College basketball is about to take complete control of the sports-betting stage, with dozens of conference tournament games this week leading into next week’s NCAA Tournament. Not to be forgotten, though, is the fact the NBA season is coming down the homestretch, with multiple teams jockeying for playoff positioning. Six of those teams are facing one another in a trio of top-flight games that highlight the Monday NBA odds menu.
In the Eastern Conference, the 76ers welcome slumping Chicago to the City of Brotherly Love for a pivotal contest between teams duking it out for the No. 2 seed in the conference standings.
On the opposite side of the league, four of the top six squads will do battle. The Jazz visit Dallas in a matchup of teams slotted fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Western Conference, while the Denver hosts the Warriors. The Nuggets are sitting sixth in the West — just 2.5 games behind Utah — while Golden State is now tied with Memphis for the No. 2 seed.
Which teams have the edge both on the court and at the betting window tonight? Props.com breaks down Bulls vs. 76ers, Jazz vs. Mavs, and Warriors vs. Nuggets in our Monday NBA betting preview.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 6:50 p.m. ET on March 7.
Chicago Bulls Vs Philadelphia 76ers
Tipoff/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Bulls: 39-25 SU/36-27-1 ATS
76ers: 39-24 SU/31-31-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Philadelphia -7.5/232
Last meeting: On Feb. 6, Philadelphia traveled to the Windy City and pounded the Bulls 119-108 as a 4-point road favorite
Did you know: The 76ers have won 10 consecutive meetings in this rivalry, going 9-1 ATS (including an ongoing 6-0 ATS run).
About Chicago: The Bulls came out of the All-Star break and ran their winning streak to six in a row with a 112-108 home win over Atlanta. However, they’ve since dropped four straight both SU and ATS, the latest being Friday’s 118-112 home loss to Milwaukee as a 5.5-point home underdog. Chicago has given up at least 115 points in 13 of its last 17 games, with 16 of those foes tallying at least 108 points. A big reason for the Bulls’ recent struggles? Injuries. Guards Lonzo Ball (knee) and Alex Caruson (wrist) and strong forward Patrick Williams (wrist) remain out. Also, center Nikola Vucevic will sit tonight with a balky hamstring. Together, that quartet averages 45.9 points, 23 rebounds, and 13.1 assists per contest.
About Philadelphia: The 76ers kicked off the James Harden era with four straight wins (3-1 ATS). On Saturday, though, Philadelphia got a reminder of what life is like without the former NBA MVP, as Harden sat out the second night of a back-to-back and watched his new teammates get torched 99-82 at Miami as a 5.5- point road underdog. That ended a five-game SU winning streak. After putting up 133, 125, 123 and 125 points in their first four games with Harden on the floor, Philadelphia was held to a season-low point total against the Heat. Despite the setback, the 76ers are still 13-5 SU since Jan. 23, but just 9-9 ATS. Unlike Chicago, the 76ers come into this contest completely healthy. Philly is tied with Milwaukee for second in the East, three games back of Miami and a half-game ahead of the Bulls.
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
Notable Trends
- Chicago is 2-5-1 ATS in its last seven on the road
- Chicago is 0-4 ATS in its last four as an underdog
- Philadelphia is 2-5 ATS in its last seven at home
- Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a favorite
- Under is 4-1 in Chicago’s last five overall
- Over is 6-1 in Philadelphia’s last seven overall
- Philadelphia is 6-1 ATS in its last seven trips to Chicago
Chicago Bulls Vs Philadelphia 76ers Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:50 PM ET: WynnBet opened the 76ers as a 6-point home favorite and ultimately shifted to 76ers -8 upon news that Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has been ruled out (see above). Now, Philly is back down to -7.5. As recent as a half-hour ago 55% of tickets were on Chicago and 53% of the cash was on Philadelphia. Now, the Bulls are getting 56% of tickets and 55% of money. The total has jumped two points, from an opener of 230 to 232. The Over is seeing the majority of action, at 67% of wagers and 85% of money.
Utah Jazz Vs Dallas Mavericks
Tipoff/TV: 8:40 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Jazz: 40-23 SU/27-34-2 ATS
Mavericks: 39-25 SU/35-28-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Dallas -2.5/216.5
Last meeting: On Feb. 25, the Jazz held on for a 114-109 home victory, but Dallas cashed as a 6.5-point underdog
Did you know: The home team has won five straight meetings (3-2 ATS) and nine of the last 11 (6-4-1 ATS) in this rivalry
About Utah: The surging Jazz have won 10 of their last 12 SU, including Sunday’s 116-103 victory over the Thunder. However, they failed to cash as a 14-point home chalk, falling to 1-5 ATS in their last six. Prior to this point-spread slide, Utah has been on a 5-0 ATS run, but all at home. Conversely, the Jazz have cashed just once in their last seven road contests. From a stats perspective, the Jazz rank in the top seven in several primary categories, including 3-pointers made (14.7 per game, 1st), field-goal shooting (47.3%, 4th), rebounds (46.1 per game, 5th), scoring offense (113.8 ppg, 6th), and 3-point shooting (36.3%, 7th).
