The NBA is back in full swing with a jam packed schedule on Monday night, so our staff of basketball experts went down the list and identified all the best betting value on the board for today's loaded 9-game slate.
Our betting experts have looked over the latest odds and made 6 NBA picks for tonight's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and picks for Monday, November 25.
NBA Best Bets, Picks, Predictions for Monday, Nov. 25
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
| 10 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. | ||
Pelicans vs. Pacers
By Matt Moore
This line has moved down, but I bet it when it opened at 229. I project this line closer to 233.5. Pelicans road games are 56% to the over; Pacers road games are 71% to the over.
With CJ McCollum potentially back alongside Trey Murphy and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans will have more firepower. The Pacers are 23rd in defense, New Orleans is 27th. The Pelicans play slow, but they have been happy to run up and down with certain teams.
I'll trust the trends and back the over on a moderate line with Indiana, who looks way more like last year's team on the defensive end than they did to start.
Pick: Over 225.5 (-110)
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Clippers vs. Celtics
Running this back from yesterday's file.
Ivica Zubac has double doubles in 11 of 18 games this season, including seven of his last 10, and now three straight.
The Celtics will bomb away from three, and as a result, they give up over 44 rebounds per 100 possessions, which is 13th in the NBA. They also allow 33.7 defensive boards per 100, 10th-most in the league.
One of the only places the Clippers could hurt Boston is on the interior, and occasionally, it's something the Celtics will straight up give you because they want to win the math from the perimeter.
So, Zubac should have plenty of drop-offs from James Harden and rebound opportunities off misses.
Pick: Ivica Zubac Double Double (-135)
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Mavericks vs. Hawks
By Vince Akins
The Mavericks went all-in for yesterday's game but couldn't get it done. They are playing shorthanded to begin with, and I don't think they'll be able to muster up enough energy and willpower tonight, in what should be a high-paced game against Atlanta.
Dallas went to overtime yesterday in a loss to the Heat. Unrested teams coming off an overtime game are 300-382 ATS in the last 682 instances.
The Mavs also needed to put together a late comeback to force OT in last night's game, after trailing by five points following the first three quarters of play. Teams coming off an overtime game where they trailed by at least five points after the third quarter are 380-460 ATS in the last 840 instances.
Pick: Hawks -2.5 (-115)
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Knicks vs. Nuggets
By Matt Moore
The Nuggets are fourth-worst league-wide in points in the paint allowed per game and per 100 possessions. Hart is third on the Knicks in points in the paint behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who is questionable for this game.
Denver plays up in pick-and-rolls, which leaves the backline open, and they don't have the personnel to cover without Aaron Gordon.
Hart will cut backline, drive past smaller defenders who are on him to hide them, and crash the offensive glass in the second-unit minutes vs. Dario Saric.
Don't play the top paint scorers, but the ones in the next tier vs. Denver, and this time it's Hart.
Pick: Josh Hart Over 13.5 Points (-115)
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Thunder vs. Kings
The Thunder play at the seventh-fastest pace in the league, with 100.9 possessions per game. However, since the absence of Chet Holmgren due to injury, OKC has dropped to 21st in that category, averaging almost three fewer possessions.
Defensively, the Thunder are still elite, as Isaiah Hartenstein returns after missing the first 15 games. A lengthy break since last playing on Wednesday should help the Thunder solidify their defensive assignments before Monday's away matchup against the Kings.
As for Sacramento, it's facing a tricky spot, having to play the second leg of a back-to-back and a third game in four days. Fatigue could be an issue against a rested Thunder team that boasts the league's best Defensive Rating with a 102.7 value.
Sacramento already plays at the sixth-slowest pace in the league when at home, with 96.9 possessions per game. When you factor in OKC's defensive quality, with the potential for a slower-paced game, it's difficult not to land on this game finishing under the total of 224 points.
Pick: Under 224 (-110)
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Thunder vs. Kings
The Kings are on the second leg of a back to back in this one, losing Sunday at home to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Kings record this season is 8-9, but their advanced analytics show them to be even worse in a tight Western Conference. OKC just returned a true big in Hartenstein, and now can put all of their players back into the correct rotations.
The rebounding and rim protection should be back for the Thunder, something they were missing without Chet, and important against the Kings led by Sabonis and Fox who operate inside-out.
Pick: Thunder -4 (-110)
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