The NBA regular season is back in full swing with a loaded slate of games this Monday, with a total of 11 matchups on the docket scheduled for today, featuring an excellent nationally televised doubleheader on NBC, as Cavaliers vs. Spurs takes center stage at 8:00 p.m. ET, followed by Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for eight of tonight's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Monday, December 29.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Monday, December 29
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Knicks vs. Pelicans
By Joe Dellera
The Knicks face off against the Pelicans tonight, and I expect Karl-Anthony Towns to dominate in this matchup.
The Knicks are without both Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson tonight, and that naturally improves the rebounding chances for KAT. Without Mitch, KAT’s rebounding spikes to 13.8 per game this season.
As for the offensive matchup, the Pelicans have been getting destroyed by bigs. They’ve allowed huge scoring games to AD, Sengun, Porzingis, Jokic, and Wemby in just the last few weeks. They cannot defend at the rim or from beyond the arc — two spots where KAT crushes from.
This is not a line that KAT hits with regularity, but this matchup is pristine.
Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 36.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)
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Nuggets vs. Heat
By Bet Labs
This NBA system identifies regular season matchups where efficient but undervalued teams face opponents with poor defensive metrics.
When a team’s underlying performance indicators, such as Pythagorean strength, exceed public perception, the betting market often undervalues them against weak defensive opponents who allow high scoring efficiency.
These games typically feature modest moneylines that signal balance but overlook the defensive mismatch.
Slight movement toward the undervalued side reinforces that bettors are slowly recognizing the edge, yet the market remains mispriced.
Over recent seasons, this pattern has rewarded teams whose true performance levels are masked by variance while exploiting opponents that consistently fail to contain efficient offenses, creating a steady opportunity on the moneyline.
Pick: Heat Moneyline (+115)
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Warriors vs. Nets
Brooklyn leads the league in defensive rating over the past 10 games. The return of Cam Thomas will likely hurt in that department, but he only played 20 minutes off the bench in his first game back. He's unlikely to have a full workload tonight.
Golden State is 3rd in defensive rating over the past 10 games.
Steph Curry's status is up in the air after he said prior to Sunday's game that he was uncertain if he would play Monday. He then went out and played 41 minutes in an overtime loss to the Raptors.
Golden State's offensive rating has dropped by 9.0 with Curry off of the floor, while their defensive rating has improved by 9.9.
Pick: Under 221.5 (-110)
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Pacers vs. Rockets
By Joe Dellera
The Rockets face off against the Pacers in a matchup they should control from start to finish tonight.
The Rockets have listed Alperen Sengun on the injury report as questionable with a calf injury that held him out of the Rockets’ last game on Saturday.
Considering their next few games are today against the Pacers, Thursday against the Nets, and then Saturday against the Mavericks — now would be a solid time to give Sengun a couple of maintenance days given the matchups.
If Sengun sits, it’s a great boost for Tari Eason; however, even if he plays, this matchup is still solid for him.
Eason is averaging 16.3 PR on the season, and he’s seen his minutes climb since his return from injury.
The Pacers allow the ninth-most points in the paint, and Eason is excellent in the paint and as a spot-up shooter.
He’s also had immense success against the Pacers with 30, 24, and 20 PR in his three career games against them. So, I’ll back Eason on Monday.
Pick: Tari Eason Over 16.5 Points + Rebounds (-110)
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Cavaliers vs. Spurs
By Bet Labs
This NBA system identifies teams that have struggled against the spread but are poised for short term correction after another poor showing.
When a team has been consistently failing to cover and comes off another game where they fell short of expectations, the betting market tends to overadjust, shading lines too heavily against them.
This creates value for disciplined bettors who recognize that spreads often move more on perception than true performance.
Teams in this range are typically being underestimated, especially as the season progresses beyond the early adjustment phase.
In these spots, motivation to respond is high, public sentiment is low, and pricing inefficiencies emerge that favor the side of teams the market has temporarily abandoned.
Pick: Cavaliers +3 (-110)
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Magic vs. Raptors
The Magic are short road favorites against the Raptors on Monday night, and I will back Orlando to get the job done in this spot.
The Magic may finally be settling into a bit of a rhythm after beating the Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Raptors are on the second night of a back to back following a game that went to overtime.
Tough spot for Toronto here. Give me Orlando moneyline.
Pick: Magic Moneyline (-120)
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Hawks vs. Thunder
By Bet Labs
This NBA system captures regular season games where visiting teams show renewed energy and focus after a disappointing home loss.
When a team transitions from playing at home to the road following a poor result, motivation and effort tend to rise, particularly in non-conference matchups where travel can reset rhythm and concentration.
Teams with a solid overall record often channel frustration from a narrow defeat into improved play away from home, benefiting from reduced pressure and sharper preparation.
By targeting quality teams coming off home losses in unfamiliar settings, this approach leverages the psychological edge of redemption and the tendency for capable squads to perform better when seeking to rebound on the road.
Pick: Hawks Moneyline (+750)
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Timberwolves vs. Bulls
By Bet Labs
The NBA system titled "Home Rebounds Trends" in spread betting is built on the idea that strong home teams with consistent rebounding form and stable scoring patterns tend to deliver reliable spread performances when the market prices them within a reasonable moneyline range.
By focusing on home teams with solid ATS results in their own building, a sustained run of strong offensive rebounding across five games, and a recent scoring trend that sits just above league norms without being inflated, the system targets teams whose advantages are real rather than driven by short bursts of variance.
Limiting the sample to regular season games ensures predictable motivation and rotation patterns, while requiring the team to be at home captures the benefits of familiarity, rest structure, and crowd support.
When these factors align and the moneyline range stays between -130 and -250, the favorite tends to be priced fairly and capable of controlling the game through rebounding and steady offense, creating a profitable long term position.
Pick: Bulls +6.5 (-110)
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