On the downside, Utah could be without playmaking point guard Mike Conley, who missed Sunday’s game against Oklahoma City with a knee injury and is questionable tonight.
About Dallas: The Mavericks stretched their winning streak to four in a row with Saturday’s 114-113 victory over the Kings, but came up short as a 4.5-point home chalk. Like the Jazz, Dallas is 10-2 SU in its last 12 contests, but has been far more profitable at 9-2-1 ATS. The Mavericks have now produced four separate winning streaks of at least four games since Dec. 31. Dallas is second in the NBA in scoring defense (allowing 103.7 ppg), but has surrendered 113-plus points in four of its last six games. The Mavericks rank in the bottom half of the league in multiple categories, including field-goal shooting (45.8%, 17th), assists (23.6 per game, 18th), scoring offense (107.1 ppg), and rebounds (43.2 per contest, 26th).
Dallas is dealing with a multitude of injuries. In addition to shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who suffered a season-ending foot injury in late January, point guard Jalen Brunson (foot) is among those ruled out tonight. Also, leading scorer Luka Doncic (toe) is questionable after missing Saturday’s game against Sacramento. Those three players average a combined 58.2 points, 16.6 rebounds, and 16.3 assists per game.
Notable Trends
- Utah is 2-9-1 ATS in its last 12 as an underdog
- Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last five when playing on no rest
- Dallas is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home games
- Over is 5-2 in Utah’s last seven on the road
- Under is 40-17-1 ATS in Dallas’ last 58 at home
- Dallas is 8-3-1 ATS in its last 12 home games vs. Utah
- Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven series clashes
- Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Dallas
Utah Jazz Vs Dallas Mavericks Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:50 PM ET: Dallas opened -1 on WynnBet’s Monday NBA odds board, jumped to -2, then dialed all the way back to pick ’em early this afternoon. Now, the Mavericks are back up to -2.5, with 57% of bets and a whopping 85% of money on the home team. The total has mostly held firm at the opening number of 216.5, except for a brief spike to 217. The overwhelming majority of the betting public is on the Over at 86.4% of tickets and 93% of dollars.
Golden State Warriors Vs Denver Nuggets
Tipoff/TV: 9:10 p.m. ET/NBA TV
Warriors: 43-21 SU/30-30-4 ATS
Nuggets: 38-26 SU/30-33-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Denver -8/221.5
Last meeting: On Feb. 16, guard Monte Morris nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Denver past the Warriors 117-116 as a 5-point road underdog
Did you know: Prior to the Nuggets springing outright upsets in both meetings this season, Golden State had been on a 6-2 SU/7-1 ATS run in this rivalry
About Golden State: The Warriors have lost four in a row and six of their last seven, including Saturday’s 124-116 defeat to the Lakers as a 5.5-point road favorite (a game in which L.A.’s LeBron James scored 56 points). Golden State’s slump figures to continue Monday, as starters Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins all are healthy scratches. That trio leads the team in scoring, averaging a combined 59.7 points per game. The Warriors have been absolutely abysmal at the betting window lately, going 1-10-1 ATS in its last 12 overall. Golden State is now eight games back of Pacific Division- and Western Conference-leading Phoenix. The Warriors rank in the top five in the NBA in assists (27.2 per game, 3rd), scoring defense (104.6 ppg, 4th), and field-goal shooting (46.8%, 5th).
About Denver: While the Warriors are in freefall mode, the Nuggets are surging, having won 10 of their last 12 (9-3 ATS). That includes Sunday’s 138-130 overtime home win over the Pelicans as a 4.5-point home favorite. Denver has scored at least 110 points in all 18 of its victories since Jan. 13. In a curious bit of scheduling, the Nuggets will host the Warriors twice over the next four nights (Monday, Thursday), but with a Wednesday trip to Sacramento shoehorned into the mix. For the season, Denver ranks third in the league in assists (27.2 per game) and field-goal shooting (47.5%). In holding down the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, the Nuggets are 2.5 games clear of Minnesota and one game behind Dallas.
Notable Trends
- Golden State is 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven on the road
- Denver is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 at home (3-7 ATS as a home favorite)
- Over is 7-1-1 in Golden State’s last nine overall and 4-0-1 in its last five on the road
- Over is 10-3-1 in Denver’s last 15 at home
- Underdog is 5-2 SU/6-1 ATS in the last seven Warriors-Nuggets battles
- Under is 7-2 in the last nine series meetings
- Under is 4-1 in the last five series clashes in Denver
Golden State Warriors Vs Denver Nuggets Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:50 PM ET: The Nuggets opened -9 at WynnBet and briefly moved to -9.5 before sliding back to -8 on solid two-way action that suggests a Pros vs. Joes development. Golden State getting 60% of the tickets, while Denver is nabbing 53% of the cash. The total opened at 220.5, shot up to 223.5 overnight, and eventually returned to the 220.5 opener. It’s now 221.5, with ticket count at 82% on the Over and money much closer to even, at 55% on the Over.
