The Monday NBA odds market offers two games of major national interest — that is, not counting LeBron James making his annual sojourn back to Cleveland.
The headliner is a pivotal Eastern Conference clash between the Heat and 76ers in Philadelphia, a pair of physical teams on the precipice of securing home-court advantage in Round 1 of the playoffs. However, the home team will take the floor without its top player/MVP candidate.
Also on tap is an intriguing inter-conference meeting in Brooklyn, where the surging Nets welcome a Jazz squad looking to fortify its postseason position with a fourth consecutive victory.
Props.com breaks down both matchups in our Monday NBA odds preview.
Odds via PointsBet USA and updated as of 5:30 p.m. ET on March 21.
Miami Heat Vs Philadelphia 76ers
Tipoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Heat: 47-24 SU/40-30-1 ATS
Sixers: 43-27 SU/34-35-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Heat -7.5 (-115)/210.5
Last meeting: The Heat held Philadelphia to a season-low point total in a 99-82 victory on March 5, easily covering as 5.5-point home favorites
Did you know: Miami, which still has the fourth-best point-spread record in the NBA, has failed to cash in three straight games. It’s longest non-cover streak this season was four in a row (Jan. 28-Feb. 1).
About Miami: The Heat concluded a seven-game homestand with consecutive victories over two of the league’s worst teams. Miami upended the Pistons 105-98 on Tuesday, then crushed the Thunder 120-108 on Friday. However, it failed to cover huge numbers (14 and 14.5) in both contests. The Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last five, but on the court, they’re on a 15-4 SU run dating to Feb. 3. They have scored more than 110 points in 13 of those 19 games and surrendered 100 points or fewer eight times. With 11 games remaining on its schedule, Miami continues to occupy the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings, three games ahead of the Bucks and 3.5 games clear of Philadelphia and Boston. For the season, the Heat rank first in 3-point shooting (37.4%), and fourth in scoring defense (allowing 104.8 ppg) and field-goal defense (44.4%).
About Philadelphia: The Sixers have been treading water lately, splitting their last eight contests SU. On Sunday, Philly dropped a 93-88 decision to Toronto as an 8-point home favorite, falling to 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine contests. In Sunday’s defeat, 76ers center and MVP candidate Joel Embiid had 21 points, ending a four-game streak with 30-plus points. Embiid, who has been dealing with back soreness, has been ruled out in this back-to-back spot. James Harden is also being rested tonight, further impacting the Monday NBA odds market . Philadelphia is tied with Boston for third place in the East. And while they are 3.5 games back of first-place Miami, the Sixers are also 3.5 games ahead of No. 7 seed Toronto. The top six teams in each conference avoid the NBA’s play-in tournament. Despite the presence of Embiid and James Harden, the 76ers rank among the bottom 10 in scoring offense (22nd), 3-pointers made (tied for 26th), and rebounds (29th).
Injuries: While Philadelphia will be without its best players in Embiid and Harden, Miami should have its star back on the floor, as Jimmy Butler (ankle) is probable after sitting out Friday’s game against Oklahoma City. However, fellow shooting guard Victor Oladipo (back) will be sidelined for a second straight game.
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
Notable Trends
- Miami is 7-0-1 ATS in its last eight road games (6-0-1 ATS as a road favorite)
- Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last five overall (all as a favorite)
- Philadelphia is 6-2 ATS in its last eight as an underdog
- Philadelphia is 2-5 ATS in its last seven when playing a back-to-back
- Under is 6-2 in Philadelphia’s last eight overall
- Under is 5-0 in Philadelphia’s last five at home
- Miami is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine vs. Philadelphia
- Under is 4-0 in the last four series meetings
Miami Heat Vs Philadelphia 76ers Odds And Action
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET: Thanks to the absences of Philadelphia’s Embiid and Harden, this line has been a huge mover in WynnBet’s Monday NBA odds market. The 76ers opened -3.5 on Sunday evening, then jumped the fence early this morning to Heat -1 on the way to Heat -4.5 this afternoon. Harden’s absence was announced in the past hour, sending Miami to -7.5 (-115). The Heat are taking a modest 54% of spread bets, but that’s translating into 94% of spread money. Likewise, the total has seen a big drop, from 218.5 to 210.5, with 70% of tickets on the Over/78% of money on the Under.
