In preparation for the start of the NBA Cup, we have a relatively light 5-game slate scheduled for Monday, with all 5 matchups set to tipoff at 8 p.m. ET.
Regardless, our staff of NBA betting experts came through with 5 picks and predictions for tonight's games.
Continue below for our NBA best bets.
NBA Best Bets, Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Wizards vs. Rockets
By Matt Moore
Laying the wood! Houston is in a unique spot with a home back to back. Let's start there. Players and coaches will tell you early season back to backs are easier because, well, you're healthier and fresher and the wear and tear of the season hasn't completely drained your will to play.
But is that actually true? Turns out, yes. In the month of November since 2014, home favorites on a back to back are 90-72-8 (56%) (https://killersports.com/query?sdql=season%3E2013%20and%20rest%3D0%20and%20H%20and%20F%20and%20%28month%3D11%29&filter=NBA&_qt=games&init=1). West teams in particular are better here (as they are stronger favorites, playing in the tougher conference), going 48-30-4 (65%) ATS in that span.
Let's add on top of that the Rockets are especially good at beating up on bad teams at home. Under Ime Udoka, Houston is a whopping 15-4 SU and ATS against teams under .500 when playing at home. That includes 6-2 vs. Eastern Conference, sub-.500 teams at home.
I make this game Rockets -13.8. I know it's a lot of points but the Wizards are truly trying to Capture The Flagg. Lay the points.
Pick: Rockets -13.5 (-110)
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Nets vs. Pelicans
The Pelicans allow the 4th most assists per game this season, which is a good sign for Dennis Schroder to beat this over again.
He's done it seven times in 10 games this season, although only once in four tries after beginning the year with six straight.
He's very narrowly outside the NBA's top 15 with 12 potential assists per contest, and they're playing arguably the league's worst defense so far in New Orleans, which should provide assist opportunities, especially if the Nets are willing to do work in transition more often than they have so far — ranked bottom 10 in pace.
Still, it's a good spot for Schroder to eclipse this tally for the eighth time this season.
Pick: Dennis Schroder Over 5.5 Assists (-133)
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Nets vs. Pelicans
By Matt Moore
This is GROSS. Under 105.5 points is just not a lot of points in the NBA. But it's still a lot of points for the Pels in their current state without Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray, and on and on.
New Orleans is 1-4 on their team total this season when facing a team whose average opponent scoring margin vs. the team total is negative.
That's a lot of words, so let me explain. When the Pels face teams who are allowing fewer points than the market expects on the season, they also score fewer than the team total.
The Pelicans team total under is 7-3 this season, the Nets' opponent team total is 7-3 to the under. This number is low, I just think it might not be low enough.
Pick: Pelicans Team Total Under 105.5 (-110)
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Clippers vs. Thunder
By Joe Dellera
The Clippers face off against a tough OKC defense tonight, but they are now severely undersized with the injury to Chet Holmgren. This will open up more rebounding opportunities for Harden, who already secured 13 boards against them earlier this season.
The Thunder already have the third-lowest Rebounding% in the NBA, and losing Chet makes this even worse, and since they still play at the fifth-fastest Pace in the league, there will be plenty of additional opportunities for Harden.
Harden is averaging 8.1 rebounds per game this season, and has exceeded 5.5 in 7/10, while getting to 7+ in 6/10.
I’d play the 5.5 down to -160 and 7+ is widely available at +135 or better.
Pick: James Harden Over 5.5 Rebounds (-140)
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Clippers vs. Thunder
By Matt Moore
The Chet Holmgren injury SUCKS. He was playing great and helping OKC dominate. Without him, the Thunder are without bigs. At all. No Holmgren. No Hartenstein. No Jaylin Williams. We've seen OKC vs. bigger teams struggle with rebounding. That's about to be the case here in their third game in the last four nights.
Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac is averaging 16.4 points and 12.7 rebounds. On Saturday, he had 14 points and 12 rebounds against a Raptors team with multiple legitimate centers. He has only posted two single-digit rebound performances this season and only four games with fewer than 15 points.
This is a nightmare matchup for OKC without their bigs.
Pick: Ivica Zubac Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds (-108)
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