The NBA regular season resumes with a relatively light slate this Monday, with only four games on the docket today. However, our staff of basketball experts still dug into the latest odds and identified the best betting value for every matchup on the board tonight.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 5 NBA picks for today's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Monday, December 2.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks: Monday, December 2
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
| 7:30 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. | ||
Pelicans vs. Hawks
By Joe Dellera
Jalen Johnson has been excellent for the Hawks this season while averaging 20.1 points per game. He has grown in an expanded role without Dejounte Murray and is thriving as a secondary scoring option to Trae Young.
Johnson's points line for today is set at 19.5, a number he’s exceeded in five straight games and in 65% of games this season overall.
Tonight, he gets a matchup against the Pelicans, a team with a bottom-10 defense and allows the highest frequency of looks at the rim, while allowing their opponents to shoot 67.5% on those looks, per Cleaning the Glass.
Considering Johnson crushes from within the paint, this is an excellent spot to back him. I’ll grab Jalen Johnson to score 20+ points.
Pick: Jalen Johnson 20+ Points (-105)
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Heat vs. Celtics
I hit this around midnight at -130 on DraftKings. Jayson Tatum will likely get to 9.5 before tip-off, which I'm mostly fine with, but I'd rather take him over 8.5 boards to be safe.
Tatum has gone over 8.5 boards in six of his last eight games, and the only two misses in that span rung in at eight, exactly. Last year, he went over this in four of five against the Heat in the playoffs, getting eight once and at least 10 in the four other games.
In the regular season, he got to 10 once and eight in two others.
I already noted this yesterday when hitting Jakob Poeltl over points and rebounds against Miami, but going into last night's loss in Toronto, the Heat had allowed the second-most opponent rebounds per 100 possessions in the NBA at 47.1. Not much has changed.
Pick: Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 Rebounds (-130)
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Pelicans vs. Hawks
By Bill Marzano
The New Orleans Pelicans are just 4-17 on the season and they are complete garbage after getting dismantled last night in New York (118-85), and now they travel to take on a 10-11 Atlanta Hawks team riding a three game winning streak, coming off back to back wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and a win over the Hornets, this game shouldn't be close.
Look, the Pelicans are banged up but still no excuse for getting absolutely crushed their last several games. The Pelicans are currently riding an eight-game skid, and they lost six straight just prior, with only one win mixed in.
When the Pelicans lose, they usually lose big. Twelve of their 17 losses on the season have come by 10+ points. The Pelicans are an NBA-worst 1-10 on the road, while the Hawks are just 5-5 at home, but they draw a favorable matchup tonight on their homecourt and well-rested.
The Hawks won the only meeting between these teams so far of the season in New Orleans, and it wasn't even close (126-111), and have now won seven of the last 10 meetings in this series.
The Pelicans rank dead last in NBA scoring, averaging just 102 points per game, while the Hawks are averaging just over 116. However, the Hawks rank third-to-last in NBA scoring defense, allowing a whopping 119 per contest, only the Wizards and Bulls allow more. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are allowing over 115 per contest. I'll lay the points with Atlanta.
Pick: Hawks -10 (-110)
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Nets vs. Bulls
By Joe Dellera
This number is just outrageously high. Nic Claxton has hit this in only one game this season and is averaging a combined total of 18.5 points, rebounds & assists per game.
The Bulls make this a Pace-Up spot, however, Claxton is not a high Usage player. He doesn’t consistently score, and his rebounding ceiling is not touched very often either.
Although the Nets have a significant injury report for today’s game, I’m not convinced that it will translate to more touches and opportunities for Claxton. I’d expect more minutes for players further down the depth chart such as Trendon Watford or Shake Milton.
I struggle to project this PRA-line anywhere close to 26.5, as Claxton would have to post one of his best statistical games of the season to beat this number.
Pick: Nic Claxton Under 26.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists (-106)
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Lakers vs. Timberwolves
The Lake Show has not been in top form over the past 10 days or so, losing four of their last six, and they got pushed to the wall last night by the lowly Jazz in Salt Lake City, before ultimately escaping with a one-point win.
The offense has also been sluggish, failing to register more than the 105 points in four of their last five games (a 119-101 win over the Spurs was spliced between the low-scoring games). While LeBron and AD continue to contribute, the Lakers were minus their third wheel, Austin Reaves (hip), last night at the Delta Center and his status is also in question this evening.
Meanwhile, the T-Wolves have had a disappointing first five weeks of the season, but can still play elite defense, and have landed over the total just once in their last five games. Take the under.
Pick: Under 219.5 (-115)
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