2023-24 Week 1 NBA Regular Season Predictions

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By: Evan Troxel

If you haven't heard yet, the National Basketball Association's regular season starts tonight, Tuesday, October 24th, 2023.

So here are my predictions to win and lose for tonight's games. I guess I plan to do this for the entire season! (I guess we will see how this goes in the near future, if I even want to predict games for the entire NBA season!)

My 2023-24 season National Basketball Association predictions for Tuesday, October 24th, 2023

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets

Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors

Predictions to win: Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors

Predictions to lose: Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns

Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets

Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic

Cleveland Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets

Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat

Minnesota Timberwolves at Toronto Raptors

Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls

New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies

Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers

Predictions to win: Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers

Prediction to lose: Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers

Thursday, October 26th, 2023

Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks: Prediction to win: Milwaukee Bucks, Prediction to lose: Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers: Prediction to win: Los Angeles Lakers, Prediction to lose: Phoenix Suns

Friday, October 27th, 2023

Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets: Prediction to win: Detroit Pistons, Prediction to lose: Charlotte Hornets

Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies: Prediction to win: Memphis Grizzlies, Prediction to lose: Denver Nuggets

New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks: Prediction to win: Atlanta Hawks, Prediction to lose: New York Knicks

Miami Heat at Boston Celtics: Prediction to win: Boston Celtics, Prediction to lose: Miami Heat

Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers: Prediction to win: Cleveland Cavaliers, Prediction to lose: Oklahoma City Thunder

Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls: Prediction to win: Chicago Bulls, Prediction to lose: Toronto Raptors

Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs: Prediction to win: San Antonio Spurs, Prediction to lose: Houston Rockets

Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks: Prediction to win: Dallas Mavericks, Prediction to lose: Brooklyn Nets

Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz: Prediction to win: Utah Jazz, Prediction to lose: Los Angeles Clippers

Orlando Magic at Portland Trail Blazers: Prediction to win: Portland Trail Blazers, Prediction to lose: Orlando Magic

Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings: Prediction to win: Sacramento Kings, Prediction to lose: Golden State Warriors

Saturday, October 28th, 2023 (Predicted on Saturday, October 28th, 2023)

Chicago Bulls (1-1, 0-0 Away) at Detroit Pistons (1-1, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Chicago Bulls, Prediction to lose: Detroit Pistons

I thought I about predicting the Pistons to win.

Memphis Grizzlies (0-2, 0-0 Away) at Washington Wizards (0-1, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Memphis Grizzlies, Prediction to lose: Washington Wizards

I thought about predicting the Wizards to win.

New York Knicks (1-1, 1-0 Away) at New Orleans Pelicans (1-0, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: New Orleans Pelicans, Prediction to lose: New York Knicks

Indiana Pacers (1-0, 0-0 Away) at Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1, 0-1 Home): Prediction to win: Cleveland Cavaliers, Prediction to lose: Indiana Pacers

Philadelphia 76ers (0-1, 0-1 Away) at Toronto Raptors (1-1, 1-0 Home): Prediction to win: Philadelphia 76ers, Prediction to lose: Toronto Raptors

I thought about predicting the Raptors to win.

Miami Heat (1-1, 0-1 Away) at Minnesota Timberwolves (0-1, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Miami Heat, Prediction to lose: Minnesota Timberwolves

I thought about predicting to Timberwolves to win.

Utah Jazz (1-1, 0-0 Away) at Phoenix Suns (1-1, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Phoenix Suns, Prediction to lose: Utah Jazz

Sunday, October 29th, 2023

Notes for Sunday games: I just cannot pick the more popular team to win a lot of these games on Sunday. I am in the mood for gift giving to get each team their first win of the regular season on Sunday, or, if they have already won a game to get them their first win at home (or on the road) or vice versa and to give certain teams their first loss at home (or on the road) on Sunday. I’m not sure what to do in a lot of ways right now, I want to pick half the home teams to win, yet I also want to pick half the popular teams to lose! Or do I just pick one or two upsets and leave it at that?

