The NBA rolls into Saturday with another massive slate of games, headlined by three intriguing matchups between Eastern and Western Conference contenders. The defending champion Knicks travel to Boston with both teams searching for their first win, Houston face San Antonio in an early Western Conference showdown, while the Lakers and Clippers renew their cross-town rivalry in Los Angeles. We've taken a closer look at all three contests and picked out our best bets below.
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NBA Betting Tips: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Today's NBA Best Bets
| Game |
Selection |
Odds |
| NYK @ BOS |
New York Knicks +2.5 |
$1.90 (1 unit) |
| HOU @ SAS |
Houston Rockets +7.5 |
$1.88 (1 unit) |
| LAC @ LAL |
LA Clippers +9.5 |
$1.92 (1 unit) |
New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
Saturday, October 24 | 10:00am AEDT
Boston return home looking to bounce back from a disappointing 121-113 defeat to Detroit in their season opener. The Celtics appeared in complete control after building a 22-point lead during the third quarter, only to collapse as the Pistons stormed home. Paul George was outstanding in his Boston debut, finishing with 38 points and seven three-pointers, but Jayson Tatum struggled badly with his shooting, managing just 13 points on 6-of-23 from the field. Tatum did contribute 11 assists, although Boston will need considerably more from their superstar if they are to challenge the defending champions.
New York also suffered an opening-night defeat, going down 106-100 to Philadelphia in their first game since claiming last season's championship. The Knicks have retained the majority of the roster that carried them to the title, with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby providing a strong foundation at both ends of the floor. While their offence was far from convincing against the 76ers, the Knicks have the continuity and defensive personnel to make life difficult for Boston. The departure of Mitchell Robinson to the Celtics has changed their frontcourt rotation, but Towns remains a significant offensive weapon who can stretch opposing big men away from the basket.
Both teams will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start, and there is little separating them on paper. Boston's collapse against Detroit was particularly concerning, with the Celtics struggling to generate offence outside of George's outstanding performance. New York should be better equipped to exploit those weaknesses, particularly through Brunson's ability to control possessions and create quality looks late in games. The Knicks also have the defensive versatility to make Tatum work for his points. With the market favouring Boston by a narrow margin, we prefer taking the points with the defending champions in what should be a close contest.
Our NBA Tip
New York Knicks +2.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, October 24 | 12:30pm AEDT
San Antonio will be looking for a much-improved performance after opening their season with a 116-104 defeat to Oklahoma City in a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals. Victor Wembanyama endured a particularly difficult night, finishing with just 12 points after connecting on only one of his 13 field goal attempts. Stephon Castle was a bright spot with 24 points, while De'Aaron Fox contributed seven assists, but the Spurs struggled to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and fell behind by as many as 26 points. Wembanyama is unlikely to endure another shooting performance quite that poor, although San Antonio will need to improve significantly against another talented Western Conference opponent.
Houston made a much more convincing start to their campaign, cruising to a 128-110 victory over Dallas. The Rockets entered the season with championship aspirations after winning 52 games last year, and their combination of established stars and emerging talent makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. Kevin Durant provides an elite scoring option, while Alperen Sengun's versatility and Amen Thompson's athleticism give Houston several ways to attack opposing defences. The Rockets also possess the size and physicality to compete with San Antonio around the basket, which will be particularly important against Wembanyama.
San Antonio deserve respect on their home floor, and Wembanyama should produce a considerably better performance after his struggles against Oklahoma City. However, the market has installed the Spurs as substantial favourites despite Houston entering this contest with winning form and a roster capable of matching them across the floor. Durant gives the Rockets a dependable scoring option when possessions slow down, while Sengun should be able to make Wembanyama work defensively. We expect a competitive contest between two teams with genuine championship ambitions, and the 7.5-point start looks generous for a Houston side that should remain within striking distance throughout.
Our NBA Tip
Houston Rockets +5.5
$1.88 (1.5 Units)
LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
Saturday, October 24 | 1:00pm AEDT
The Lakers made an impressive start to their season with a commanding 127-105 victory over Golden State, providing an early indication of their potential with Luka Doncic leading the offence. Austin Reaves and new addition Walker Kessler also played important roles as Los Angeles consistently attacked the Warriors inside and generated scoring opportunities in transition. The Lakers were far from perfect, particularly from beyond the arc, but their ability to control the contest despite those shooting struggles was encouraging. With LeBron James now in Philadelphia, Doncic is firmly established as the centrepiece of a team hoping to challenge for the Western Conference title.
The Clippers also opened their campaign with a convincing victory, defeating Sacramento 121-96 despite entering the season with several injury concerns. Darius Garland was particularly impressive with 30 points, demonstrating his ability to carry the offensive load in the absence of Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers are also dealing with injuries to Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal and Max Strus, leaving them short of several important rotation players. Nevertheless, their opening performance suggested they still possess enough depth and offensive talent to remain competitive. The presence of former Laker Rui Hachimura adds another interesting storyline to this cross-town rivalry.
The Lakers are deserved favourites after their dominant opening performance, but the handicap looks a little excessive for a rivalry game between two teams coming off comfortable victories. The Clippers have enough offensive weapons to trouble the Lakers, particularly if Garland can reproduce his opening-night performance and create opportunities for his teammates. Los Angeles should have the advantage through Doncic's playmaking and the interior presence of Kessler, but the Clippers demonstrated against Sacramento that they can remain effective despite their injury problems. We expect the Lakers to emerge victorious, although a double-digit margin is far from guaranteed. Taking the Clippers with the 9.5-point start looks the better option.
Our NBA Tip
LA Clippers +9.5
$1.92 (1 Unit)
Odds quoted at time of writing and subject to change. Confirm bookmaker odds and final team availability before placing a bet. 18+ Gamble Responsibly.
