt last game at the end of the first quarter, we saw a combination of Keaton Wallace and Nickeil Alexander-Walker filling in the Young minutes.
Risacher did see a bump up to 28 minutes, but it didn't follow with any production.
Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye rotated in behind him. So, head coach Quin Snyder has some options rather than extend Risacher, if he chooses.
Ultimately, I see why this number is at 5.5 given the absence of Young, but given Risacher's current form and opportunities we've seen this season, I'm willing to attack the under.
Pick: Zaccharie Risacher Under 5.5 Rebounds + Assists (-130)
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Raptors vs. Cavaliers
By Kyle Murray
This looks like a great time to back some points on a Friday night in the NBA Cup, as both teams are in the top-half of pace this season, and I think the Cavs should be able to put up some points against this Raptors team that has been a bottom-5 defense this season.
The Raptors also found themselves playing at a faster pace with Collin Murray-Boyles in the starting-5 rather than Jakob Poeltl (who is set to miss this game as well).
Pick: Over 239.5 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Bulls
By Bet Labs
This system focuses on NBA regular season games where sharp money and early line movement signal value on the under.
When totals drop from open to close despite a large share of public action favoring the over, it indicates that professional bettors see inefficiency in inflated lines.
Early season games often feature uneven offensive rhythm, tighter defense, and limited chemistry, which tend to suppress scoring more than expected.
By aligning with market movement rather than public sentiment, this approach capitalizes on situations where the betting line corrects toward realistic pace and efficiency expectations, producing consistent returns before the market fully adjusts to early season performance trends.
Pick: Under 234.5 (-115)
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Lakers vs. Grizzlies
By Bet Labs
This system targets NBA teams playing their second straight road game early in the season when travel fatigue is minimal and motivation remains high.
Teams in the first few weeks of the year tend to play with more focus and energy, especially when trying to establish rhythm and identity.
Oddsmakers often overvalue the difficulty of consecutive road games, assuming performance drops after one away trip, but early in the season that effect is less pronounced.
The spread range captures competitive matchups where the road team is not significantly overmatched, creating favorable value spots where effort and cohesion outweigh travel disadvantages.
These teams often respond well to continuity and early adversity, making them strong against the number before midseason fatigue and variance set in.
Pick: Lakers +2 (-110)
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Pelicans vs. Clippers
By Bet Labs
This system targets NBA regular season situations where home favorites with strong rebounding form bounce back to cover the spread.
When teams control the boards across multiple games, it reflects sustained energy, interior presence, and second-chance scoring potential, all of which translate more effectively at home.
These teams tend to have stable home against-the-spread results and perform particularly well in early and midseason months when effort metrics like rebounding carry extra weight before fatigue or playoff pacing set in.
By focusing on home favorites that are not elite but consistently solid, this strategy captures undervalued stability where rebounding dominance, crowd momentum, and statistical reliability align to produce profitable covers.
Pick: Clippers -11.5 (-110)
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