October 22, 2026 | Ethical Sports Takes
Now that’s more like it!
After starting the NBA season with a disappointing 1–2 record on Opening Night, EST bounced back with a solid 7–4 performance on Wednesday.
We had some excellent picks, a few surprises, and some games that weren’t even remotely competitive.
Let’s see where we got things right and where we went wrong!
✅ Correct Predictions (7)
Washington Wizards 128, Milwaukee Bucks 116 — ✅
We backed Washington, and Anthony Davis made sure that decision paid off!
Davis finished with 34 points as the Wizards opened their season with an impressive victory over Milwaukee.
Washington has some serious talent, and this was an encouraging start.
Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92 — ✅
Now THIS was a statement!
We backed Toronto to win Kawhi Leonard’s return, but I certainly wasn’t expecting a 43-point demolition.
The Raptors dominated from start to finish, scoring 43 points in the opening quarter alone.
If Toronto continues playing anywhere near this level, the rest of the Eastern Conference better pay attention.
Indiana Pacers 123, New Orleans Pelicans 120 — ✅
This one was much closer!
Indiana managed to escape New Orleans with a three-point victory, giving EST another correct prediction.
Pascal Siakam helped lead the Pacers to victory in a competitive season opener.
A win is a win, and we’ll happily take it!
Memphis Grizzlies 123, Utah Jazz 103 — ✅
Memphis took care of business!
Ty Jerome erupted for 45 points as the Grizzlies cruised past Utah by 20.
We expected Memphis to win at home, and they delivered convincingly.
Houston Rockets 128, Dallas Mavericks 110 — ✅
Houston looked impressive!
With Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, and Jabari Smith Jr. contributing, the Rockets had too much firepower for Dallas.
We backed Houston because of its offensive talent, and Wednesday night showed exactly why.
Portland Trail Blazers 124, Phoenix Suns 83 — ✅
One of my favorite picks of the night!
We went with Portland, and the Trail Blazers rewarded us with an unbelievable 41-point victory.
Damian Lillard scored 25 points in his return, while Phoenix struggled badly.
I expected Portland to win, but I certainly didn’t expect that kind of destruction!
Los Angeles Clippers 121, Sacramento Kings 96 — ✅
Another comfortable victory!
We backed the Clippers because of their offensive talent, and they opened their season with a 25-point win over Sacramento.
The Clippers have an interesting roster this year, and this was a promising start.
Seven correct predictions in the books!
❌ Incorrect Predictions (4)
Atlanta Hawks 132, Orlando Magic 125 — ❌
We went with Orlando, but Atlanta had other plans.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points as the Hawks secured a seven-point victory.
I liked Orlando’s combination of size and defense heading into this matchup, but Atlanta’s offense proved too difficult to contain.
Charlotte Hornets 110, Brooklyn Nets 103 — ❌
We trusted Brooklyn at home, and that decision didn’t work out.
Charlotte picked up a seven-point road victory, handing EST another incorrect prediction.
Not every home team is going to deliver, and this was a reminder of that.
Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106 — ❌
This one surprised me!
I backed Miami because of the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Anthony Edwards completely stole the show.
Edwards exploded for 45 points, while Giannis scored 35 in his Heat debut.
Minnesota walked away with a convincing 25-point victory.
Miami has plenty of talent, but it’ll take time for its new pieces to develop chemistry.
Los Angeles Lakers 127, Golden State Warriors 105 — ❌
I’ll admit it. I trusted Stephen Curry!
Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough.
Walker Kessler dominated Golden State’s undersized lineup, finishing with 26 points on perfect 12-for-12 shooting.
Luka Dončić added 28 points as the Lakers cruised to a 22-point victory.
Golden State’s small-ball approach with Draymond Green at center simply couldn’t handle Kessler’s size.
Sometimes you trust a superstar, and sometimes the opposing center doesn’t miss a single shot!
EST NBA Predictions Record
October 21 Record: 7–4
Overall Season Record: 8–6
Overall Accuracy: 57.1%
Final Thoughts
After a rough Opening Night, going 7–4 on Wednesday was exactly the bounce-back performance we needed.
Some of our strongest picks were Portland, Toronto, and Houston, while Minnesota’s dominant performance against Miami was one of the biggest surprises.
It’s still extremely early in the season, and teams are figuring out their rotations, chemistry, and identities.
There will be surprises, and there will certainly be more incorrect predictions.
But that’s part of the fun!
EST now sits at 8–6 on the season, and we’ll look to keep building on that record as the NBA season continues.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting Ethical Sports Takes! 👑
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