The NBA season is well underway, and Monday offers up a solid seven game slate across the league. Two games that stand out amongst the rest are the Cavaliers-Spurs and Hawks-Grizzlies. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets for Monday, Dec. 12. For more NBA best bets, NBA props and player props, be sure to visit the OddsShopper tool.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Cavaliers-Spurs Bets
The Cleveland Cavaliers face off with the San Antonio Spurs Monday at AT&T Center. The Cavaliers are coming off a 110-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The Spurs have surprisingly won two games in a row, including a shocking victory over the Heat on the road as 12.5-point underdogs. The under is 3-1 in the past four outings for the Spurs, and it has hit in eight straight games for Cleveland. The Cavaliers have played in 12 straight games that have gone under tonight’s total of 220.5 points.
The Cavaliers will try to string together back-to-back wins after splitting their last five games. They have been dealing with injuries to Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Love. Both players were able to partake in shootaround this morning, so keep an eye on their status leading up to tip-off. Cleveland is averaging 110.9 points per game and allowing 104.8. It is facing a Spurs team that ranks 25th in the league in scoring. Cleveland is a force on the glass, ranking fifth in both rebound differential and rebound rate. Given the absence of the Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl, the Cavaliers should be able to limit San Antonio’s second-chance opportunities. San Antonio relies on second-chance points, ranking sixth in the league with 15.3 points per game.
Right when the Spurs looked to be in full tank mode, losing 11 straight games, they ripped off back-to-back wins against the Heat and Rockets. Do not expect them to string together three straight, as Cleveland is one of the top powerhouse teams in the league. Poeltl (knee) remains out on Monday, and Jeremy Sochan (quad) participated in shootaround and has a chance to suit up after missing the past five games. San Antonio has struggled defensively, giving up 120.4 points per game.
There is a lot of contrast between these two teams. Cleveland is the top-ranked defense in the league, while the Spurs defense ranks dead last. In addition, these two teams play at very different tempos. The Cavaliers rank last in pace, and the Spurs are seventh. Cleveland loves to win games with their defensive efforts. The under is 13-3 in the past 16 games overall for the Cavaliers, who have the league’s best scoring defense (104.8 points per game). The under is 5-1 in the past six games on the road for Cleveland. It does not matter what oddsmakers set the total as for Cleveland games; they are an under machine.
Best NBA Bet for Cavaliers-Spurs: Total UNDER 220.5 Points
Hawks-Grizzlies Bets
The Atlanta Hawks travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies Monday at FedEx Forum. The Hawks are coming off an overtime buzzer-beater with 0.5 seconds on the clock to take down the Bulls on Sunday. This win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Hawks. They have a quick turnaround as they travel to Memphis on Monday. The Grizzlies took care of business as double-digit home favorites in a 114-103 win against the Detroit Pistons on Friday. This is the first matchup between these two teams this season.
Ja Morant (thigh) and Steven Adams (ankle) are both listed as questionable. The Grizzlies have won five straight behind some much-improved defense. They rank sixth in defensive rating on the season and second in their last five games. There is a sizable difference between teams’ net ratings, as the Hawks are 20th while the Grizzlies are seventh. Memphis is holding opponents to 103.8 points in its last five games.
Atlanta’s Trae Young (back) and Clint Capela (Achilles) are both questionable for tonight’s contest. Dejounte Murray (ankle) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management) will not suit up on Monday. Young’s shooting efficiency as fallen off this season, as he is shooting just 28.9% from deep and 40.8% from the field, both career lows. Despite his poor shooting, he is still chucking up shot attempts, with a career-high 21.6 attempts per game. If Young is able to suit up, he will be matching up against Dillon Brooks, who is bigger and stronger than Young. Brooks should present a tough matchup for Young, who will need to get others involved if the Hawks want this game to remain competitive.
The Grizzlies are 8-1-1 against the spread in the first half and have a +6.8 point margin in their last 10 games. They are also 9-3-1 at home against the spread in the first half. There are too many injuries on the Hawks to back them in tonight’s game. Atlanta struggles on the road in the first half against the spread, with a 3-9 record on the season. They are in a tough spot coming off an overtime thriller at home last night against the Bulls. Memphis has been far more consistent than the Hawks overall, and they play very well at home, holding a 11-2 record on the season. Atlanta is coming off of an emotional overtime win, and this is a quality letdown spot for them. Take Memphis to cover the 5.5-point spread in the first half.
Best NBA Bet for Hawks-Grizzlies: Grizzlies First Half -5.5
