It's the calm before the NBA Cup storm. The NBA regular season resumes with a very light slight this Monday, with only one standalone matchup on the docket today. However, our staff of basketball experts still dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board for tonight.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 5 NBA picks for today's lone matchup. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Monday, December 9.
NBA Best Bets, Picks, Predictions: Monday, Dec. 9
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  | 7:30 p.m. | |
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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. | ||
Knicks vs. Raptors Total Prediction
By Matt Moore
The market has moved against me, but nonetheless, we move. I project this all the way down at 224.
Toronto's defense is actually 18th the last two weeks. Not good, but not terrible.
The Knicks have the No. 1 offense but also the 10th-best defense, as they start to solidify there.
Toronto's offense is predictable and plays into the hands of their wing defenders.
Throw in the fact that both teams are bottom-10 in defensive length of possession at DunksAndThrees.com, meaning they force teams to take longer in the clock, and I think the number's too high. I'm good to play this at any number.
Pick: Under 232 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Raptors Player Prop Pick: Fade Mikal Bridges
By Joe Dellera
The Raptors and the Knicks are the sole game on the Monday slate, and I’ll look to grab an under with Mikal Bridges in this potential look ahead spot for the Knicks.
Here, the Raptors play at a moderate Pace, while the Knicks are one of the slower teams in the NBA. So, there should only be a slight uptick for the Knicks is Pace tonight.
Bridges is averaging 16.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game this season. His rebounds + assists line is set at 7.5, a number he’s exceeded in just 43% of games this year.
The Raptors are a decent rebounding team and despite their defensive woes, they have been able to hold their opponents to about the league average in assists.
Bridges can have a solid game and still go under this line on Monday night; I’ll grab under 7.5 rebounds + assists.
Pick: Mikal Bridges Under 7.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120)
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Knicks vs. Raptors Prop Bet: Scottie Barnes Under
There’s just one game on the NBA card for Monday night as the Knicks head north to take on the Toronto Raptors.
New York is coming off a surprising home loss to the Pistons (10-15) as an eight-point favorite, a game where they gave up 120 points to Detroit. They’ll now face a Raptors team that’s even further down the standings, tied for the second-worst record in the conference at 7-17.
One thing about the Knicks is they’ve done a decent job in bouncing back off losses, as they’re 7-1 in this spot. And while they currently have the highest Offensive Rating with a value of 121.1, it’s on the defensive end of the court where they need to improve the most, considering they’re 18th in efficiency.
At a minimum, the loss should allow Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau to demand more from his players defensively.
Toronto's Scottie Barnes is one player the Knicks will need to keep in check. The small forward is second on the team in scoring (21.0) and rebounding (8.7) while leading in assists (7.8).
Barnes has a rebounding + assists prop that’s available at 16.5, but when facing opposing teams that rank in the top-10 defensively for rebounds allowed, he’s stayed under that projection in 10 of his last 11 games.
The Knicks are allowing 12.4 rebounds + assists to opposing small forwards and Barnes has also stayed under this number in his last three meetings with New York. After shopping around, BetMGM has the best odds available at -105, and this under is well worth a look up to -125.
Pick: Scottie Barnes Under 16.5 Rebounds + Assists (-105)
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Knicks vs. Raptors Player Prop: Scottie Barnes Over
By Alex Hinton
Since returning from injury, Scottie Barnes is averaging 9.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. After playing 27 minutes in his return, Barnes has played 30+ minutes in each of his last eight games. As a result, he has cleared this line in six of his last eight games.
In that span, he has five games with 10 rebounds and five games with eight assists. He recorded one triple-double against Miami and has flirted with several others. That includes on Saturday when he had eight rebounds and 14 assists against the Mavericks.
Meanwhile, also on Saturday, the Knicks allowed Cade Cunningham to go off for 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a loss to the Pistons.
While Barnes is not a point guard like Cunningham is, he is operating as the Raptors' primary initiator, particularly while Immanuel Quickley remains sidelined. He is averaging 13.7 rebound chances and 17 potential assists over his last eight games.
That may help him record another triple-double, which is +450 on DraftKings, but it will also give him ample opportunity to clear this line.
Pick: Scottie Barnes Over 16.5 Rebounds + Assists (-115)
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Knicks vs. Raptors Spread Prediction
By Ray Monohan
This is a solid bounce back spot for the Knicks. They were throttled on Saturday by the Pistons, and they have been really good at preventing the losses from piling up this season.
The Knicks haven't lost back to back games since November 4, and they're going to come out with much more fire here.
Toronto is giving up 117.4 points per game on the season, and they have been incredibly inconsistent on the defensive end of the floor.
I expect the Raptors to struggle against this Knicks offense that is very physical and will go right at them in the paint. Lay the points tonight.
Pick: Knicks -6 (-110)
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