NBA Best Bets & Expert Picks Today: Basketball Predictions for Tuesday, Oct. 27

We have just a four-game slate in the association as I break down my NBA best bets today.

I target a Kings team that has struggled in second halves this season, as well as a Trail Blazers squad that is slightly overrated by the market. Kings vs. Spurs tips off at 8 p.m. ET, while Trail Blazers vs. Lakers is the national TV nightcap, tipping off at 11 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock).

NBA best bets: Player props & ATS picks today (Oct. 27)

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds.

Picks submitted: Oct. 27 at 10:17 a.m. ET. Odds subject to change.

Total wagered: 4.31 units | Max profit: 4 units

Best NBA bet today

Kings vs. Spurs prediction: Spurs -18.5 (-105)

Not only are the Kings 0-3 straight up after tying the Jazz for the worst record in the Western Conference last season, but they've been even worse than expected this season at closing out games.

Sacramento has a -11.3 second-half margin, and that came against teams like the Clippers and the Grizzlies, who aren't projected to make the postseason. While the Spurs have underperformed to begin the season, they're still the +300 betting favorite in the NBA championship odds, so they should have very little trouble beating the Kings by 19 or more points.

Play to: -19.5 (-104)

More NBA picks & player props for Tuesday

Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

Trail Blazers vs. Lakers prediction: Lakers -2.5 (-105)

The Trail Blazers have won each of their first two games by eight or more points, while the Lakers have done so in each of their first three games. They've faced similar levels of competition (potential play-in teams and lottery teams), but the Lakers have shown more promise over a slightly larger sample size.

The Trail Blazers are bringing back largely the same team from last season, along with Ja Morant, who hasn't been very productive since returning from injury, and a 36-year-old Damian Lillard. The Lakers, meanwhile, have added Walker Kessler, who is now +2000 in the Most Improved Player odds, and enough shooting to rank second in 3-point percentage (42.1%).

Play to: -3.5 (-104)

Austin Reaves Over 22.5 points (-115)

In the Lakers' first two games, we saw Walker Kessler become the focal point of their offense, as their opponents (the Warriors and Clippers) didn't have big enough bodies to throw at him. In the third game, everything changed.

With Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the Jazz frontcourt, the Lakers turned to Luka Doncic and, to a lesser extent, Austin Reaves to attack from the perimeter. With Donovan Clingan at the 5 for the Trail Blazers and Toumani Camara likely stepping up as the primary defender on Doncic, look for Reaves to have a field day against Lillard and Morant, neither of whom is a good defender.

Play to: Over 23.5 (-102)