NBA Best Bets For Monday, Jan. 20: A Celtics Blowout Win?
The NBA has eight games on the schedule for Monday, Jan. 20, including Trae Young taking on the Knicks. The slate kicks off at noon eastern because it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Keep reading for NBA best bets below, and bet with your favorite sportsbook apps.
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NBA Best Bets For Monday, Jan. 20
Check out three bets below for Monday’s NBA games.
Boston Celtics -8 (-110 DraftKings)
Boston owns a 13-10 record since the start of December and has generally looked out of sorts. However, I expect a huge bounce back to occur soon for the reigning champs, and this matchup against the injured Warriors is a perfect spot to start.
The following players will miss the contest for Golden State:
- Draymond Green
- Jonathan Kuminga
- Brandin Podziemki
- Kyle Anderson
Green is one of the few guys on the roster who can operate as a playmaking hub, so the offense often crumbles when he’s sidelined. Podziemski and Anderson’s lost connective passing likely further gums up the offense, and Golden State won’t be able to hope for an explosive scoring night from Kuminga to bail them out, either.
To make matters worse, the depleted Warriors now lack enough lengthy, defensive wings to throw at Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Did I mention that Stephen Curry is also questionable due to an ankle injury? If he is out or not 100%, then it’s difficult to see how Golden State keeps pace with Boston’s offense barring an extraordinary 3-point shooting night.
Overall, the Warriors are limping into this contest with barely any offensive creation or quality wings. Relying on Trayce Jackson-Davis to anchor the defense against Boston is asking for too much, especially since Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford can both pull him away from the paint.
Look for the Celtics to convincingly crush the Warriors. I recommend playing the line at one and a half units.
Isaiah Collier 8+ Assists (-115 FanDuel)
Over his last eight games, Isaiah Collier has averaged 8.3 assists and 13.1 potential assists per game. Those marks would rank sixth and ninth across the NBA, respectively. He should once again get heavy minutes as the primary ball handler with Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson both sidelined.
Collier meets an abysmal Pelicans defense that has surrendered the second-most points per game at the rim, as well as the sixth-most wide open triples per game. The rookie is set up for a monster playmaking night by hitting cutters and finding spot-up shooters.
Finally, these teams just played on Friday, and Collier recorded 11 assists and 16 potential assists.
I suggest playing the line at one unit.
Josh Green Over 5.5 Points (-122 FanDuel)
Dallas bleeds corner attempts and allows a decent amount of wide open triples, too. That bodes well for Josh Green because he mostly operates as a catch-and-shoot threat and is averaging the seventh-most corner attempts in the NBA.
Brandon Miller’s injury likely opens up the door for more shot attempts, especially for 3-point shooters.
It’s also Green’s first game against Dallas since they traded him to Charlotte. Revenge game, anyone?
Overall, he has scored 6+ points in 18 of 36 games this season. I would play the line at one unit.