There are six NBA games to bet on Monday night, and while there are only NBA betting odds available on four of them right now, there are some interesting angles to consider. One of the two main contenders in the Eastern Conference is in a spot where rest might be called for against a team in full-on tank mode, and the team with the NBA’s longest current winning streak is in a tricky spot after playing a road game last night.
NBA Opening Lines at BookMaker.eu
Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers (Check Back Later)
This is a game where it’s going to pay to have your Twitter alerts on. If oddsmakers decide to release a line for the game before having the full picture on who will play and who won’t for Toronto, there could be a nice opportunity to hedge. Toronto is likely going to be favored in this game regardless with Cleveland sitting five of its contributors, but the number will vary significantly depending on who Nick Nurse sits and who he plays.
The Raptors played a road game over 1000 miles away in Miami yesterday, and now they are playing Cleveland before returning home. Toronto sat Kawhi Leonard while shooting the lights out in a win over the Heat, and they may decide to rest some of their other veterans here. Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol could all take the night off, and not having those players will bring the line down.
Sacramento Kings at Washington Wizards (WASH -2, O/U 240.5)
At first glance, you might wonder why the Wizards are favored in this game. Sacramento has a better record than Washington, and the Kings have done it in the much tougher Western Conference.
There are two big reasons why the Wizards are short favorites and why I will be betting them though. The first is their sterling home record. Washington is 19-12 at home compared to 8-27 on the road, and the Wizards continually upend good teams in D.C.
The second is because of the absence of Marvin Bagley III. Bagley has been a big reason why Sacramento is in playoff contention, and the Kings have looked much different without him in the lineup. He is going to miss this game and not having him will help Washington get the win.
Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets (BKN -2, O/U 221)
It took half the season for Detroit to figure it out. The Pistons looked like an also-ran in the Eastern Conference for much of the year, but they have finally figured out how to use Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin together. They have won 12 of their last 14 games, and Drummond has been a monster down low, averaging 16.5 rebounds per game in this stretch.
That has led to Griffin playing outside the paint where he is more comfortable, and he should be able to get some solid open looks against a young Brooklyn team on Monday. I like the Pistons to pull off the slight upset here.
Charlotte Hornets at Houston Rockets (Check Back Later)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz (UTAH -3.5, O/U 227)
Defense is going to be the story when the Thunder and the Jazz meet in a potential playoff preview. Oklahoma City has played very good perimeter defense this year with Russell Westbrook and Paul George among the league’s leader in steals, while Utah has the best all-around defense in the West for the second straight year. That makes the under the play for me.
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Clippers (BOS -1, O/U 225)
The Celtics are one of the most public teams in the league, and that’s the only reason to explain this line. Boston is favored on the road against the Clippers even though the Clippers knocked off this team in Boston last month. Yes, this Clippers team has changed a lot over the course of the season with trades, but Doc Rivers has them playing good basketball and they shouldn’t be a home underdog in this situation.
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