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Articles by Nick Crain
Thunder’s Injury Woes Continue As Chet Holmgren is Sidelined 8 to 10 Weeks
Thunder’s Injury Woes Continue As Chet Holmgren is Sidelined 8 to 10 Weeks This has been a season to forget thus far for the Oklahoma City Thunder, because just ten days into the season, they're now down three starters for a significant amount of time. Everything changed during a Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 25. Early in that game, Cason Wallace went down with a shoulder injury that was later diagnosed as a torn labrum.
Dream Force Historic Game 7 Against Valkyries in WNBA Finals
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 30, 2026 Oct 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after a three-pointer against the Golden State Valkyries in the fourth quarter during game six of the 2026 WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The WNBA Finals are going to Game 7, which makes it a historic series because it's the first time in WNBA Finals history that this has happened.
2026 NBA Cup Championship Odds: Injuries Create Wide-Open Field
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 30, 2026 Oct 28, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) controls the ball against the defense of Utah Jazz center/forward Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images The 2026 NBA Cup begins Friday with one of the most unpredictable championship markets we have seen since the tournament was introduced.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Today: 5 Packers-Panthers TNF Picks
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 29, 2026 Oct 18, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images NFL anytime touchdown scorer today betting focuses on Thursday Night Football, where the Carolina Panthers travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.
NBA Player Props Today: 5 Best Bets for Oct. 28
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 28, 2026 Oct 27, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) celebrates with guard De'aaron Fox (4) in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images NBA player props today feature a loaded Wednesday slate with several appealing numbers across scoring, rebounding, assists and 3-point markets.
Lakers vs. Clippers Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 28: Lakers Bounce Back Against Clippers
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 28, 2026 Oct 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (28) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images The Lakers vs. Clippers prediction for Wednesday, October 28, features two Los Angeles teams heading in very different directions early in the 2026-27 NBA season.
Trail Blazers Remain Undefeated, Beat Lakers in Early Measuring Stick Contest
Trail Blazers Remain Undefeated, Beat Lakers in Early Measuring Stick Contest The Portland Trail Blazers entered Tuesday night with a 2-0 record, but their toughest test of the season on the horizon. And Portland got it done against the Los Angeles Lakers in a high-scoring shootout, moving to 3-0 on the season. Portland is now one of just four teams that remain undefeated at this point in the season.
Kings vs. Spurs Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 27: Sacramento Covers Huge Spread
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 27, 2026 Oct 16, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) shoots while defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images The Kings vs. Spurs prediction for Tuesday, Oct. 27, pits two Western Conference teams with very different expectations against each other.
NBA Player Props Today: 5 Best Bets for Oct. 27
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 27, 2026 Oct 6, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images NBA player props today feature a compact four-game slate, but there is still plenty of variety across the board.
Shorthanded Thunder Make Statement in Double-Digit Win Over Suns
Shorthanded Thunder Make Statement in Double-Digit Win Over Suns Less than 24 hours removed from both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace suffering potentially season-ending injuries, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a statement on Monday night. With Chet Holmgren also sidelined, Oklahoma City was without three starters but still found a way to improve to 4-0 on the season, defeating the Phoenix Suns by a final score of 125-114.
Luka Doncic Drops 52 Points in Lakers Comeback Win Over Jazz
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 26, 2026 Oct 25, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after making a shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images There are plenty of great scorers around the NBA, but when it comes to the relentless ability to put the ball in the bucket, Luka Doncic is one of the best scorers of this generation.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Today: 5 Cowboys-Eagles MNF Picks
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 26, 2026 Sep 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) celebrates with tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (89) after catching a three-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Dak Prescott (not pictured) against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium.
Thunder Earn Victory Over Clippers, But Lose Jalen Williams to Scary Injury
Thunder Earn Victory Over Clippers, But Lose Jalen Williams to Scary Injury The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, moving to 3-0 on the season. And though it wasn't a pretty game, Oklahoma City ultimately got the win. But the bigger news, and what matters much more, is what happened to Jalen Williams late in the fourth quarter. Williams attempted a dunk and landed awkwardly, suffering what appeared to be a significant leg injury.
Utah Jazz Blow Early 18-Point Lead in 132-123 Loss to Los Angeles Lakers
Utah Jazz Blow Early 18-Point Lead in 132-123 Loss to Los Angeles Lakers The Utah Jazz got off to an incredible start against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, but ultimately couldn't maintain that momentum in a 132-123 loss at home. Utah scored 47 points in the opening quarter and built an 18-point lead, but the Lakers responded in a big way to take control of the contest.
San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 25)
The San Francisco 49ers are 6-0, but Sunday morning in Atlanta feels like the kind of game that can expose an undefeated team if it comes out flat. The Falcons enter at just 2-4, yet their best stretches this season have shown a team with enough offensive talent to make life difficult for almost anyone. If San Francisco wants to reach 7-0 and keep strengthening its position in the NFC West, establishing control early against an unpredictable Atlanta team will be critical.
