NBA betting: Four picks for Monday’s slate
Phoenix Suns (-6.5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (-105).
The Suns look to have their entire starting lineup on the floor Monday night, with Devin Booker (ankle) listed as probable to return after a four-game absence. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have continued to struggle with injury. Evan Mobley is listed as out, Donovan Mitchell has missed six straight games and is “expected to be out” on Monday, Max Strus has missed four straight games and Darius Garland was seen icing his wrist after Sunday’s loss and is listed as a game-time decision for Monday. The Cavs have been inconsistent during Mitchell’s absence and are coming off a 19-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
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Brandon Miller over 20.5 points (-125).
Miller has proved to be a reliable high-volume scorer in the second half of his rookie season and has been playing particularly well of late. Miller has averaged 21.8 PPG over his past five games with at least 21 points in four of the five. He faces a Pistons team on Monday that has allowed the seventh-most points to small forwards (22.3 PPG). Miller has had plenty of success against the Hornets this season, scoring 17 points against them in his second NBA game and dropping 23 points in the last matchup between these two teams in late January.
DeMar DeRozan over 24.5 points (-120).
DeRozan has been in the zone since the start of February, averaging 26.8 PPG over his past 15 games. DeRozan has scored 24 or more points in seven of his past eight games and scored 29 or more in four of his past six. The Bulls face a Mavericks team on Monday night that allows the fourth-most points to power forwards (25.0 PPG).
San Antonio Spurs (+4.5) vs. Golden State Warriors (-110).
The Spurs are quietly playing well right now, winners of three of their past five games including a 13-point road win over the Warriors on Saturday. The Warriors will still be without Stephen Curry for Monday’s matchup, but the Spurs should get Victor Wembanyama back after a two-game absence (ankle). San Antonio should be able to keep this matchup tight at home with a reasonable shot to win outright.
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m., Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
Records (Against the Spread)
Hornets: 16-48 (26-38-0)
Pistons: 10-53 (31-31-1)
Line: Pistons (-4.5) Total: 217.5
Money Line: Hornets (+150), Pistons (-175)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 7.8, straight up 75%, 230.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Tre Mann, (GTD – Groin); Bryce McGowens, (OUT – Knee); LaMelo Ball, (OUT – Ankle); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Pistons: Quentin Grimes, (GTD – Knee)
Phoenix Suns at Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 p.m., Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
Records (Against the Spread)
Suns: 37-27 (26-37-1)
Cavaliers: 41-23 (31-32-1)
Line: Suns (-6.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Suns (-240), Cavaliers (+200)
BPI Projection: Suns by 0.4, straight up 52%, 227.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Devin Booker, (GTD – Ankle); Eric Gordon, (OUT – Knee); Josh Okogie, (OUT – Abdomen); Nassir Little, (OUT – Knee); Damion Lee, (OUT – Knee)
Cavaliers: Darius Garland, (GTD – Wrist); Dean Wade, (GTD – Personal); Donovan Mitchell, (GTD – Knee); Max Strus, (GTD – Knee); Tristan Thompson, (OUT – Suspension); Evan Mobley, (OUT – Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Ankle)
Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m., United Center, Chicago
Records (Against the Spread)
Mavericks: 36-28 (35-29-0)
Bulls: 31-33 (33-30-1)
Line: Mavericks (-3.5) Total: 232.5
Money Line: Mavericks (-175), Bulls (+150)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 2.4, straight up 59%, 233.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Mavericks: None reported
Bulls: Torrey Craig, (GTD – Ankle); Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT – Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Foot)
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m., Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 33-30 (33-28-2)
Spurs: 14-50 (31-32-1)
Line: Warriors (-4.5) Total: 227.5
Money Line: Warriors (-190), Spurs (+160)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 2.4, straight up 58%, 234.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Draymond Green, (GTD – Back); Moses Moody, (GTD – Knee); Stephen Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Spurs: Devin Vassell, (GTD – Hip); Cedi Osman, (OUT – Ankle); Charles Bassey, (OUT – Knee)
Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m., Ball Arena, Denver
Records (Against the Spread)
Raptors: 23-41 (30-34-0)
Nuggets: 44-20 (29-33-2)
Line: Nuggets (-14.5) Total: 231.5
Money Line: Raptors (+750), Nuggets (-1200)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 14.7, straight up 91%, 229.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Bruce Brown, (GTD – Knee); Chris Boucher, (GTD – Knee); D.J. Carton, (GTD – Ankle); RJ Barrett, (GTD – Illness); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Hand)
Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, (OUT – Knee)
Boston Celtics at Portland Trail Blazers
10:30 p.m., Moda Center, Portland
Records (Against the Spread)
Celtics: 49-14 (32-28-3)
Blazers: 18-45 (30-33-0)
Line: Celtics (-9.5) Total: 216.5
Money Line: Celtics (-450), Blazers (+360)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 10.8, straight up 84%, 227.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Derrick White, (GTD – Hand); Jaylen Brown, (GTD – Pelvis); Jayson Tatum, (GTD – Ankle); Jrue Holiday, (GTD – Knee); Kristaps Porzingis, (OUT – Hamstring); Svi Mykhailiuk, (OUT – Personal)
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Jabari Walker, (OUT – Hip); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT – Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee)