Happy Monday. Four NBA games are on tap, including what was expected to be a must-watch tilt between two of the top teams in the league with the Phoenix Suns playing host to the Utah Jazz. But as with most of Monday’s matchups, injuries have made this game lopsided on the NBA odds.
NBA Games for Monday
New York Knicks (23-24) at Cleveland Cavaliers (28-19)
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Cleveland -6
- Moneyline: New York +200, Cleveland -240
- Total: 203
The New York Knicks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers as sports betting underdogs despite the Cavs missing several key players: Lauri Markkanen (ankle) and potentially Rajon Rondo (hamstring) will be on the injury report. Cleveland already beat the Knicks 126-109 in New York earlier this season.
The Knicks snapped a three-game losing skid by edging the injury-plagued Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. This will be their second game of a back-to-back. They are 3-3- when having no days’ rest while Cleveland will look to win for the seventh time in eight games.
Indiana Pacers (17-30) at New Orleans Pelicans (17-28)
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: New Orleans -3
- Moneyline: Indiana +140, New Orleans -160
- Total: 215½
It will be the Indiana Pacers’ B-squad taking on the New Orleans Pelicans, minus their star players. Indiana is without most of its starting lineup. The team has won just twice in its last seven games and is 5-18 as a road team. New Orleans, despite its record, has been a decent bet online.
The Pelicans are coming off an upset over the Knicks and are 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven games. With the lack of star power, the under may be an interesting bet here as 12 of these teams’ last 18 meetings have gone this way.
Chicago Bulls (28-17) at Oklahoma City Thunder (14-32)
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Chicago -1½
- Moneyline: N/A
- Total: 217
Speaking of injury-ravaged teams, the Chicago Bulls have struggled thanks to the absences of Zach LaVine (knee), Alex Caruso (wrist), and Lonzo Ball (knee), just to name a few. They will be slight favorites as they visit the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC has won one game in their last 11 and is on a five-game losing skid. But the team is healthier than Chicago. The Thunder are also 9-2 in their last 11 games against the Bulls and are 10-4-1 ATS when they play the Eastern Conference.
Utah Jazz (30-17) at Phoenix Suns (36-9)
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Phoenix -10
- Moneyline: Utah +400, Phoenix -500
- Total: 222
After a tough loss against Golden State, the Utah Jazz are back at it as they visit the Phoenix Suns. With Donovan Mitchell (concussion) out and Rudy Gobert (calf) and Bojan Bogdanovic (knee) questionable to play, the Jazz are steep underdogs – the biggest they have been since they visited Toronto with a depleted roster.
Phoenix has been relatively healthy despite missing a few depth players. The Suns are 9-1 in their last 10 games, though three of their last four losses all happened while at home. Still, Phoenix has covered its last five spreads against conference rivals. Keep an eye on the under here as eight of Utah’s 12 conference games have been lower-scoring.
