Our free NBA Picks are out for Saturday, October 30th, 2021! Make sure you check our NBA Picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards – 5pm EDT
The Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards face off for the second time in three days. The Celtics and Wizards played each other on October 27, and the Wizards got the better of the Celtics, 116-107. So far this season the Celtics have a record of 2-3, and the Wizards have a record of 4-1.
Denis Kirilov
The Boston Celtics will have a rematch against the Washington Wizards, this time at Capital One Arena. They played each other on Wednesday and although Washington had the lead throughout the first three quarters, both teams were even coming into the 4th Quarter. Then, the Celtics suffered a 0-9 run and this became the pivotal point of the game which was then closed by the Wizards, 107:116.
The consistency within the Wizards’ team led them to the final victory as Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Bradley Beal, and Kyle Kuzma came up clutch in different parts of the game. Although, Bradley Beal had a bad performance with 7-25 FGM which is just 28% from the field. On the other hand, there was nobody who was exceptional for Boston as Tatum and Schroder were the main contributors with 23 points and 22 points respectively. Tatum was 1-8 from the 3-point line, while Jaylen Brown was 5-16 from the field. Although there seems to be a bit of inconsistency in the Celtics’ roster, I think Brown or Tatum might have a good game and this can definitely make the difference they need. I am picking the Celtics to win this one.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Boston Celtics (+114)
Michael Lantz
It’s a rematch of Wednesday’s game in which the Washington Wizards defeated the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, 116-107. The Wizards advanced to 3-1 at the time and then would follow that win with a double digit victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Wizards are proving early that they can hang with the best in the Eastern Conference—even more impressive, Bradley Beal has only been scoring 21.5 ppg, compared to his 31 per game last year. He’s getting great help from new acquisitions Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma, three players who were looking for a fresh start after last year. Even more impressive, the Wizards aren’t even at full strength, they’re still expected to have Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant back quite soon.
Jaylen Brown continues to work his way back to feeling like his normal self after being out with COVID-19 earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/MpNd3JHGZB
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 29, 2021
The Boston Celtics haven’t played since their matchup against the Wizards, but that may work to their advantage. It gives them a few days rest and some time to watch over tape against the Wizards and hopefully right their wrongs. Boston may be playing on the road, but they’ve already proved they can gut one out away against a good team when they beat the Hornets in Charlotte. I’m going to go against the favorite and pick the Celtics to answer in this one.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Boston Celtics (+114)
Tony Battalio
This game is a perfect example of how predictions are not always 100% correct. The Boston Celtics are 2-3 and the Washington Wizards are 4-1, most fans would have expected their records to be the opposite at this point. Boston is a team with an enormous amount of talent but it has not translated to wins so far this season. Washington is a team that is still in the middle of a rebuild but they are finding a way to grind out wins. Washington is favored by 2.5 points in this game that will take place at Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital of Washington, DC.
Boston thus far has been led by one of the top players in the game in Jayson Tatum, meanwhile Bradley Beal keeps showing the Wizards why they made the correct choice of keeping him and getting rid of John Wall a few short years ago. This game will feature two of the NBAs brightest stars as Beal and Tatum will both be looking to lead their team to a win. Boston will be without Marcus Smart among others and Washington will be without core piece Rui Hachimura. This game could certainly go either way, however I like the Boston Celtics in this one. I recommend taking the Moneyline to increase the value of your potential win.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Boston Celtics (+114)
Atlanta Hawks @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30pm EDT
The road trip continues for the Atlanta Hawks when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. The Hawks have a season record of 3-2, and in their last game they lost to the Wizards, 111-122. The 76ers have the same record as the Hawks, and in their previous game they won against the Pistons, 110-102.
Denis Kirilov
The Hawks will play their 2nd consecutive game on the road, this time against the Philadelphia 76ers. Both teams are 3-2 from the start of the season and this neither disappoints nor pleases their fans and management. Philly have won their games against weaker teams like the Pelicans, the Thunder, and the Pistons, while they have lost to rosters with greater ambitions for the title – the Nets and the Knicks.
