NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Klay Thompson, Celtics-Raptors, Hornets-Clippers and Elite Underdog)

Today’s NBA Best Bets column has something for everyone, with one player prop, two spread picks (one on a favorite and one on an underdog) and a moneyline pick. 

A rare defensive performance from the New York Knicks led to a 1-2 day on Sunday, but we’re still way up over .500 on the season. 

With several stars, such as Jayson Tatum and Stephen Curry, in action on Monday, how should we bet the night’s games?

Here are my best bets:  

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record for 2022-23 Season: 71-58-1 (+4.4619 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• Boston Celtics Moneyline (-115) vs. Toronto Raptors
• Los Angeles Clippers -4 (-110) vs. Charlotte Hornets
• Oklahoma City Thunder +6 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Klay Thompson UNDER 27.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-115)

Boston Celtics Moneyline (-115) vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto has been terrific at home this season (9-2), but I won’t pass up an opportunity to take the Celtics as a pick’em against a far inferior team. 

Toronto has not looked great over the last week or so, getting blown out by New Orleans and Brooklyn before finally beating the lowly Orlando Magic.  

The Raptors are going to need to be on their game offensively against a Boston team that is one pace to post the best offensive rating in NBA history this season. 

Boston has the best record in the NBA for a reason this season, and even with Pascal Siakam back, I don’t think the Raptors will win this game. 

Toronto has gotten off to awful starts against playoff-caliber teams in the Nets and Pelicans lately, and it simply won’t survive that against a Boston team that is one of the best first half teams in the NBA. 

As long as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown play (they’re both expected to), Boston is a value bet at this current line. 

Los Angeles Clippers -4 (-110) vs. Charlotte Hornets

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are traveling on the team’s road trip and were spotted at practice in uniform back on Dec. 2. 

That bodes well for them on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets, who have been slightly better at home (4-7) than on the road (3-9) in a trying season. 

Charlotte won’t have LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward or Dennis Smith Jr. in this game due to injury. Normal Powell is officially out for the Clips.  So, how should we bet this game? 

Well, I love the value on L.A., and I be them early in hopes that George and Leonard play in this game. 

The Hornets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, so the Clippers should be able to compete and win this game even if their two stars don’t suit up. 

The Hornets rank dead last in the NBA in offensive rating this season and 19th in defensive rating. This offense has struggled mightily without Ball’s playmaking, and the Clippers’ No. 6 defense should be able to keep Kelly Oubre Jr. and Terry Rozier in check on Monday. 

Los Angeles has struggled offensively as well this season (28th in offensive rating), but it’s spent a good amount of the season without at least one of Leonard or George. If just one of them suits up, I think the Clippers win this game going away. 

Oklahoma City Thunder +6 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Thunder may not be winning a ton of games on the road (4-8 straight up), but they have found a way to cover when set as underdogs. 

The Hawks, on the other hand, are just 4-5 against the spread as home favorites this season.

With John Collins (left ankle sprain) and De’Andre Hunter (right hip flexor strain) both out for the Hawks in this game, does OKC have a chance to at least cover in Atlanta?

I think so. 

Last season, the Hawks were known for having an elite defense that struggled to defend, but it has been the opposite this season. 

Atlanta ranks 20th in the NBA in offensive rating and ninth in defensive rating, with All-Star guard Trae Young struggling with his shot early on this season. 

Oklahoma City is 20th in the NBA in net rating, not that anyone expected it to be a playoff team, but I think it can hang around in this matchup. 

The Thunder have covered in four of their last five games, and Atlanta is just 4-5 against the spread as a home favorite this season. 

Collins and Hunter are integral parts of Atlanta’s rotation, so losing both players should give OKC a better chance to keep this close. Six points is a few too many for me to trust the Hawks as favorites. 

Klay Thompson UNDER 27.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-115)

The Warriors are down Andrew Wiggins against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, but I still think this number is too high for guard Klay Thompson. 

Klay is averaging just 17.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season, and with Tyrese Haliburton out for the Pacers, this could be a blowout in Golden State’s favor, leading to less minutes for Klay. 

The sharpshooter has cleared this line just four times all season, scoring more than 25 points in three of those games. Unless Klay has a huge scoring night, he’s likely to fall short of this line. 

I’ll take my chances on this being more of a normal game for the Warriors star.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.