NBA Expert Picks: Our Staff’s Favorite Bets for Hawks-Clippers, 3 Other Monday Games

There are five games on tap Monday night starting at 7 p.m. ET. That means there are plenty of betting opportunities in the marketplace.

Let's dive into our experts' four favorite wagers in the following games:

• New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets: 7 p.m. ET
• Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies: 8 p.m. ET
• Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Clippers: 10:30 p.m. ET

*All odds as of 4:30 p.m. ET

Rob Perez: Nuggets -5 at Grizzlies

This is the deepest team in the NBA vs. a roster that currently has Bruno Caboclo as its most important bench player.

Garrett Temple is out, JaMychal Green is banged up … am I willing to lay 5 points that the Bruno Caboclo era is a bust? Yes, yes, I am.

What are the Grizzlies going to do — run the flex to get Joakim Noah corner 3s? Ivan Rabb and Jevon Carter running pick-and-rolls is like a 2K roster that didn’t upgrade to premium.

This is where we’re at in Memphis — experimenting G-Leaguers because Chandler Parsons is too busy shooting all of his shots in the DMs.

The Grizz had a nice win the other night, and they’re probably feeling great about themselves, but this is not the Sacramento Kings. This is the majors.

Even if Jamal Murray doesn’t play, the Nuggets are +4.4 with him on the floor this year and +7.4 with him off. It was the end of an era in Memphis; now it’s the beginning of a drought. — Rob Perez

Matt Moore: Clippers -6 vs. Hawks

The Clippers had an early game yesterday, so the back-to-back isn’t as damaging. The Hawks are on the third game of a West Coast road trip.

Teams on the third game or more of a road trip this season are 75-101 (42%) ATS.

The very young Hawks have been in L.A. since Saturday night, and if there’s one thing I love to bet on it’s L.A. nightlife.

Lou Williams is projected with over 25 points in our FantasyLabs props tool, and the Hawks have the fourth-worst Net Rating vs. West teams (and have gone 1-7 SU).

I think the Clippers just outclass them with veteran talent and cruise to an easy double-digit victory. — Matt Moore

Ken Barkley: Under 221 in Knicks-Hornets

There was some steam from the opener of 217.5 up to the current numbers, and that’s understandable. These teams’ last two meetings were both high-scoring, and their most recent meeting a month ago would have shattered this number.

Also, it’s the Knicks, and I think the perception is they just don’t care and therefore will allow points in bunches to anyone.

A few things to consider here, though: First, Kemba Walker, offensive extraordinaire, is nursing an injury and therefore may be less effective for Charlotte.

Second, the Knicks are on a back-to-back, and in these spots, the offense has actually been the unit where you see massive drop-off. Per Cleaning the Glass, their defense actually gets a little better on zero days rest, but their offense goes off a cliff, dropping from 105.6 to 98.2 points per 100 possessions.

As absurd as this sounds, they’re also playing this game without Luke Kornet and Emmanuel Mudiay, and although for every competent team that wouldn’t matter, those two were productive players, and their minutes are going to go to even less effective players.

Maybe Enes Kanter gets the call from the bench and goes crazy, but while we wait for that, I think a blowout here is likely, and one with less scoring than you’d expect. — Ken Barkley

Bryan Mears: Jayson Tatum over 18.5 points

This one is pretty simple: Tatum takes on more offensive responsibility without Kyrie Irving, who is out tonight against the Nets. In six games without Kyrie this season, Tatum has averaged a 25.6% usage rate and 19.5 points per game.

The Celtics have drastic home/road splits this season, going 19-6 straight-up and 16-9 ATS in Boston. The younger guys are clearly more comfortable at home, and Tatum has increased his usage rate by over 2% in home games vs. road ones.

Further, Tatum has averaged 25 points per game in two meetings this season against the Nets, who own a below-average defense. And for the final, most fun reason: Will Tatum come out trying to prove to the Celtics that they shouldn't trade him to New Orleans for Anthony Davis?

This line opened at 16.5 but has moved up to 18.5 after the Kyrie news. I'd still hit it at this line. — Bryan Mears