NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bucks-Hawks and Clippers-Rockets)

Star power is on display on Monday in the NBA, with Jayson Tatum, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others all set to take the floor in tonight’s seven-game slate. 

If there’s one player who’s ascending to stardom so far this season, it’s Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.1 points per game. 

I have a player prop pick for him, as well as two more plays for the action on Nov. 14. 

It hasn't been a great few days in the column, but we’re bouncing back here on Monday… I can feel it. 

Let’s get into today’s picks:

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record for 2022-23 Season: 41-38-1 (-1.8519 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 (-110) vs. Houston Rockets
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 26.5 Points (-110)
• Milwaukee Bucks 1Q ML (-140) vs. Atlanta Hawks

Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 (-110) vs. Houston Rockets

I’m all about the Clippers in this matchup as road favorites. 

Houston should be a much bigger dog, especially if Jalen Green (questionable) ends up missing the game, giving its ineffectiveness on defense. The Rockets are giving up nearly 118 points per game, which should allow this Clippers offense to get on track after a slow start to the season. 

Los Angeles comes into this game with the league’s worst offensive rating, which has moved it to the bottom 10 in the league in net rating. Despite that, the Clippers still have a net rating that is 5.3 points better than Houston. 

The Clips are 2-0 against Houston this season, winning by eight on the road in their last matchup. I won’t back the Rockets at this number any time soon, so give me Los Angeles tonight. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 26.5 Points (-110)

SGA has been dominant to start the season, and even though he’s on the second leg of a back-to-back, I think this number is way too low on Monday night. 

Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 27 or more points in all but three games this season, and he’s facing a Boston team that doesn’t have its top rim protector in Robert Williams III. 

Watching SGA this season, you can see how effortlessly he’s getting to his spots, and he’s shooting an insane 54.3 percent from the field as a result. 

Boston actually has a defensive rating in the bottom 10 in the NBA so far this season, so don’t be shocked if SGA puts up another big scoring game on Monday night. 

Milwaukee Bucks 1Q ML (-140) vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Milwaukee Bucks are the best first quarter team in the NBA this season, going 5-1-1 against the spread at home in the first frame and averaging 31.4 points per game. 

They’re taking on an Atlanta Hawks team that has struggled in first quarters, ranking 21st in the NBA in net rating at -5.6. 

The Bucks get Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup tonight, so they should be rejuvenated on offense early. If Milwaukee comes close to its usual first quarter output, it should be able to hold an early advantage.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.