The 3 best NBA bets for Wednesday 10/23/24

The 82-game NBA regular season offers us a wide range of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines and total bets. The association has 1,230 regular season games, which can make sifting through the odds an overwhelming task.

However, various advanced statistics can help narrow down the choice. numberFire's NBA power rankings and daily NBA predictions paired with advanced NBA stats can help keep track of quality bets.

Which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook seem to be the best bets today using some of the tools mentioned?

Please note that lines may change throughout the day after this article is published.

Today's best NBA betting tips

Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons

Pacers -5.0 (-110)/Over 235.0 (-110)

The second night of the 2024-25 NBA season gives us a 10-game slate, and I'm in the middle of this matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

Last year, the Pacers finished second while the Pistons finished ninth. Neither group stood out on defense either, as Indiana finished 24th in defensive rating and Detroit 25th. Indiana's famously fast pace allowed them to average 123.3 points per game, the highest in the league. On defense, they allowed 120.2 points per night (fourth-highest in the NBA), and Detroit allowed 119.0 points per game (fifth-highest).

The Pacers return with a nearly identical roster to a season ago, while the Pistons added offensive line prospects Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. Last year, Beasley scored 75.6% of his points from behind the arc and Hardaway scored 55.6% of his points from behind the arc. We could imagine a Detroit team that averaged the second-fewest three-pointers last time out coming back with a stronger three-pronged offense.

The upper/lower limit of 235.0 points in this case is the highest on today's table, but I still think it is a bit too low. These teams met four times last season. Here's what the game scores looked like: 249, 254, 244 and 225 points – good for an average total score of 243 points.

It's a new season and it's hard to get a perfect handle on a new-look Pistons team, but I trust Indiana's fiery offense and weak defense will push this season toward the over.

In keeping with our theory that Indiana's offense could explode, we want to look for them to cover a manageable 5.0 point spread. I don't like to get too caught up in last season's results, but I think it's notable that the Pacers lost to Detroit 4-0 last year and every game by at least eight points and an average of 16.0 points have won.

After trading for Pascal Siakam in mid-January, the Pacers posted a net rating of +3.8 (ninth-best in the NBA), while the Pistons posted a net rating of -7.5 (seventh-worst) over the same period.

Tyrese Haliburton's points + assists line is a top target tonight, and I'm usually interested in supporting Indiana's lead considering the offense can explode in any quarter, especially against this Pistons group.

You can play this off Pacers -4.5 and over 233.5 points at odds of +240, which is perhaps my favorite way to bet on this game.

Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Pelicans

Below 226.5 (-110)

A matchup between the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans has the fourth-highest over/under odds today, but I'm not entirely sure why.

Let's start with Chicago. Last year, they played at the third-slowest pace in the league, averaging just 112.3 points per game (ninth-fewest). The Bulls also averaged the fifth-fewest three-point attempts and traded their best three-point shooter in Alex Caruso, although his contributions on defense will be missed. DeMar DeRozan is also gone, so this offense should be back to a slow pace.

The returning Lonzo Ball is expected to only play 14-16 minutes tonight. I don't have much confidence that a Chicago offense that lacks speed, three-point shooting and straight-line talent can be vicious in this game, especially against a Pelicans D that finished sixth in defensive rating last time out .

New Orleans had the seventh-fewest 3PA shots last season, so the overall outlook from downtown is bleak this season. The Pels brought in Dejounte Murray, who could certainly help bolster their long-range efforts, but Trey Murphy III, who averaged the 15th-most three-pointers in the league last year, is out tonight with a hamstring injury. Zion Williamson (due to illness) is also at risk of missing this appointment as he was not present at this morning's shooting. Zion offers far more on offense than he does on defense, so his potential absence could contribute to the under.

Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers

Warrior -6.0 (-110)

I have a hunch that the Golden State Warriors won't be as bad as we'd expect this season. That starts with covering a 6.0-point lead in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green can still play. Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski both want to take the next big step to make a name for themselves in this league. Andrew Wiggins can only move up after a treacherous 2023-24 season and is preparing to make amends. De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield have also been benched, and a perfect 6-0 preseason might suggest that Steve Kerr and Co. have the rotations sorted out.

I have a lot less faith in the Blazers. Last year they struggled with a record of 21-61 (third worst) and a net rating of -9.0 (second worst). Portland lost Malcolm Brogdon this offseason and the only notable players added to the roster are Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. Coach Chauncey Billups' team went horribly 10-31 on the home court last season, while the Warriors went 25-16 on the road but were just one game over .500 at home.

Simply put, it's hard to see much growth path for this Portland group, and I expect opponents to bully them for the fourth straight season. The Warriors, meanwhile, could find a glimmer of hope in the post-Klay Thompson era. I bet we see signs of that tonight.

From opening tips to incredible buzzer beaters, you can watch it all with us with NBA League Pass! All FanDuel customers who wager $5 will receive a three-month trial of NBA League Pass. Full terms and conditions can be found here. Find out about today's other offers at FanDuel Sports Betting Promos.

Looking for the latest NBA odds? Visit FanDuel Sportsbook to view all NBA betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not authorized to participate in public daily fantasy contests or place sports bets on FanDuel. The author's advice does not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. Following the author's advice is not a guarantee of a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports bets.