NBA Predictions Today: 4 NBA Picks and Best Bets for Wednesday, October 21

Today’s Best NBA Picks at a Glance

• Hawks +3.5 (-115)
• Jazz Moneyline (+104)
• Pacers -3.5 (-112)
• Clippers -4.5 (-114)

After Tuesday’s three-day slate, the 2026-27 NBA season really gets rolling tonight with a loaded 11-game slate.

With several revamped rosters making their regular-season debuts, it should be a fun evening of NBA action.

Which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook look like the best bets for Wednesday?

All NBA odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change after this article is published. You can also check out our player news page to stay up to date with injury news.

What are today’s best NBA player props?

NBA Picks for Today: Wednesday’s Best NBA Bets

Hawks +3.5 (-115)

Hawks at Magic, 7:10 p.m. ET

The Atlanta Hawks dominated this matchup last season, sweeping all four meetings with the Orlando Magic.

The Hawks won those games by 4, 15, 12, and 29 points, scoring at least 124 points in three of the four contests. Atlanta also enters the regular season after winning its final four preseason games, including a 135-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the finale.

Orlando has plenty of talent with Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane leading the way, but getting more than a possession with Atlanta is enticing considering how well the Hawks matched up with the Magic a season ago.

Jalen Johnson is coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which he averaged 22.5 points per game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8, giving Atlanta multiple scoring options around its excellent perimeter defense, which is bolstered this season by the addition of Luguentz Dort.

Jazz Moneyline (+104)

Jazz at Grizzlies, 8:10 p.m. ET

The Utah Jazz are my favorite underdog moneyline on Wednesday's slate.

The Jazz went 3-1 during the preseason, including a 119-116 road win over the Phoenix Suns in their final tune-up. While preseason results should always be taken with a grain of salt, Utah also held the Denver Nuggets to 97 points in a win and the San Antonio Spurs to 109 points in another victory.

This is basically a pick'em. To me, that makes the plus-money price appealing if the Jazz can carry some of their preseason momentum into Opening Night.

After years of rebuilding, Utah's young roster might be ready to make a playoff push this season, and Utah has enough offensive firepower to make this a difficult matchup for a Memphis Grizzlies squad that should be among the NBA’s worst this campaign.

Pacers -3.5 (-112)

Pacers at Pelicans, 8:10 p.m. ET

Tyrese Haliburton‘s return gives the Indiana Pacers an obvious reason for optimism after he missed all of last season recovering from his Achilles injury.

More importantly for this wager, Haliburton looked ready to go during the preseason. Across three appearances, he totaled 48 points and 15 assists while shooting 52.8% from the field and an absurd 53.3% from three-point range. He poured in 24 points in only 17 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder before finishing the preseason with 17 points and 6 assists in 20 minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks.

That should help restore the pace and offensive creation that made Indiana so dangerous with Haliburton running the show.

The New Orleans Pelicans have enough talent to keep this interesting — particularly with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray — but I think Indiana's offensive ceiling is significantly higher with its star point guard back on the floor.

Clippers -4.5 (-114)

Kings at Clippers, 10:40 p.m. ET

The Los Angeles Clippers had the Sacramento Kings‘ number for much of last season, winning three of the their four meetings. Two of those victories were absolute blowouts, with the Clippers winning 131-90 in December and 138-109 in April. The lone Sacramento win came by nine points in March.

The Kings also struggled when catching points last season. Sacramento went 28-32 against the spread when listed as an underdog of at least 4.5 points while finishing just 36-46 ATS overall. The Clippers were more reliable against the number, posting 42 ATS wins in 82 games.

Neither of these teams are expected to be all that competitive this season, but I think the Clippers have enough of a talent and matchup advantage to create some separation at home.

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NBA Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What does the point spread mean in NBA betting?

The point spread is a margin set by oddsmakers to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. For example, if the Golden State Warriors are listed at -7.5, they need to win by 8 or more points for a bet on them to cash. Conversely, a bet on their opponent at +7.5 wins if that team loses by 7 or fewer points — or wins outright.

What is the moneyline?

The moneyline is a straight-up bet on which team wins the game, with no spread involved. Favorites carry a negative number (e.g., -200, meaning you must risk $200 to win $100), while underdogs carry a positive number (e.g., +170, meaning a $100 bet returns $170 profit).

How does the over/under (game total) work?

Oddsmakers set a projected combined score for the game, and bettors wager on whether the actual total will go over or under that number. For instance, if the total is set at 224.5 points, an over bet wins if both teams combine for 225 or more points. NBA totals can swing based on pace of play, rest situations, and injuries, so it's worth tracking those factors before placing a total bet.

What are NBA player props?

Player props are bets tied to an individual player's statistical performance rather than the game's outcome. Common prop bet markets include points scored, assists, rebounds, three-pointers made, and combinations of those stats.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.