Utah Jazz Vs Brooklyn Nets
Tipoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/NBA TV
Jazz: 45-26 SU/31-38-2 ATS
Nets: 37-34 SU/28-39-4 ATS
Spread/Total: Jazz -1.5/229
Last meeting: On Feb. 4, the Jazz crushed the Nets 125-102 in Salt Lake City, holding a 105-73 lead after three quarters on the way to easily cashing as a 5.5-point home chalk
Did you know: More than 1,000 days have passed since Kevin Durant last faced the Jazz. On Feb. 12, 2019, then with the Warriors, Durant tallied 28 points in a 115-108 home victory (despite shooting just 1 of 6 from beyond the arc)
About Utah: The Jazz have won four of their last five games and three straight overall, including Sunday’s 108-93 blowout of the Knicks as 3.5-point road favorites. Playmaker Donovan Mitchell has scored 36 and 37 points in his last two games, while cumulatively shooting 53.4 percent from the field (23 of 43). Prior to Sunday’s victory at Madison Square Garden, Utah had failed to cover in five straight road games (2-3 SU). The Jazz are nestled into the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference standings, leading the Mavericks by two games and trailing the Warriors by two. Utah ranks in the top six in the NBA in 3-pointers made (14.8 per game, tied for 1st with Minnesota), rebounds (46.5 per contest, 3rd), field-goal shooting (47.2%, 5th), scoring offense (114.0 ppg, 6th), and 3-point shooting (36.5%, 6th).
About Brooklyn: The Nets have prevailed in five of their last six games, including Friday’s 128-123 victory over the Blazers. However, they never threatened to cover as a massive 14.5-point home favorite. Brooklyn star Kevin Durant has scored 30-plus points in four of eight games since returning to action March 3 after missing several weeks with a knee injury. That includes a 53-point outburst vs. the Knicks on March 13. Thanks to their recent surge, which was preceded by a 3-17 SU slump, Brooklyn is sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and comfortably in the NBA’s play-in tournament range. Still, the Nets remain three games behind No. 7 Toronto and four behind No. 6 Cleveland.
Injuries: Utah small forward and second-leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic (18.1 ppg) will miss his fifth straight game with a calf injury. … Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (132 points in his last three games) continues to sit out home outings, due to New York City’s vaccine protocols. Also, guard Ben Simmons still hasn’t made his Brooklyn debut since being traded for James Harden last month.
Notable Trends
- Utah is 1-5 ATS in its last six as a road favorite
- Utah is 0-5-1 ATS in its last six when playing a back-to-back
- Brooklyn is 4-21-1 ATS in its last 26 at home
- Brooklyn is 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 as an underdog
- Under for Utah is on runs of 7-2-1 overall, 5-0 on the road, and 18-7-1 as a favorite
- Over for Brooklyn is on runs of 13-5-1 overall, 5-2 at home, and 9-3-1 as an underdog
- Utah is 19-7 ATS in its last 26 games series meetings against Brooklyn
- Utah is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games at Brooklyn
Utah Jazz Vs Brooklyn Nets Odds And Action
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET: Utah opened -1.5 on WynnBet’s Monday NBA odds board, and by very early today, the line had flipped to Brooklyn -2. However, the number has since made its way back to Jazz -1.5. Utah is taking a slim majority 52% of bets, while 71% of money is on the Nets. The total opened at 230.5, peaked at 232, tumbled to 227 by midmorning and is now at 229. The Over is netting 84% of bets and practically all the cash, two hours before tipoff.
