Today
Saturday, October 31, 2026
“Seven games on Halloween, six average whistles, and one quiet one in Houston, where the Thunder show up without Holmgren and Williams. Trick or treat, sure, but nobody's handing out treats to a team missing two of its best. Put on a costume and let the basketball do the scaring.”
MONTY ON THE SLATE
The whistle board
expected fouls, both teams · line = league average (41.6)
“Halloween night, and the scariest thing on this card is a crew with one guy who's still learning the job. Portland draw fouls like it's trick-or-treating, so Utah, keep the candy bowl full.” MONTY
THE CREWTre Maddoxchief·Jason Goldenberg·Brent Haskill
Win chance POR 73% / UTA 27% · O/U 231.5 · UTA +7.5 · ML POR -310 / UTA +250
- Whistle-bait matchup
Average whistle expected. Crew: too early to read. Foul-trouble watch: Keyonte George, high (1.7× a typical starter).
“Too early to read this crew, and I don't marry nobody on the first date. One of these three still gets lost on the way to the arena. Halloween night, Philly foul more than they should, and the scariest thing on that floor is Maxey picking up his fourth.” MONTY
THE CREWBen Taylorchief·Andy Nagy·Italo Araujo
Win chance PHI 50% / CHA 50% · O/U 214.5 · CHA +1.5 · ML PHI -112 / CHA -108
- Most whistles expected on the slate
- Total moved down 2
Average whistle expected. Crew: too early to read. Foul-trouble watch: Tyrese Maxey, elevated (1.5× a typical starter).
“Average whistle on Halloween, and the only thing getting spooked tonight is Atlanta's free-throw line. New Orleans is trick-or-treating at the stripe like it owns the candy.” MONTY
THE CREWScott Fosterchief·Natalie Sago·Dannica Baroody
Win chance ATL 62% / NOP 38% · O/U 240.5 · NOP +4.5 · ML ATL -180 / NOP +150
- Biggest free-throw gap: NOP +3.5
Average whistle expected. Crew: average. Foul-trouble watch: Jalen Johnson, high (1.8× a typical starter).
“Average whistle on Halloween, so the only scary thing tonight is Sacramento's free-throw count. Sabonis in early foul trouble is the trick, and the Kings have never been good at treats.” MONTY
THE CREWJohn Goblechief·Eric Dalen·CJ Washington
Win chance SAC 24% / MEM 76% · O/U 230.5 · MEM -8.5 · ML SAC +295 / MEM -375
- Total moved down 4
Average whistle expected. Crew: average. Foul-trouble watch: Domantas Sabonis, high (2.0× a typical starter).
“Average whistle on Halloween, so the only thing getting scared tonight is Milwaukee's free-throw count. Cleveland fouls less than usual, and Harden is the one guy who'll spook himself into foul trouble.” MONTY
THE CREWKarl Lanechief·Marat Kogut·Evan Scott
Win chance CLE 76% / MIL 24% · O/U 235.5 · MIL +9.5 · ML CLE -380 / MIL +300
- Busiest crew on the slate
Average whistle expected. Crew: average. Foul-trouble watch: James Harden, elevated (1.6× a typical starter).
“Halloween night and this whistle is dead average. Minnesota hands out fouls like full-size candy bars, but tonight the free-throw line stays home. Without Edwards, the real scare is their offence.” MONTY
THE CREWCourtney Kirklandchief·Ray Acosta·Matt Kallio
Win chance MIN 18% / SAS 82% · O/U 225.5 · SAS -12.5 · ML MIN +425 / SAS -575
- Top foul-trouble risk on the slate
- Total moved down 2
Average whistle expected. Crew: average. Foul-trouble watch: LaMelo Ball, very high (2.4× a typical starter).
“Halloween night, and this crew's whistle is quieter than a haunted house with no candy. Both teams foul like it's a chore they keep putting off. If Smith Jr. picks up two early, this crew finds its voice fast.” MONTY
THE CREWMark Lindsaychief·Aaron Smith·Sha'Rae Mitchell
Lines not posted yet
- Fewest whistles expected on the slate
- Quietest crew on the slate
Quiet whistle expected. Crew: average. Foul-trouble watch: Jabari Smith Jr., typical (1.3× a typical starter).