NBA Best Bets Tonight: Predictions From the ‘Buckets’ Podcast (Monday, Dec. 11)

After the NBA took the day off on Sunday, there are 13 NBA matchups on Monday night, and our NBA betting experts are ready with 11 best bets for Monday's slate. Matt Moore, Jim Turvey and Joe Dellera are eying spread bets, player props and total bets tonight. Find their NBA best bets and picks below.

By Matt Moore

This a duplex spot, where the Cavs and the Magic just played last Wednesday. The Cavs beat the Magic, but now they travel back to Orlando. The Cavs have not had things together this year and sort of randomly got it together last week. They are just too inconsistent, and I got it wrong the last game so I am going back to the well and fading them again.

Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert are out for the Cavs tonight, so the Magic shouldn't have too many problems scoring inside.

By Jim Turvey

This is a bet on Mitchell Robinson's absence after Hartenstein grabbed 16 rebounds last game with Robinson out. His minutes have taken a huge jump, and with Robinson out last year, he averaged 8.2 rebounds but had 14, 14 and 13 rebounds in that month Robinson missed.

I thought about playing his Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA), but he doesn't really look to score. This is a prop I will look out for while Robinson remains out.

By Joe Dellera

Julius Randle has finally turned the corner this season. This matchup against the Raptors is pretty favorable for Randle, and he has been great in these spots with six straight double-doubles against Toronto.

He has looked great recently, and I lean toward Randle exceeding his Points + Rebounds + Assists total of 36.5, as it should be a well-rounded game from him.

By Matt Moore

Memphis' defense has certainly been better, but Steven Adams' absence has hurt this team so much. The Mavericks have dominated the Grizzlies over the past couple of years.

This bet feels pretty easy to lay the points because I don't think the Grizzlies can hang with the Mavs in this matchup.

By Jim Turvey

The Grizzlies have turned their defense around, although the offense remains absolutely horrible. In the last two weeks, they are seventh in Defensive Rating according to Cleaning the Glass.

What I like more about this cap is how the Mavericks offense has slipped. Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams are both out for the foreseeable future, and their defense has continued to get better. So with two teams whose defenses are on the rise, I think this is a great spot to target the under.

By Matt Moore

This is a model play, as I have this total projected down at 219.5. The Rockets defense has been playing really well, and they are coming off two straight wins. They have a lot of momentum and play so well at home, so there are a lot of reasons to like the Rockets defense tonight.

By Joe Dellera

The Timberwolves have the best record in the NBA, are third in Adjusted Net Rating and lead the league in Adjusted Defensive Rating. I know that Anthony Edwards showed up on the injury report, but in all honesty this is a Rudy Gobert team.

He has anchored the defense and finally has a rapport with his teammates. On the flip side, we have a Pelicans team who just got whooped out of the In-Season Tournament. I like this spot a lot for the Wolves and will be taking them at +3.5 on the spread.

By Matt Moore

The Bulls have been playing pretty well even without Zach LaVine in the lineup. However, this is more of a fade of the Bucks' play. They obviously have a great roster, but I just don't think Adrian Griffin is the right coach for Milwaukee right now.

We used to hammer the Bucks in division games when coached by Mike Budenholzer. From 2019 to the start of this season, the Bucks went 51-12 straight up and 37-23-3 against the spread in divisional games. This season under Griffin, they are 2-3 straight up and 0-5 against the spread in these games.

By Joe Dellera

I like the matchup for Nikola Vucevic straight up against Brook Lopez. He can stretch the floor and has been shooting it well from 3 as of late. He has hit this PRA over in seven of his last 10 regular-season matchups against Lopez. LaVine remains out for the Bulls, so Vucevic should be able to get more shots up.

By Jim Turvey

This is my favorite side of the day, as I have this at nearly a pick'em. This isn't some stale trend as the Nets have covered six of their last seven games and have the best record against the spread in the NBA this year. Mikal Bridges has looked like the guy we all expected to see and has put the Nets on his back.

I think this squad is really flying under the radar, and they are pesky. They will continue their strong play tonight, and I will be taking the money line as well in this matchup in Sacramento.

By Matt Moore

My numbers don't like the Kings. They didn't start the season great, then they got De'Aaron Fox back and started winning, but they since have wobbled a little bit. It's not to say the Kings are bad, because they aren't, but I have this projected at a pick'em as well.