It’s a new week in the NBA, as teams are now getting used to being back in action following the All-Star break. Monday’s action features eight games, many of which contain multiple title favorites taking the court.
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Whether you want to bet some games individually or roll them into a parlay, here are three NBA bets to make on Monday.
Sacramento Kings vs. Charlotte Hornets Picks
Kings vs. Hornets Betting Report
Best Bet: Hornets ML (-160)
Monday features a battle between two of the top rookies in the league. The third overall pick, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, has been the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year, while Sacramento’s Tyrese Haliburton has been a pleasant surprise as his team’s sixth man. But when the two rookies go head-to-head, take Ball’s Hornets to win this round.
Charlotte has really found its stride recently, winning its last three games to move a game above .500. The Hornets’ last game showed how well they are clicking, where for the first time at home in front of fans, the Hornets led off the game with a 25-4 run and hit 11 threes in the first quarter, setting a franchise record.
Back on Feb. 28, the Hornets managed to beat the Kings in Sacramento. Despite Charlotte shooting a worse percentage from three and having more turnovers, a late rally spurred it to a 127-126 road victory.
Ball had 24 points and 12 assists, while the Kings had no answer for P.J. Washington and his 42 points. Sacramento did, however, have four players score 20 or more points, and Haliburton happened to sit out as well.
Overall, a couple of key stats bring this game in Charlotte’s favor. Not only do the Hornets have the seventh-best three-point percentage in the NBA, but the Kings have the worst three-point defense in the league based on opponent percentage. In fact, Sacramento’s defensive rating is the worst in the NBA, canceling out an offense that is within the top 10.
With the Hornets playing well and the Kings struggling to defend, take the Hornets to claim victory at home to tie their season-high win streak.
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New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets Picks
Knicks vs. Nets Betting Report
Best Bet: Under 222.5 Points
In a battle for the Big Apple, the NBA’s top-ranked offense in Brooklyn will host one of the league’s top defenses in New York. Regardless of who wins, expect the points to be on the lower side.
Even though Kevin Durant is still on the sideline, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have held it down for the Nets with four straight victories and 12 in their last 13 games. But while their offense, which ranks first in field-goal percentage and second in three-point percentage, is cruising, their defense hasn’t allowed over 115 points in nine consecutive outings. It’s not great, but it’s a huge improvement from where they sat previously.
On the flip side, Tom Thibodeau has created a Knicks team that prides itself on defense. New York leads the league in the fewest points allowed with an average of 105 per game while also ranking fifth in total rebounds per game and defensive rating. However, they hit the second-fewest number of threes per game and average the third-fewest points.
One final note regarding the Knicks is their pace. They play at the league’s slowest tempo, which will aim to keep Brooklyn from having a ton of possessions and, as a result, more points. Look for New York’s slow pace combined with Brooklyn’s improving defense to keep the points from soaring in this one.
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Indiana Pacers vs. Denver Nuggets Picks
Pacers vs. Nuggets Betting Report
Best Bet: Nuggets -4.5
In a rematch of a March 4 game, the Nuggets and Pacers are set to tip off in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. And much like the last time they played, look for Denver to easily handle business.
In the first meeting, Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic each added 20-plus points as well. But even more impressive than the Nuggets’ offense, which went over 58 percent from the field and 43 percent from three, was the way they shut down Indiana’s stars.
All-Star Domantas Sabonis ended up with a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double but went 5-for-15 from the field and was a minus-four in the plus/minus department. Malcolm Brogdon also struggled to the tune of 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
Before Denver’s loss on Saturday to the Mavericks, it had a five-game win streak, which included a victory against these very Pacers. Indiana, meanwhile, has struggled since getting a pair of games postponed last month, winning just two out of its last eight.
These teams aren’t statistically very far apart, but momentum and past meetings show that the Nuggets are a tough matchup for the Pacers. Look for Denver to win and cover at home.