On the other hand, Atlanta still relies much on Trae Young’s performance and if he doesn’t have a good game, then the team is most probably doomed. They lost to the Cavaliers and to the Wizards away from home precisely due to this simple fact. Young was 6-17 FGM in their last game against the Wizards and 8-22 against the Cavs. He is yet to find his rhythm and start putting in buckets from the 3-point line. I think this can happen in the fixture against the 76ers. I continue to believe that Philly will be struggling before Christmas and will look to pick mostly their opponents’ spreads until then. Hence, I will go with the safer option, that is Atlanta Hawks +3.5.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks +3.5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
Since their season opening win against the Dallas Mavericks, the Atlanta Hawks have been a bit all over the place with their wins and losses. They lost to the Cleveland Cavs and squeaked by a Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans team. They then lost to the Washington Wizards, who despite being off to a great start, are down a couple of big men. It should’ve been a great opportunity for Clint Capela and John Collins to feast, but instead the Wizards played small and won by double digits. The Hawks have so much depth and talent across the board, but after a late playoff run last year they really should be playing with more consistency, especially if they want to return to that stage this season.
Atlanta now faces the team who they eliminated from playoff contention last season. The Philadelphia 76ers are 3-2, but they haven’t really had a win against a quality opponent. They’ve beat the Pistons, Thunder and the Zion-less Pelicans. They hope to pick their season up and get a payback win against a strong Hawks team. I think they will, thanks to a home court advantage in their favor.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-154)
Tony Battalio
Yet another huge Eastern Conference battle between two of the league’s playoff teams and two of the league’s youngest stars. Trae Young leads the Atlanta Hawks into Philadelphia to face off with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday in a game where both teams could use a win. They both come into this game sporting records of 3-2 and are trying to find footing early on this 2021-22 season. Leading the way for the Philadelphia 76ers is the previously mentioned Joel Embiid as he is taking on an even bigger role with the status of his teammate Ben Simmons in the air.
As for the Atlanta Hawks, leading the way is the previously mentioned Trae Young, he is averaging a double-double through 5 games on this young 2021-22 season. This game could easily be one of the best of the night, if not one of the best of the season thus far. Young and Embiid are both very capable of dropping half a hundred points on any given night. As far as the result is concerned, I believe this is a game that the Atlanta Hawks are going to win.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks (+130)
Utah Jazz @ Chicago Bulls – 8pm EDT
The Utah Jazz is looking to keep their undefeated streak alive when they take on the Chicago Bulls. The Jazz have a season record of 4-0, and last time out they won, 122-91, against the Rockets. The Bulls have a season record of 4-1, and in their previous game they suffered a narrow 103-104 loss to the Knicks.
Denis Kirilov
The Chicago Bulls lost their first game for the season against the Knicks at home on Thursday, 103:104. They fought well until the end of the match, but DeMar DeRozan’s buzzer beater didn’t go in. Their 12-0 run in the last 3:00 minutes of the game proved once again that the team is able to focus on the most vital points of the match and this will definitely be of great importance ahead of their clash with Utah.
The Utah Jazz remains the only team in the NBA without a loss this season. They are 4-0 up to this moment, but they still haven’t faced a strong opponent. The Nuggets played against them, but Nikola Jokic and the rest are far away from their top condition. The Jazz dismantled the outsiders this season, the Rockets and the Thunder, by more than 20 points each. I think this game might go down the wire and there is a decent chance that the Bulls will put an end to the last remaining winning streak in the League. However, I will go with them covering their spread of 4.5 points.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls +4.5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
The Chicago Bulls lost a battle against the New York Knicks at home on Thursday, they mounted a solid comeback, but fell short against their Eastern Conference rivals. Still, at 4-1 the Bulls have been clicking for the most part thanks to the cohesive play from Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozen. Unfortunately the Bulls just learned they’ll be without their 2020 first round pick Patrick Williams for the rest of the regular season. While not an all-star like some of the other Bulls starters, Williams provided great wing defense and was a major minute’s player through the team’s first couple of games. He’ll definitely be missed going forward.
