It seems like each single night time within the NBA has the potential to convey us one thing spectacular and even historic. That was actually the case on Sunday when the Lakers capped off the largest comeback by any crew this season (27 factors), and Blazers star Damian Lillard tied the mark for essentially the most factors in a recreation all 12 months (71 factors) – which doubled because the eighth-most factors in league historical past.
In some way, these two performances had been simply a number of the craziness that we loved over the weekend, and we’ve bought an opportunity for extra on Monday with eight groups in motion for his or her last video games of the month. Right here’s how we’re betting the board at BetMGM:
NBA Monday odds, picks (by way of BetMGM)
- Knicks +2.5 vs. Celtics
- Magic +3.5 @ Pelicans
Knicks vs. Celtics prediction and evaluation
(7:30 p.m. ET., MSG)
Lastly, the Celtics are beginning to get wholesome once more after clearing all however two names from their damage report getting into the week. There’s just one drawback: a kind of names is Jaylen Brown (private), who had lastly returned from a prolonged absence on Thursday solely to take a seat out Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Knicks.
Boston has misplaced simply 5 of its final 23 video games courting again to Jan. 5, and Brown has been sidelined for 2 of these losses, together with the crew’s most up-to-date loss on Feb. 14 in opposition to the Bucks. The C’s almost pulled that one out because of the heroic play of guard Derrick White, who’s preventing by an ankle sprain however will doubtless nonetheless play on this one.
Conversely, New York is hitting its stride with 5 straight wins (5-0 in opposition to the unfold) by a median of 14.6 factors following Saturday’s 22-point beatdown of the Pelicans. The Knicks received by three factors when these groups met in Boston a month in the past; with Brown sidelined and White hobbled, I’ll gladly take the factors on the house facet in Monday’s rematch.
Knicks vs. Celtics choose
Betting on the NBA?
Pelicans vs. Magic prediction and evaluation
(8:10 p.m. ET.)
The Pelicans had been one among my favourite groups to wager on earlier this season – effectively earlier than Zion Williamson suffered a proper hamstring pressure that’s sidelined him since Jan. 3. They haven’t been price backing. They’re clear fades in a uncommon favourite spot on Monday.
New Orleans ousted the lowly Rockets within the crew’s first recreation sans Williamson on Jan. 4. Since then; they’ve been favored simply 5 occasions (3-2 ATS) with two outright losses and a mixed plus-one scoring differential in these contests. That shouldn’t come as a shock: the Pelicans have misplaced 17 of 23 video games outright (9-13-1 ATS) since Jan. 5, they usually personal the fifth-worst internet ranking (-5.3) in your entire league in that span.
That’s even worse than the Magic (-0.9), who’ve posted a stunning 11-12 file straight up in that stretch, even with Paolo Banchero cooling off from his torrid begin to the 12 months. If he can warmth up on Monday, we may have an outright upset on our palms.
