Top 5 NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (12/30)
There are seven games on the slate tonight, which means there will be no shortage of options to explore. Let's not waste any more time and jump right into some of our favorite picks for Monday, December 30th.
Monday’s Best NBA Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
New York Knicks Team Total Under 121.5 Points (-118)
When these teams last faced off on Saturday, the contest went into overtime, and the Wizards nearly pulled off one of their best wins of the season. Jordan Poole is currently listed as questionable, while Kyle Kuzma is set to make his return after missing 12 games with a rib injury. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson is also questionable after a 55-point performance over the weekend.
We are banking on Brunson missing this contest. However, even if he does not, that is still quite a large number for a New York team only averaging 117.6 points each game. The Knicks have only surpassed 121.5 points in three out of 13 December contests. Only one of those victories came on the road.
The Wizards are allowing over 119 points in their last five games. However you slice it, this will be a sweat. We just feel this game takes on a much different script than the last matchup on Saturday where both teams shot a combined 52% from the field.
Chicago Bulls @ Charlotte Hornets Under 226.5 Points (-110)
We move on to another game where injuries are at the forefront. The Charlotte Hornets have listed LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Cody Martin as doubtful. With that information, it's difficult to feel confident on the over side of this game.
Normally, this would be a total that would exceed 230, given the high level of pace and lack of defense between these two teams. Charlotte is only scoring 106.1 points at full strength this season. With so many pieces missing from the Hornets’ side, there is a chance they fall below even that number.
Chicago has an opportunity to take an early advantage against a limited Charlotte squad. A huge lead going into halftime could spell doom for any idea of an over for this contest.
Dallas Mavericks Moneyline (+142)
This is a somewhat strange line, considering the Kings are in such disarray after firing head coach Mike Brown over the weekend. In their first game after the move, Sacramento lost by double-digits to a Lakers team without LeBron James.
If we are speaking in terms of odds, Sacramento honestly has not done much to receive a favorite tag against most of the NBA - let alone a team fighting for first in their division. While the Kings have been solid over the last games in regards to offensive rating (ninth), they are severely lacking in defensive prowess - ranking 18th across the league, while giving up almost 115 points each contest.
Dallas is only allowing 111.3 points from the opposition in their last 10 games, limiting opponents’ field-goal percentages to a slim 45% from the field. As for their offense, the Mavericks are scoring the sixth-most points per game on the season and are shooting 48.4% from the field.
Luka Doncic missing the next month or so is certainly not ideal for the Mavericks. However, we feel they are able to get the victory tonight against a struggling Kings team.
Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 (-110)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the best team in the NBA for a while now. They face a Warriors team on Monday who have only won three games in their last 10 outings. Again, this number is extremely peculiar considering the opposite directions of these two teams.
Cleveland is looking to make a serious push for the NBA playoffs and possibly unseat the Boston Celtics as Eastern Conference Champions. The Warriors have won four games in the month of December and are desperately looking for assistance via trade.
The Cavaliers have won six straight games by a margin of at least 10 points. We will gladly take the 4.5 points against Golden State in a contest that appears to be an absolute smash spot for Cleveland.
Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds (-120)
To close out the evening, we head to Portland where Shaedon Sharpe has been a pleasant surprise for a Trail Blazers team still trying to build a winning culture. Shaedon Sharpe is putting up over 18 points in each contest while grabbing over four rebounds per game. A performance that mirrors seasonal averages would get us home, however, the recent production gives us even more confidence in this selection.
The Portland guard has surpassed a combined 21.5 points and rebounds in four out of his last five games. In the four contests he did go over this prop line number, Sharpe did not even need the rebounds. The only game where he fell short was against Dallas on December 13th, where he only saw 24 minutes of playing time due to a major score discrepancy.
Philadelphia is tied for sixth in most rebounds allowed over the last five games - 46.8 each contest. As for points, the Sixers are giving up over 21 points per game to the shooting guard position.
This should be a closely contested matchup. As long as Sharpe can be on the floor for his season average of at least 30 minutes, we feel he will record the necessary 21.5 points and rebounds against Philadelphia.
Enjoy the games and best of luck with your picks.