The NBA’s October 22nd slate delivered two satisfying home wins to open the night. The Philadelphia 76ers handled the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 in the early game, controlling enough of the contest to pull away for a comfortable victory. Later, the Oklahoma City Thunder put on a dominant defensive performance against the Denver Nuggets, winning decisively 96-84 in what was the more lopsided outcome of the evening. The Thunder’s effort was particularly notable, holding a Nuggets squad to well below their usual offensive output.
The XO Sports model went a perfect 2-for-2 on the night, correctly calling both home teams to win. The model’s top pick of the day was Oklahoma City over Denver, backed by a strong 71.7% probability, and that one delivered in convincing fashion. The 76ers pick came in with a 59.2% probability and also hit, though the final score was a bit tighter than the model’s predicted 115-111 margin. Overall, a clean night for the XO Sports prediction model to open the young NBA season.