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As of right now, MonkeyKnifeFight.com, only has four of the seven Monday night games up, so although this is one of the smaller slates, it doesn't change the potential for some of these teams tonight. A slight overview of the games and you'll notice fairly tight point spreads with more-than-even matchups between some of the weaker teams facing-off tonight.
With how Sacramento and Minnesota have been playing, bet on the trend that is abysmal defense. Even though De'Aaron Fox and Karl-Anthony Towns will be the headliners, don't get caught up and miss the upside there is throughout this game. With little defense comes great production.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
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SAC @ MIN
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) LESS 30.5 Points - De'Aaron Fox (SAC) LESS 26.5 Points
It seems like only yesterday that Karl-Anthony Towns was returning from injury and projected to score just 20 points. He still hit the under on most nights but at least the over felt like a really safe bet. Tonight it's the opposite. With how he has been playing specifically, yes, scoring has been his thing, but it's still not a real guarantee that he will be the leading scorer. With Richaun Holmes manning the paint, Towns is going to have a little less versatility because of Holmes athleticism, but his skill overrides any defense Sacramento might utilize because we need to remember, this is still the Kings defense we are considering.
Minnesota's defense hasn't been much better, although they've been able to mask it easier with efficient offense from players like Anthony Edwards, Ricky Rubio, and Jaylen Nowell. Both of these players, Towns & Fox, projected points are extremely high and even with the upside, it's hard not to think other players like Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, or Tyrese Haliburton won't steal some of the show. The best players will show out, but they won't be the only ones.
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DET @ OKC
Jerami Grant (DET) MORE 21.5 Points - Theo Maledon (OKC) MORE 13.5
If you haven't taken the chance on Jerami Grant or Theo Maledon yet this season, I regret to inform you about this wager. If you have ever heard the term "trap" in regards to betting, use this as the textbook example. Both of these players have shown high-scoring prowess recently, but that doesn't mean much seeing how they've also had similar outings before, only to be followed up with minimal, 10-point games. This is these player's calling card, they are boom-or-bust. The matchup is there in spirit, but it's not like both Pistons fans and Thunder fans can't tell you how many shots they've seen both Grant and Maledon miss. All in all, this bet has disaster written all over it.
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UTA @ DAL
Luka Doncic (DAL) MORE 27.5 Points - Donovan Mitchell (UTA) MORE 26.5
After beating the Celtics, Knicks, and Wizards on the Mavericks' east coast road-trip, Luka Doncic has to settle in for a matchup with the Jazz. Although Utah's defense won't pose too much of a threat for Doncic, his consistency has come through his natural playmaking rather than his scoring. His ability to get to the rim is unmatched and he will score, but teams like the Jazz love forcing superstars to involve their teammates and in our world, that means less production. With the Jazz increased pace, it's hard to think Doncic won't thrive in the pace and welcome a few extra shot attempts.
For Donovan Mitchell, he's just been the focal point of an offense that loves it's spacing. The Jazz have shooters, but it doesn't change how important Mitchell is to physicality of the team. Every game, Mitchell's teammates look to get him the ball and even if he doesn't hit, they understand that getting any scoring out of him at some point is much better than giving some unworthy player unnecessary usage. Utah has no problem sharing the ball and that means the players who live in the scoring role will always get their chances. Against this Mavericks defense, it'll be harder to force Mitchell to pass out for three's when that's what he wants to do anyway.
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MIN @ MEM
Devin Booker (PHO) MORE 28.5 Points - Christian Wood (HOU) LESS 22.5
The funniest thing about the Suns is that they are such a good team, that even blowouts allow their best players to have huge games. If you are considering a blowout, then you are expecting Devin Booker to have a big game. He has shown a knack for scoring 20 points in the first half and it's not like the Rockets defense is set to guard anyone at this point and time. With John Wall's health still up in the air on most nights, Booker's upside remains extremely high.
Luckily for us, Deandre Ayton's defense hasn't improved much since the start of the season. I would say it's not terrible but it is, so Wood is going to have a big game unless he also, plays terribly. Even if he has an off-night from the floor, the Rockets are still going to force-feed him like he's scored 60 points the past few nights since they don't have options on their roster.
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