See you Saturday. pic.twitter.com/cWY5Jso1bb
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 29, 2021
This rings especially true against a Utah Jazz team that is so dynamic on both sides of the ball. At 4-0 the Jazz have taken care of each of their opponents with a fair amount of ease. They have once again got all-star play from Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and off the bench, Jordan Clarkson is playing like he wants to repeat as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. This should be a great matchup between two teams that have a memorable history against one another (1997 & 1998 finals). I would normally say the Bulls bounce back, but I think it might take them a couple games to fill that defensive hole left by the Williams injury. Utah will take advantage of that.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz (-190)
Michael’s Bonus NBA Picks: Rudy Gobert Over 13.5 Rebounds (-118)
Tony Battalio
The Utah Jazz are looking to remain undefeated as they travel to the windy city to face off with the 4-1 Chicago Bulls. During their undefeated start, the Utah Jazz have an average margin of victory of around 18 points so it is not like they are barely beating teams, they are dominating games. Led by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, they look to be one of the favorites in the Western Conference to make an NBA Finals run this season. Gobert has been nothing short of amazing through 4 games averaging nearly 18 Rebounds a game to compliment Mitchell’s 20 Points Per Game average.
As for the Chicago Bulls they are led by Zach Lavine’s 25 Points Per Game and Nikola Vucevic’s near 11 Rebounds per game. This game will be an absolute shootout between Utah and Chicago and it will likely boil down to who rebounds better. Due to that, I have to give the edge to the undefeated Utah Jazz because I can not see anyone out rebounding the big frechman Rudy Gobert in this game or in any future contest with the way he is playing right now.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz -4.5 (-110)
Miami Heat @ Memphis Grizzlies – 8pm EDT
The Miami Heat look to continue their great start to the season when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Heat have a season record of 4-1, and last time out they won, 114-99, against the Hornets. The Grizzlies have a season record of 3-2, and in their previous game they won against the Warriors in overtime, 104-101.
Denis Kirilov
The Miami Heat are off to a dominant start to their 2021/22 NBA season. To the neutral fan, their game kind of resembles what they did in the bubble in 2020. They are winning their games by more than 10 points and they have already defeated title contenders like the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, dominating them in almost every aspect of the game. Their only loss came against the Pacers in their unwelcoming Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Grizzlies are certainly a team that needs to be followed closely this season as they are ready to make a statement. Ja Morant is rarely under 20 points, but when this happens, it’s hard for the Grizzlies to win their game. Even with his dominant performance in most of the matches so far, Memphis is still struggling to close them. However, they have played against top-tier teams in 4 out of those 5 games as they face the teams led by Paul George, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, and Steph Curry. I think this tight schedule might take its toll on them eventually as they are facing another top contender for the title. That’s why I will pick the Heat over the Grizzlies in this close matchup.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Miami Heat (+108)
Michael Lantz
The Memphis Grizzlies are back on track after a nail biting win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Memphis started the season hot, with Ja Morant playing like an all-NBA talent, but they then went on a two game skid losing by a sliver to the L.A. Lakers and getting blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers. After a decent road trip, the Grizzlies get to return to “The Bluff City” for a matchup against the title hungry Miami Heat.
Aside from an Indiana loss where they were missing Kyle Lowry, the Miami Heat have been steamrolling opponents. They continued that trend on Friday night as they took out the upstart Charlotte Hornets by 15 points. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had a double-double as these two continue to show they can be one of the league’s best one-two combos. Miami is so complete, it’s hard to bet against them in a lot of situations, but Memphis is a fairly young team that plays fearless basketball. Odds are close on this one, but until Miami has a legitimate loss, I’m having a hard time going against them.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (+108)
Tony Battalio
The Miami Heat are coming off a huge win against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night by a score of 114-99. They now put their 4-1 record on the line against the 3-2 Memphis Grizzlies on the road against Ja Morant. Morant has looked nearly perfect thus far through 5 games, averaging nearly 31 Points Per Game. However Miami is not without their superstars as Jimmy Butler has been lighting up the scoreboard as well, averaging 23 Points Per Game.
