NBA Picks

The Washington Wizards’ early-season woes continued as they lost their 8th straight game on Sunday. Despite looking competitive early, Detroit pulled away to win 124-104, which saw the Wizards’ record drop to 2-10 on the season. Defensive frailties were on show once again for Washington, and of their 10 losses, 5 have now come by a margin of 20+ points, which goes some way to explaining their league-worst team opponent points per game at 124.

The New York Knicks come into this contest after notching a couple of recent wins over the Brooklyn Nets, the first of which was without Karl-Anthony Towns, who returned on Sunday to drop 26 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists in just 30 minutes. While the Wizards may not be able to slow down the KAT-led Knicks offense enough to end their winless run, they have at least been able to score consistently at the other end of the court over their last 3 games. Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole have averaged 18 and 28 points respectively over that stretch and with similar showings, and against New York there may be plenty of points at both ends of the court on Monday night.

Wizards vs Knicks prediction: Over 231 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Houston Rockets (10-4) travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks (4-9) in a matchup that pits 2 teams trending in opposite directions against each other. Despite their records, Milwaukee’s star-studded lineup of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remains dangerous, though injuries have hindered their availability. Giannis is probable after a knee issue, while Lillard remains a game-time decision due to concussion protocol. The Bucks have struggled defensively since trading Jrue Holiday last season, slipping from 4th in defensive efficiency in 2022-23 to 19th in 2023-24 to 17th this year. Their lack of defensive identity has facilitated their inconsistent play. 

On the other hand, Houston enters the game riding a wave of momentum. Winners of their last 5, the Rockets have averaged 117.4 points while holding opponents to just 101 during that stretch. Their balanced roster construction has led to defensive success along with offensive success. The Rockets enter today with a 7-3 record against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games while the Bucks are just 3-6-1 ATS in that span and only cover at 38% when favorites this season.

With Milwaukee favored by only 3.5 points, this game has trap potential for bettors expecting the Bucks to dominate. While the star power of Giannis and Dame can’t be ignored, Houston’s consistent form and defensive discipline, led by Ime Udoka, make them an attractive play at +3.5. If the Bucks prove their worth tonight, so be it, but the Rockets look poised to continue their hot streak.

Rockets vs Bucks prediction: Rockets +3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Warriors have taken the league by storm and after the Thunder’s loss to the Mavericks last night they now find themselves top of the Western Conference standings. A win tonight against the Clippers would of course keep them there, but the task at hand will be a lot more difficult than some people think. LA beat Steph Curry and company in the first meeting this season, which was Golden State’s 5th loss in 6 meetings with this team. However, catching the Clippers on the 2nd night of a back-to-back scenario might just tip things in the favor of the Warriors here.

James Harden led the Clippers with 20 points and 11 assists in last night’s win over the Utah Jazz. At the age of 35, you have to wonder if Harden has enough left in the tank to compete at a high level in back-to-backs. Another concern for the Clips here is their three-point shooting – over the last 3 games they’ve completely cooled off and are making just 29.7% of their attempts from distance. Against a team like Golden State, you have to make your shots because you know they will. One small edge that the home team has here will be at the center position, where they have the reliable Ivica Zubac, but if the Warriors push the tempo he might struggle to keep up with his giant 7-foot frame.

Golden State is 8-1 in 9 games, which includes a 6-game win streak against Western Conference opponents. Despite the somewhat poor head-to-head record, I believe the Warriors have the edge here primarily due to the Clippers playing their 2nd game in 2 nights. Let’s go with the Warriors to cover.

Warriors vs Clippers prediction: Warriors -3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Bulls allowed 143 points in their defeat to the Houston Rockets in Chicago on Sunday. Little went right for the Bulls, who only shot 33.6% from the floor and lost the rebound battle 66-47, with Alperen Sengun posting a triple-double for the Rockets. The Bulls also conceded 144 points to the Cavaliers last Friday, so their recent defensive efforts are a little concerning.

While the Pistons are hardly a scoring juggernaut with an average of 110 points per game this season, they’ve got it going a little more of late, eclipsing 120 points in 4 of their last 6 games. They are also heading back home after a comfortable 20-point win over a struggling Wizards team, in which Jaden Ivey scored a season-high 28 points, with Malik Beasley also equalling his season’s best with 26 points.

The Bulls have been much better on the road this season (4-4) compared to their home record of (1-4) but the recent defensive outings are too bad to ignore. Combined with a recent uptick in performances from the Pistons, particularly offensively, they look to have enough to hand Chicago its third straight loss and cover the 3.5-point spread in doing so.

Bulls vs Pistons prediction: Pistons -3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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