Top NBA Picks and Predictions Today (Back Minnesota to Win, Celtics and Lakers to Cover as Favorites)
By Peter Dewey
There's 10 games in the NBA on Monday night, and several teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back after a loaded Sunday slate.
Can Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves bounce back after getting blown out by Golden State?
Do the Boston Celtics move to 10-1 at home this season? Plus, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are a sneaky 5-1 in their last six games. I have picks for all of these teams on Monday night, as well as the latest odds for these games:
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards Odds, Spread and Total
The Timberwolves have been disappointing to start this season after making a blockbuster deal for Rudy Gobert in the offseason, but they are in a good spot as underdogs to beat the Wizards in this game.
Washington is due to regress, and we’re starting to see it over the last few games. The team ranks 22nd in the NBA in net rating and recently struggled against a banged up Miami Heat team.
The Wolves’ Achilles heel has been turnovers, ranking 24th in the NBA in turnover percentage, but the team is 11th in defense so far this season, and it should make things tough down low on Kristaps Porzingis.
I backed Boston yesterday even without Tatum because of Washington’s recent struggles, and if everyone is healthy for both sides I like Minnesota to win this outright.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Odds, Spread and Total
This is a lopsided matchup regardless of who suits up for Boston, as the Celtics are No. 1 in the NBA in effective field goal percentage, while the Hornets are dead last in that statistic.
Boston has been historically good on offense this season, and if it was able to win without Jayson Tatum against a much better Washington team, it should have no problem with the struggling Hornets (have lost seven of 10) on Monday.
Boston is 2-1 against the spread on the second leg of a back-to-back this season, and the Celtics are winning games by an average margin of 7.1 points.
The Hornets won’t have two of their best offensive players in this game and have struggled to find consistent scoring all year.
Don’t overthink this game with Tatum back.
Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds, Spread and Total
The Pacers rank 10th in the NBA in offensive rating this season, led by point guard Tyrese Haliburton. However, the team struggled against a top-10 defense in the Clippers, and it will get another in the No. 7 Lakers on Monday.
The Lakers have been terrible to start this season, but LeBron James looked healthy and dominant against a lesser San Antonio Spurs team over the weekend.
If Anthony Davis plays in this game, I like the Lakers chances to win and cover. Los Angeles started the season 2-10, but it has been much better as of late, winning five of its last six games, all by five or more points.
James and Davis are enough frontline talent to make things close with the well-rounded Pacers, and I think at home the Lakers have the edge here, especially with this being a back-to-back for Indiana.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.