Denver Nuggets (2-0, 1-0 Away) at Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Oklahoma City Thunder, Prediction to lose: Denver Nuggets

Both teams are 2-0 (undefeated in the regular season). I seriously considered picking Denver to win. I like Oklahoma City to win their first game of the regular season at home against the reigning world champions. On Monday (tomorrow), Utah plays at Denver while Detroit comes to OKC. Denver has already won an away game this season. Both teams played on Friday, so either team can win this game!

Golden State Warriors (1-1, 1-0 Away) at Houston Rockets (0-2, 0-0 Home): Prediction to win: Houston Rockets, Prediction to lose: Golden State Warriors

I really wanted to pick Golden State to win, but I decided against it. Houston can win their third game of the regular season and get their first win of the regular season with a win on Sunday. Golden State plays at New Orleans tomorrow (Monday), so they can’t really get too upset if they lose on Sunday. Charlotte comes to Houston on Wednesday. It is still early in the regular season, so you shouldn’t necessarily expect Golden State to dominate or destroy Houston. Both teams played on Friday and I really like Houston to win on Sunday. Golden State already has an away win this regular season as well!

Atlanta Hawks (0-2, 0-1 Away) at Milwaukee Bucks (1-0, 1-0 Away): Prediction to win: Milwaukee Bucks, Prediction to lose: Atlanta Hawks

Milwaukee played on Thursday, while Portland played on Friday, so Milwaukee is more rested. On Monday, Minnesota goes to Atlanta while Miami comes to Milwaukee. This prediction seems kind of easy. I think I better pick the Bucks to win. The Hawks have a better chance to win on Monday.

Portland Trail Blazers (0-2, 0-1 Away) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-1, 0-0): Prediction to win: Philadelphia 76ers, Prediction to lose: Portland Trail Blazers

Portland plays at Toronto on Monday while Toronto comes to Philadelphia on Thursday. The Orlando Magic played at Portland on Friday, while Milwaukee played at Toronto on Saturday. Portland technically should be more rested, but they had a long flight across the U.S. after a Friday game. This prediction seems easier than the Hawks-Bucks prediction.

San Antonio Spurs (1-1, 0-0 Away) at Los Angeles Clippers (1-1, 1-0 Home): Prediction to win: Los Angeles Clippers, Prediction to lose: San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio probably isn’t as rested as Los Angeles despite hosting two home games to start the regular season. Houston went to San Antonio on Friday while Los Angeles was in Utah Friday. San Antonio goes to Phoenix for games on Tuesday and Thursday while Orlando comes to Los Angeles for a game on Tuesday. The Clippers are also going to be looking forward to their game on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers. I think it might be a little too early in the regular season to expect San Antonio to actually beat Los Angeles. Los Angeles lost a close one while San Antonio won in overtime on Friday. So you know Los Angeles probably really wants to win on Sunday night (tonight).

Los Angeles Lakers (1-1, 0-1 Away) at Sacramento Kings (1-1, 0-1 Home): Prediction to win: Sacramento Kings, Prediction to lose: Los Angeles Lakers

Somebody has to lose again. Orlando plays at Los Angeles on Monday. Sacramento plays at Golden State on Wednesday. If the Kings don’t win tonight, their next home game is November 8th! The Kings have three road games after tonight. The Lakers have two more chances after tonight to win on the road before November 8th! Los Angeles last played on Thursday at home and won while Sacramento played on Friday at home and lost! Sacramento also finished with a better won-lost record in the regular season last year! So this prediction is easy. You should pick the Kings to win tonight. Los Angeles has a chance to feel good again (and win) tomorrow (Monday) if they don’t win tonight! Sacramento will have to wait three days to feel good again if they don’t win tonight! If you really want to take the risky prediction, pick the Lakers to win tonight as Sacramento might still be stewing over their loss vs. Golden State on Friday and will have another chance at them at Golden State on Wednesday!

Be sure to check back to this page often between now through Sunday, October 29th, 2023, for predictions for future NBA games this week (and on Sunday, October 29th)!