The NBA schedule for Monday features eight exciting games with several playoff contenders in action. Games like Lakers versus Magic (+3.5) and Timberwolves versus Pacers (-2.5) are key inter-conference matchups for teams aiming for better playoff seeds. These games tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Later, at 10 p.m. ET, Kevin Durant`s Suns, favored by 2.5 points at home, will face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who are also vying for a high seed in the Eastern Conference. Notably, seven of the eight games have very close point spreads of four points or less. SportsLine`s expert Mike Barner has analyzed these matchups and identified the top NBA picks and prop bets for today`s games.
Mike Barner is a highly respected expert in the industry, currently on an impressive run of 114 wins and 77 losses in his last 191 NBA player prop picks, resulting in a profit of +2303 units. Following his picks could lead to significant returns for bettors. Here are Barner`s top selections for Monday`s NBA games.
Lakers (-3.5) Expected to Cover Against the Magic
The Lakers have a strong recent history against the Magic, winning 7 of their last 9 encounters, including 4 wins in the last 5 games played in Orlando. LeBron James recently returned to the court after a two-week injury absence. Interestingly, the Lakers are 7-2 against the spread in the last nine games James has fully played. Barner also points out a significant trend: the Magic have performed poorly as home underdogs, holding the third-worst record in the league in this situation this season. According to Barner, “The Magic`s recent form is weak, with a 4-8 record in their last 12 games and a 4-7 record against the spread as a home underdog this season. Therefore, betting on the Lakers to cover the spread is advisable.”
Kevin Huerter: Over 13.5 Total Points in Bulls vs. Nuggets Game
Since joining the Bulls in the Zach LaVine trade, Kevin Huerter`s performance has improved. With the Kings earlier this season, he averaged just 7.9 points in about 20.9 minutes per game. However, with Chicago, his average has risen to 12.9 points in nearly 29 minutes. He has been a starter for the Bulls in the last six games, averaging 16.3 points during this stretch. His playing time is expected to be high tonight as Chicago is missing Lonzo Ball (wrist), Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder), and Tre Jones (foot). Barner stated to SportsLine, “Both the Bulls and Nuggets play at a fast pace, ranking in the top six in the league, which should give Huerter more opportunities to exceed this points total.”
Josh Giddey: Over 8.5 Total Assists in Bulls vs. Nuggets Game
The Bulls` player absences should also benefit Josh Giddey, especially since the injured players are all primary ball-handlers. Giddey achieved a career-high of 17 assists in their recent win against Los Angeles. His playmaking has significantly improved since the All-Star break, averaging 9.1 assists compared to 6.4 beforehand. He faces an ideal matchup against the Denver defense, which is currently struggling and ranks 24th in the league in points allowed per game.
Barner commented to SportsLine, “This is an excellent matchup for Giddey against the Nuggets, who allow the most assists per game in the league. In their last game against the Nuggets, Giddey recorded 10 assists in just 27 minutes. He is anticipated to play over 30 minutes in this game.”
Looking for More NBA Expert Picks for Monday?
These are just some of the top expert NBA picks for Monday`s games. For even more selections, check out SportsLine`s proven model, which has generated nearly $4,000 in profit on top-rated NBA picks since last season.