Both teams also possess big men who can rebound the ball at will as Miami’s Bam Adebayo is pulling in nearly 13 Rebounds per game and Memphis big man Steven Adams has nearly 11 Rebounds per game. This will be a back and forth slugfest and highlight reel between Morant and Butler, and it will be fun to watch. As for the result, I’m taking the Miami Heat in this one as Butler’s veteran status will help him outduel Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (+108)
San Antonio Spurs @ Milwaukee Bucks – 8pm EDT
The San Antonio Spurs will be desperate for a win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night to get their season back on track. The Spurs have a season record of 1-4, and last time out they lost to the Mavericks, 99-104. The Bucks have a season record of 3-2, and in their previous game they lost to the Timberwolves, 108-113.
Denis Kirilov
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Milwaukee to face once again the current NBA Champions who are feeling under the weather in the beginning of this season. Both teams played against each other a couple of days ago when the Bucks came out victorious, 121:111. Kris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are still looking for their rhythm that got them the NBA Championship last season. The absence of some key players like Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, and Bobby Portis is certainly felt in the opening games, but this can give further opportunities for players like Pat Connaughton, Jordan Nwora, and Grayson Allen to get some more playing time.
The Spurs kicked off the season with a 26-point win against the Orlando Magic at home just to get into a 4-game losing streak afterwards. They lost to the Nuggets, the Bucks, the Lakers, and to the Mavs. However, all of these games were close, but the lack of experience within the team turned out to be vital for the outcome. I think that it’s high-time Giannis displayed a Playoffs performance and reminded us why he won the MVP award in 2019 and 2020. I will go with the Bucks covering their spread, as I expect them to win by something like 20 points.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -8.5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
The Milwaukee Bucks have looked a bit more human since the injuries to Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez; news came out Friday that both men will miss at least two more games. The absence of those defensive stars has put a burden on some of Milwaukee’s role players to go out and compliment Giannis Antetokounmpo more than they’re used to. On Saturday, the defending champs host the San Antonio Spurs, a young team that’s looking to avenge a home loss to the Bucks just last week.
Road trip continues on Saturday in Milwaukee.#PorVida pic.twitter.com/LBUdC9wfdH
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 29, 2021
The Spurs have been struggling this year, which has to have one thinking: What if they had a true number one star? The Spurs have an abundance in talent, no doubt, but they don’t have anyone who can be that “guy” and take over a game late. This is something they could sincerely use and could potentially have three or four wins as opposed to one. But, if there’s any time to have a go at the Bucks it’s now when they’re down with key injuries. I think I like this Spurs team that’s been so close in almost every game to at least cover the spread.
Michael’s NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs +8.5 (-110)
Tony Battalio
It has been a very long time since the San Antonio Spurs have struggled this bad. But gone are the days of the dominant big 3 of Duncan, Parker and Ginobli. Coach Pop certainly has his hands full trying to turn this team into a winner. It will certainly not come easy against the defending champions, the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokoumpo. He has done it all for the Bucks thus far this season as he leads them in all 3 major categories. The Greek Freak is averaging nearly 28 Points a game, while adding nearly 12 Rebounds and 7 Assists.
As for the San Antonio Spurs, they are led by Dejounte Murray who is putting up an average of nearly 17 points a game, while Jakob Poeltl adds 11 Rebounds and Murray also contributes around 9 Assists a game on top of his consistent scoring. As for the game, I think Milwaukee is looking for a win to kick start a huge winning streak led by Giannis and his contributing pieces, and unfortunately for the Spurs it has to come against them.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-375)
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NBA hub page for all your basketball needs!
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
