NBA Player Props & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Predictions for Monday

sportsbookreview.com

18 December 2023

We're analyzing our favorite NBA player props and the best bets for Monday based on the best NBA odds from our best sports betting apps.

The new week in the NBA begins with a packed 11-game slate, featuring the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Houston Rockets, who are in the second game of a back-to-back set on the road.

Scottie Barnes leads the Toronto Raptors in a favorable matchup against another shorthanded team, the Charlotte Hornets. With Kyrie Irving sidelined, Luka Doncic, staying blisteringly hot, will face off against another MVP candidate. Can the Dallas Mavericks secure a win against the defending champion Denver Nuggets?

Finally, let's focus on a player who has been receiving more playing time for the Memphis Grizzlies lately and has a favorable matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Mavericks vs. Knicks player props and our Knicks vs. Lakers player props to go along with our NBA player props and best bets for Monday (odds via our best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Monday’s NBA schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Monday’s NBA best bets

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Monday’s NBA player props

Donovan Mitchell Over 42.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Rockets (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Cavaliers are down bad with both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley set to miss extended time. That means Donovan Mitchell should get as much usage as he can handle for the foreseeable future. Spida is averaging 27.3 points, and career highs in rebounds (5.8) and assists (5.5) during his second season with Cleveland. His numbers should now get inflated with Garland and Mobley out.

Mitchell has averaged 31 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over five games without Garland in 2023-24. He’s put up at least 43 points, rebounds, and assists in two of those five contests, and scored 30-plus points in three. Mitchell went off for 22 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds against Atlanta on Saturday, showcasing his passing ability as the team’s primary facilitator.

He shouldn't struggle to score on a Rockets team allowing 115.1 points per game on the road, compared to just 97.8 at home. Houston played a hard-fought game at Milwaukee on Sunday, and the team could be even more vulnerable defensively on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Whether he scores in bunches, gets teammates involved, or both, we’re banking on Mitchell racking up the counting stats and cashing this prop on Monday.

Scottie Barnes Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Hornets (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beam me up, Scottie? Barnes is enjoying the best statistical season of his career while taking advantage of Fred VanVleet departing and Toronto’s tight rotations. The Raptors sport one of the worst benches in the Association, and the third-year point-forward has been playing significant minutes while taking on the highest usage rate of his career (24.1%).

Barnes is averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists through the first two months of 2023-24, but he’s been even more productive lately. He's averaging 38.3 points, rebounds, and assists, and has posted at least 37 in three contests.

The 22-year-old produced a monster 31/10/10 stat line during his first meeting with the Hornets this season. Now he again gets a favorable rematch against a team allowing the ninth-most rebounds, fifth-most points, and seventh-most assists.

Luka Doncic Over 19.5 rebounds + assists vs. Nuggets (-122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Doncic has been absolutely cooking in 2023-24, posting healthy averages of 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. Fresh off a 40-point triple-double against the Trail Blazers, he’ll look to stay hot against Nikola Jokic and the defending champs on Monday.

Irving remains out of action due to a lingering heel injury. He’ll miss a fifth straight matchup and ninth game on the season overall. Doncic has been averaging 32.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 12 assists over eight games without Irving, going for at least 20 rebounds and assists in four of those outings.

Doncic has been particularly effective as a facilitator with Irving sidelined, but he was getting teammates involved at an elite level even when the veteran was healthy. He's handed out double-digit assists in six of his last seven games while averaging 21.1 rebounds and assists. Doncic notched 10 rebounds and eight assists against Denver during his first meeting with the Nuggets this campaign, but Irving was available for that one.

Vince Williams Over 7.5 rebounds vs. Thunder (+125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Memphis has been an absolute mess in 2023-24, but the team’s fortunes may start to change Tuesday with the return of Ja Morant from a 25-game suspension. However, the Grizzlies’ starting lineup should feature Williams for at least one more game.

Williams has started each of Memphis’ last two contests, but he’s played at least 26 minutes in three straight. He’s recorded rebound totals of nine, seven, and eight in those games. Starting center Bismack Biyombo is doubtful to play in this one, and the Thunder allow the second-most rebounds to opponents.

This rebound prop has been receiving a lot of juice, and the -135 odds aren’t too appealing across our best sportsbooks. Fortunately, DraftKings offers it up to 7.5 with plus-money odds. As always, we’ll look for the most profitable wager, and in this case, that means an alternative rebound total.

NBA best bets made 12/18/2023 at 7:15 a.m. ET

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