NBA Preseason Predictions: Against the Spread Bets & NBA Picks for 10/18

NBA Best Bet Today #1: ⭐Spurs -1.5 (-112) at FanDuel

The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs just played on Monday night with the Rockets recording a 99-89 win. But the score was misleading considering the key players the Spurs rested that night. We expect a bounce back from San Antonio on Wednesday. 

We like Spurs -1.5 (-112) at FanDuel. No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama was one of the players who missed Monday's game and is expected to play on Wednesday. The Spurs also rested Devin Vasell and Tre Jones, but both of those guards are not on the injury report for Wednesday and are expected to resume their normal workload. 

In the last game with Wembanyama and Vassell, the Spurs defeated the Heat 120-104, with Wembanyama scoring 23 points, Vassell adding 21 and Jones tallying eight points and five assists. Those three have been instrumental in San Antonio's offense during the preseason, which explains the offensive drop-off without them. In the other preseason matchup, the Spurs scored 121 points in a one-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

With three of its top offensive players taking on the Rockets tonight, we like the Spurs to bounce back. 

Betting Pick: Spurs -1.5 (-112) at FanDuel

NBA Best Bet Today #2: ⭐New York Knicks -5.5 (-110) at FanDuel

The Knicks are set to play a back-to-back after losing to the Boston Celtics 123-110 on Tuesday. But the Knicks rested key players such as Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, R.J. Barrett and other top rotation pieces with the back-to-back matchups. With New York's main rotation returning tonight, we like the Knicks to cover against Washington. 

We're going with New York Knicks -5.5 (-110) at FanDuel. To gain a perspective on how much of a difference New York's top players have made in the preseason, compare it to the first preseason game against the Celtics when the Knicks won 114-107. Without them, it was a 20-point swing resulting in a 13-point loss on Tuesday. 

In that game against the Celtics, the Knicks' full starting lineup played and key rotation players such as Donte DiVincenzo and Immanuel Quickley both played over 20 minutes. We like a rested and prepared Knicks team to cover against Washington considering we know we will be getting the main Knicks rotation.

Betting Pick: New York Knicks -5.5 (-110) at FanDuel

NBA Best Bet Today #3: ⭐Golden State Warriors -6.5 (-110) at BetMGM

The Golden State Warriors earned a 121-115 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, and now the two in-state teams will face off again on Wednesday. We're going to back what happened on Sunday and expect the Warriors to win and cover against a Kings team that has struggled during the preseason. 

We're going with Golden State Warriors -6.5 (-110) at BetMGM. The Warriors managed to win without Steph Curry and Chris Paul both sitting out on Sunday. But with Curry getting five days of rest since his last preseason game, he should see action on Wednesday. Curry recorded 13 and 21 minutes in the Warriors' first two preseason games. The only starter officially ruled out for the Warriors is Draymond Green. 

The Warriors have won and covered in the first two games with Curry, beating the Lakers 125-108 and 129-125. Meanwhile, it's been a struggle for the Kings in the preseason. Sacramento is 0-3 and has not covered the spread in any of those games, either. We're going to back that trend to continue and take the Warriors. 

Betting Pick: Golden State Warriors -6.5 (-110) at BetMGM

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