NBA Best Bets Tonight: Predictions From the ‘Buckets’ Podcast (Monday, Dec. 18)

The NBA regular season continues on Monday with a stacked 11-game slate, and our NBA betting experts gave out 10 bets they're playing on the Buckets podcast. These bets span seven different games and include spread picks, totals, player props and even one of the biggest underdogs of the day on the moneyline.

Find our NBA betting experts' best bets for Monday below.

By Matt Moore

The 76ers can put up numbers on anybody, and I am betting that they will not have an off night because they have so few of them. I think they are the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics.

I have the 76ers projected as even heavier favorites in this spot as they lead the league in many categories.

By Matt Moore

This is simply a number play. The 76ers at home are 8-4 to the over. The Bulls offense has been playing better as of late, so I trust both teams to fill it up tonight.

The Bulls' defense is still middle of the pack, so I think this number is pretty low.

By Matt Moore

I don't have any exact prop in this one, but Joel Embiid lives to destroy Nikola Vucevic (Since the podcast was recorded, same-game parlay markets have been updated.).

Embiid has been going off lately and the market reflects that. His point total is currently 33.5 and I will be doing a same-game parlay with over points and the 76ers on the spread. The only thing I am worried about is Embiid sitting in the fourth quarter if this is a rout.

By Jim Turvey

I like the full-game spread as well, but it is difficult with Tyrese Haliburton's status up in the air. I think in terms of impact to the spread, he is one of the top-five players in the NBA.

I am going to look at first quarter because of how slow the Pacers have started games this season. The Clippers have the sixth-best Net Rating in the first quarter whereas the Pacers have a negative First-quarter Net Rating.

By Jim Turvey

The line surprised me here because it opened at Cavaliers -4 and moved toward Cleveland. The key in this matchup is that Evan Mobley and Darius Garland are out for the Cavaliers. Houston is the second-best team in Spread Differential, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The Rockets have been a top-two defense the past two weeks, and Alperen Sengun has truly emerged into a star-level player for the Rockets.

Their depth has improved so much over the past couple seasons, including Tari Eason, who has been fantastic off the bench lately. On the other side, the Cavs have the 27th-best Bench Net Rating in the NBA.

By Matt Moore

The Pistons' 23-game streak ends tonight! The only thing the Pistons do moderately well is they are not terrible at rebounding on offense. This matchup sets up favorably for Detroit because Atlanta is 27th in Opponent Offensive Rebound Rate.

The Hawks are also without Clint Capela for the foreseeable future with a knee bruise, and they are dead last in Opponent Effective Field Goal Percentage.

If the Pistons are ever going to win a game, I think it has to be this one.

By Joe Dellera

The line is a bit of an overreaction to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro coming back. Adebayo hasn't played in eight games, and Herro hasn't played since early November. I don't see a circumstance where he gets thrown right into the fire and plays a lot of minutes.

Additionally, the Heat are only 3-9 against the spread at home this season.

This Minnesota team is so good defensively, and this is a tough spot for Adebayo against Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Even as road favorites, the Wolves should handle business. They are 4-1 in their last five games and have a +13.1 Net Rating over that span.

By Joe Dellera

Of course, Chet Holmgren is coming off of a nine-block performance against the Nuggets, and the rookie has exceeded this number in seven of his last nine games.

The Grizzlies offense without Ja Morant is pretty tough to watch. They are third in Opponent Blocks Allowed and have been unsuccessful in driving into the lane.

This line of 2.5 blocks is too low, and there isn't any juice on it at -125, so I think this is a spot where we have to take Chet.

By Matt Moore

This will be a 3-point bomb festival. I have loved what I've seen from the Nets this season from a betting perspective. They play to hit overs by chasing rebounds and chucking up 3s. The over in Jazz home games is 8-4 this season, so I really like this over, and it is my favorite bet of the night.

By Matt Moore

The Knicks have been a team that handles low 3-point volume shooting teams easily. The Lakers are no longer that and have been spacing the floor well and getting up attempts.

This is a let-down spot for the Knicks after a huge win in Phoenix. This is also a night-life spot that favors the Lakers as the Knicks have likely been in LA since that win over the Suns on Friday night.

This is a Lakers team that pretty much took the week off after winning the In-Season Tournament, and they should be back to business. I love the spot as LeBron James will be motivated against a high-profile opponent, and I love the number for the Lakers.