Monday’s Best Bets: NBA, NHL & World Baseball Classic (3/13)

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 13, 2023

No matter your sport of choice, thereâ€™s always sports betting action to be had. Weâ€™ll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Todayâ€™s Best Bets

Here are todayâ€™s best NBA bets.

NBA Best Bets

NBA Same Game Parlay

Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors

Leg 1: Stephen Curry Over 28.5 Points (-115)
Leg 2: Devin Booker Over 30.5 Points (-122)
Leg 3: Klay Thompson Over 3.5 Rebounds (-113)

The Warriors at home are different. Steph Curry returned to the lineup four games ago. Heâ€™s averaging 33 points per game and played 43 minutes in an overtime game against the Bucks. Heâ€™s still attempted 19 or more shots in every game since coming back, despite a minutes restriction.

Meanwhile, Klay Thompson has been active on the glass recently. Heâ€™s earned at least four rebounds in 55% of games this season and seven of his last ten games. He only had three in an overtime win against the Bucks but has earned four or more in his previous four of five games.

Lastly, while Steph Curry puts on a show for the Warriors, you can expect Devin Booker to do the same for the Suns. Booker is averaging 36 points in March. He only had 28 points against the Kings in 39 minutes but has hit this line in every other game in March. The volume will be there against a Warriors team that hasnâ€™t defended well this season.

Parlay Odds: +525

Jason Radowitz

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First Basket Scorer

Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets

The Celtics played the Rockets earlier this year and won the tip. However, the Rockets scored first in that game, despite the Celtics earning the tip.

Still, Iâ€™m always way more comfortable taking the more consistent team. The Celtics are that. Boston has won the tip 50% of the time and has scored the first basket in 50% of games. On the other hand, Houston has won the tip in just 31% of games this year and has attempted the first basket in 34% of games.

They should have possession first. Jayson Tatum has attempted nine first shots and has scored nine first baskets this season. Jaylen Brown might have more first shots, but he hasnâ€™t been nearly as consistent as Tatum in making the shots.

Back Tatum to score first tonight.

Bet: Jayson Tatum (+420)

Jason Radowitz

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NBA Prop Bets

Bam Adebayo OVER 29.5 Points/Rebounds vs. Utah Jazz (-111)

The Heat have likely cemented their spot in the play-in tournament. They were in a better spot at one point, but we've seen the team struggle over the last month going 4-8, and this below-average offense cannot bail out the recent poor defense.

Tonight they'll host the Jazz, who are great offensively but have one of the bottom-tier defenses. They especially struggle against the big men allowing the fifth-most points to the position. Adebayo threw up 32 points and eight rebounds in the last matchup against Utah, which is a great number to grab.

John Supowitz

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NBA Game Picks

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks

Once primed to make a deep run in the West, things are much more uncertain now for the Grizzlies, as their superstar guard Ja Morant is not available for an undetermined amount of time. Even still, they finished a two-game homestand 2-0 over the weekend, knocking off the Warriors and Mavericks over the span of three days.

Those Mavericks will get a second crack at the Grizz tonight, however, this time in Dallas, where theyâ€™ve been a much better team all season long. With Morant, Vince Williams Jr., Jake LaRavia, Steven Adams, and Brandon Clarke out for this one, I like for the Mavericks behind Kyrie Irving to get this one done tonight in a mini-revenge spot.

Bet: Mavericks +1.5 (-110)

Johnny Perun

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NHL Best Bets

Buffalo Sabres (+205) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (-25) | O/U 6.5 (-168/+136)

In the last matchup, it was all Leafs as they scored the first five goals and coasted to a 6-3 victory.

The Buffalo has an outstanding offense. I'll take Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner as a top line over most teams, but while the forwards are great, the defense has been awful.

The goaltending has cost this team many wins, and just over their last seven, they've given up five, seven, and even ten goals in a game.

I'm not a mathematician, but I believe Boston would have to lose all of their games, Toronto would have to win all of theirs, and maybe play some extra ones to finish first in the Atlantic. They have played well recently and have climbed over Florida and Tampa Bay to grab second place In the division.

My favorite play is the over at -168, which might not be enough juice for you can squeeze. I will sprinkle a half unit on the Leafs puck line, but for this article, your best bet is the over.

Pick: Over 6.5 (-168)

John Supowitz

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World Baseball Classic Bets

Israel vs. Puerto Rico

This is going to be an interesting game, as Puerto Rico looks to rebound from yesterday's 9-6 loss to Venezuela while Israel looks to build on yesterday's 3-1 win over Nicaragua. Puerto Rico is a heavy favorite in this game, and if the total does go over, it will likely be on the backs of their star-studded lineup. Francisco Lindor, MJ Melendez, and Javier Baez are among the names to watch in the Puerto Rican lineup. They should be in for a productive day against Israeli pitcher Colton Gordon, a minor-league pitcher in the Astros' system. Israel will turn to Gordon after staff ace Dean Kremer delivered a solid outing in yesterday's win.

Puerto Rico will be dependent on a nice outing from Jose De Leon, the third pitcher in their rotation. De Leon will have some pressure on him to last beyond the first few innings, as Jose Berrios was torched in yesterday's loss and left the game after the first inning. Puerto Rico will have a thinned-out bullpen coming into tonight, and while De Leon is a quality pitcher, he's not on the same level as Berrios or Marcus Stroman, Puerto Rico's other star pitcher.

With both teams past the star pitchers in their rotation and PR playing with a depleted bullpen, it wouldn't surprise me to see this game go well over the total. These lineups are loaded with enough talent to take advantage of these pitching matchups.

Over 9.5 (-115)

Sam Smith

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