We are so back, baby!! Calf strain season is here once more! The NBA’s opening night tips off tomorrow with a three-game slate, starting at 3:00 PM ET(?!). Here are your NBA predictions and preview for Tuesday, Oct 20th.
NBA Opening Night Predictions & Preview for Tuesday, Oct 20th
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons
Start Time – 3:00 PM EST
The 2026/27 NBA season starts in the Motor City, with the kings of the East (in the regular season) last year, the Detroit Pistons, hosting the new-look Boston Celtics. Exit Jaylen Brown, enter Paul George. What could go wrong?!
People are high on the Celtics this season, but I’m going against them tomorrow afternoon, at the very least. By my calculations, the Pistons should be about a 2.5-point favorite, so I’ll take them plus the points on Tuesday.
Best Bet: Detroit +1.5 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks
Start Time – 7:00 PM EST
Next up on the schedule are the defending NBA Champions, the New York Knicks (a very strange sentence to say). And, speaking of new-look, the champs host the Philadlephia 76ers to open the season.
New York isn’t going to lose to LeBron and company on banner night, right? I, along with most pundits, expect a bumpy ride in the early going for the Sixers as they integrate the two new alphas into their lineup. My line is New York -9, so the Knicks are the play.
Best Bet: New York -4.5 (-110)
2025/6 Overall Record: 217-180 (55%)
Profit (based on $100/bet): $1,490.83
Return on Investment: 4%
SGPN Daily Content for Oct 20th, 2026
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