San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 25)
San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 25)
Pistons vs. 76ers Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 25: Philadelphia Stays Unbeaten
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 25, 2026 Oct 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Pistons vs. 76ers prediction for Sunday, October 25, features two undefeated Eastern Conference contenders looking to continue their impressive starts to the 2026-27 NBA season.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Picks Today 10/25: 5 NFL Week 7 Bets
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 25, 2026 Aug 28, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Anytime touchdown scorer picks for Oct. 25 feature five selections across Sunday’s NFL Week 7 slate.
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 24, 2026 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) celebrates before a replay overturned a call for what he thought was the final out during the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series Friday, October 23, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Ryas 3-2. The Milwaukee Brewers are officially three wins away from their first World Series championship in franchise history.
Thunder’s Upcoming Schedule Should Lead to 5-0 Start
Thunder’s Upcoming Schedule Should Lead to 5-0 Start The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten off to an impressive 2-0 start to the 2026-27 NBA season, with wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets, two of the best teams in the Western Conference. Both are teams that, in theory, could compete with Oklahoma City for a championship this season, but the Thunder managed to win both contests comfortably. Now, the schedule actually eases up a bit.
Trail Blazers Start Season 2-0 After Win Over Kings
Trail Blazers Start Season 2-0 After Win Over Kings The Portland Trail Blazers continued their phenomenal start to the season on Friday night, improving to 2-0 with a 128-120 road victory over the Sacramento Kings. And no, it wasn't as dominant as the Blazers' 41-point win over the Phoenix Suns in their opener, and this was a less talented opponent.
Utah Jazz Earn First Win of Season in Thriller Over New Orleans Pelicans
Utah Jazz Earn First Win of Season in Thriller Over New Orleans Pelicans The Utah Jazz entered Friday night in need of a bounce-back game following their disappointing season-opening loss, and that's exactly what they got. It wasn't necessarily a perfect game, but Utah earned its first win of the 2026-27 season with a thrilling, down-to-the-wire 120-119 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Delta Center in front of its home crowd.
Utah Jazz Earn First Win of Season in Thriller Over New Orleans Pelicans
Utah Jazz Earn First Win of Season in Thriller Over New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Player Props Today: 5 Best Bets for Oct. 23
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 23, 2026 Oct 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images NBA player props for Oct. 23 feature a full Friday slate with several intriguing markets beyond the usual scoring overs.
Knicks vs. Celtics Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 23: New York Bounces Back in Boston
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 23, 2026 Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is congratulated by forward Paul George (13) after making a basket during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images The Knicks vs. Celtics prediction for Friday, October 23, features two of the Eastern Conference's best teams looking for their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Thunder Move to 2-0 With Ugly Win Over Nuggets
Thunder Move to 2-0 With Ugly Win Over Nuggets The Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 2-0 on Thursday night with an ugly 96-84 win over the Denver Nuggets. It was a low-scoring game, as both offenses were stagnant for most of the contest, but it was ultimately Oklahoma City that came out on top with a much better second half than Denver. In fact, the third quarter is what flipped the game.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Picks for Oct. 22: 5 Patriots-Bears TNF Bets
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 22, 2026 Anytime touchdown scorer picks for Oct. 22 focus on Thursday Night Football, where the New England Patriots travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. Both teams enter at 4-2 with legitimate playoff aspirations, making this one of the more interesting standalone games of Week 7.
Cavaliers vs. 76ers Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 22: Philadelphia Keeps Rolling
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 22, 2026 Oct 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) walks onto the court for the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Cavaliers vs. 76ers prediction for Thursday, October 22, features two of the Eastern Conference's top championship contenders.
Walker Kessler Matches Wilt Chamberlain Record in Lakers Debut
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 22, 2026 Oct 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) during pregame warmups before a against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Lakers have championship aspirations this season and got off to a hot start in their opener, winning 127-105 over the Golden State Warriors.
Lakers vs. Warriors Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 21
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 21, 2026 Oct 13, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images The Lakers vs. Warriors prediction for Wednesday, October 21, features two Western Conference teams with superstar talent but plenty to prove entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
Timberwolves vs. Heat Prediction, Odds & Props for Oct. 21
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 21, 2026 Oct 12, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves point guard LaMelo Ball (1) dribbles up court during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat will begin their 2026-27 NBA seasons on Wednesday, October 21, in one of the most intriguing matchups of opening week. This Timberwolves vs.
Thunder Send Message to NBA in Dominant Win over Spurs on Opening Night
Thunder Send Message to NBA in Dominant Win over Spurs on Opening Night
Thunder Send Message to NBA in Dominant Win over Spurs on Opening Night
Thunder Send Message to NBA in Dominant Win over Spurs on Opening Night The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2026-27 NBA season with one of their toughest tests on the schedule, traveling to San Antonio for their only road matchup against the Spurs during the regular season. And it went about as well as Oklahoma City could've hoped for, as the Thunder earned a convincing 116-104 victory on opening night.
