Three NBA Games on Monday - Previews, Picks, Props, Fantasy

The  Wizards have been rolling with five straight wins and Bradley Beal hasn’t even played in the last three of those due to his hamstring injury. Rui Hachimura has been one of the catalysts to make it happen, catching fire and averaging 21.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 3-pointers on 60 percent shooting over the five-game stretch. And after a seven-point dud on Dec. 23, Kristaps Porzingis also got it going, averaging 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 3-pointers while shooting it incredibly well from the floor (56 percent). He hit 9-of-16 shots in Sunday’s win over these Bucks despite going 0-for-5 from downtown. Kyle Kuzma double-doubled in that one and has hit double digits in scoring in every game since Nov. 13 and Daniel Gafford has been playing well, scoring in double figures in three straight and in six of his last eight, racking up solid rebounds and blocks along the way. Corey Kispert has been starting for Beal but it sounds like Beal might be able to give it a go tonight. If that happens, everyone on the Wizards will take a slight usage hit, while Kispert should be unplayable in fantasy. Deni Avdija double-doubled on Sunday and has also been playing well, but he’ll also take a substantial hit if Beal is back. Gafford’s been dealing with an ankle injury but should be good to go tonight.

The Bucks were without both Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Jrue Holiday (illness) when they fell to the Wizards on Sunday but both players, as well as George Hill (illness) are listed as probable for tonight’s meeting. Giannis practiced on Monday but Holiday did not after missing his last three games with the illness. It will be interesting to see how his conditioning is after being inactive for the last week. Khris Middleton is out again due to his knee injury. The Bucks are reeling a bit, losing five of their last six games with the lone win coming over the lowly Timberwolves. The Wizards at home might be just what the doctor ordered for Milwaukee and the return of Holiday is a key for them. 

Top Oddscrowd bettor MarySD likes the Bucks Moneyline (-330) tonight while the Oddscrowd algorithm gives the Over (229) a 2.1% +EV Edge. The Wizards are hot, the Bucks are not and eight points is a lot. I’ll take the Wizards and the points tonight. 

Pick: Wizards +8

Prop 1: Kristaps Porzingis to score 25+ points +165 at FanDuel

Prop 2: Giannis Antentokounmpo to score 35+ points +100 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Kristaps Porzingis over 30.5 total points & rebounds -115 at FanDuel

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The Celtics are coming off a loss at Denver but won their previous four games. Robert Williams is a game-time call with his knee injury management but the Celtics are otherwise healthy. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the highest-scoring duo in the league and they scored 25 and 30 points in the last one, respectively. The problem is that no other Celtics really stepped up in that one, outside of Derrick White who scored 13 points in the loss. Marcus Smart really struggled, hitting just 2-of-12 shots for four points, missing all four of his 3-pointers as well. If Williams is out, look for Al Horford to step up and have a better performance than he did at Denver, when he hit just 3-of-10 shots for eight points. Both Smart and Horford will have to play better tonight if the Celtics are going to beat the Thunder. 

The Thunder have lost three of their last four games and should be on the verge of going into full tank mode. The Thunder’s injury report doesn’t have any new changes on it but Ousmane Dieng, Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are all out again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved he’s human in the his last game when he hit just 4-of-15 shots for a season-low 14 points in a NYE loss to the Sixers, while Josh Giddey stepped up with 20 points and Jalen Williams added 17. Williams has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 15 games and should be able to keep it going the rest of the way. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues until further notice. Just beware that his two single-digit games were bad, as he missed all eight shots and scored one point on Dec. 17 and hit 3-of-11 shots for seven points on Dec. 7. But outside of those two duds, he’s been cooking and averaged 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 3-pointers on 50 percent shooting in December. 

Tops Oddscrowd performer MarySD is going with the Celtics Moneyline (-360) which is a pretty safe bet. Nine points is asking a lot of these Celtics and the Thunder have been pesky for the most part, especially at home.  

Pick: Thunder +9 

Prop 1: Jaylen Brown to score 30+ points +140 at FanDuel

Prop 2: Jalen Williams to score 15+ points +190 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Derrick White to total over 13.5 points & assists +100 at FanDuel

The Kings currently sit as the No. 5 seed in the West while the Jazz have fallen to the No. 10 seed in the West after losing four straight games to the Heat, Kings, Warriors and Spurs. The Kings got big wins at home against the Nuggets and Jazz recently before losing at Memphis on New Year’s Day. Domantas Sabonis hasn’t missed a beat despite a fractured ligament in his thumb and De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and Harrison Barnes have all been playing well for the Kings. Huerter (back) and Monk (shoulder) are both game-time decisions for the Kings and whichever one is healthy could be in for a solid night. If they’re both out, look for Terence Davis to see an expanded role tonight. 

Kelly Olynyk is back for the Jazz and had 14 points, four rebounds, six dimes, three steals and a 3-pointer in his last game, while Lauri Markkanen stayed red-hot with 29 points, 14 rebounds and three triples in that loss to the Heat. Jordan Clarkson has also been a reliable scorer and has scored at least 21 points in seven straight games. And he should be a lock for 20 again tonight with Collin Sexton (hamstring) ruled out for the next week. Malik Beasley also gets a boost with Sexton out, while Walker Kessler is still relevant, despite the return of Olynyk. 

MarySD likes the Jazz Moneyline (-135) and Opportunista is taking the Jazz -2. The algorithm gives a 2.4% +EV Edge to the over (242.5) at -108 and while I think the Jazz may be able to win by four at home, the Kings ae hungry and playing better basketball than Utah right now. I like taking the Kings and the points tonight.  

Pick: Kings +3.5

Prop 1: Jordan Clarkson to score 20+ points -230 at FanDuel

Prop 2: Lauri Markkanen to score 25+ points -135 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Lauri Markkanen to double-double +230 at FanDuel