76ers vs. Knicks Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 20: LeBron Spoils Ring Night
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 20, 2026 Oct 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in a game against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The 76ers vs. Knicks prediction for Tuesday, October 20, features one of the most anticipated games of NBA opening night.
Thunder vs. Spurs Prediction, Odds and Props for Oct. 20: Wembanyama Takes Over
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 20, 2026 May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the fourth quarter during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Thunder vs. Spurs prediction for Tuesday, October 20, features one of the biggest matchups of NBA opening night.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Picks for Oct. 19: 5 Commanders-49ers MNF Bets
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 19, 2026 Oct 4, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs after a catch against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Anytime touchdown scorer picks for Oct.
San Francisco 49ers vs Washington Commanders: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 19)
San Francisco 49ers vs Washington Commanders: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 19)
San Francisco 49ers vs Washington Commanders: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 19)
The San Francisco 49ers have spent the first five weeks establishing themselves as one of the NFL's best teams, but Monday night presents the type of matchup where an undefeated contender cannot afford to get comfortable. San Francisco enters at 5-0 against a Washington Commanders team sitting at just 1-3-1, though that record does not fully capture the talent or recent improvement on the other sideline.
Cason Wallace, Thunder Agree to Five-Year, $139 Million Extension
After falling short last season and being unable to repeat as champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder were forced to be sellers this offseason for financial reasons, shipping out players like Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Picks for Oct. 18: 5 NFL Week 6 Bets
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 18, 2026 Oct 11, 2026; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Anytime touchdown scorer picks for Oct. 18 span the full Sunday NFL slate, with five options across five different matchups.
Jazz Should Run Guard-Heavy Rotations Early in Season
Jazz Should Run Guard-Heavy Rotations Early in Season The Utah Jazz are already facing injury issues entering the start of the regular season, with starting center Jusuf Nurkić set to miss at least the first few weeks of the campaign. And while that shouldn't be detrimental to the team's early success, it will fundamentally change the way Utah has to play. One option is sliding Jaren Jackson Jr. up to play more minutes at center, which will likely be the case.
Damian Lillard is Officially Underrated
Damian Lillard is Officially Underrated More than a year removed from playing a regular season basketball game in the NBA, Damian Lillard is set to suit up for the Portland Trail Blazers' season opener on Wednesday and remind everybody just how good he is. At 36 years old and coming off a significant injury, Lillard is still one of the most impactful veterans in the entire league. Could it be a slow start for him, both from a conditioning and minutes standpoint early in the season? Certainly.
Trail Blazers Show Offensive Promise Despite Preseason Finale Loss
Trail Blazers Show Offensive Promise Despite Preseason Finale Loss The Portland Trail Blazers closed out their preseason slate on Friday night, and it was the team's first loss of the four-game stint. Portland officially went 3-1 in the preseason after dropping its finale against the Golden State Warriors, 128-118. But there was still plenty to take away, and of course, the final score and preseason record overall don't really matter.
Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 16)
The Utah Jazz have one final preseason game Friday night before taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in their regular-season opener Wednesday of next week. This final tune-up will take place on the road against the Phoenix Suns, with Utah entering at 2-1 in the preseason and Phoenix sitting at 1-3. While the final outcome won't matter much, this is an important opportunity for both teams to make their final evaluations before the regular season begins.
Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 16)
Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns: How to Watch, Odds and Game Preview (October 16)
WNBA Finals Kicks Off This Weekend as Valkyries and Dream Clash
The 2026 WNBA Finals officially tip off this weekend, as the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries battle, looking for the first championship in their respective franchise histories. Game 1 is Saturday at Chase Center, with Golden State having home-court advantage in this best-of-seven series. The Valkyries will host the first two games before Games 3 and 4 take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. WNBA Finals Schedule: Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 17 at Golden State, 2:30 p.m. CT Game 2: Monday, Oct.
Minnesota Vikings' Defense is Super Bowl Level
Minnesota Vikings' Defense is Super Bowl Level The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 this season, and a lot of that is due to the defensive side of the ball, because offensively, this team has been very inconsistent. Now, a lot of that is because of the quarterback play, with Kyler Murray going down and Carson Wentz needing to step in.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Picks for Oct. 15: 5 Seahawks-Broncos TNF Bets
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 15, 2026 Oct 4, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (12) carries the ball against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout (center right) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Anytime touchdown scorer picks for Oct.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Reminds NBA of Greatness in Dominant Preseason Showing
As if anybody needed a reminder, Giannis Antetokounmpo showed why he’s still one of the best players in the entire NBA on Wednesday night. And although it was just a preseason game, he finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks and a steal in just 24 minutes in Miami’s 144-128 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. He was just one assist shy of a 20-15-10 triple-double.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 6: Rams, Chiefs, Colts
Written By Nick Crain | Published at October 14, 2026 Oct 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) stands on the field after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Brytus-Imagn Images Week 5 provided another reminder that there is no such thing as a guaranteed survivor pool pick in the NFL.
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