Tuesday Best Bets: One NBA Side, Two NBA Props

One goal. One measly goal — from two hockey teams who give them up in bunches — was all we needed to cash both of our Best Bets from Monday. But the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets failed to put that needed biscuit in the basket, as Monday’s lone NHL game ended 4-2 and just missed eclipsing the 6.5 total.

Although the The Bostonian vs. The Book crew missed with that NHL Best Bet, the Bet Prep Prop of the Day cashed in MLB, as Alex Wood of the San Francisco Giants topped 4.5 strikeouts against San Diego.

So that’s back-to-back 1-for-2 efforts with Best Bets. We can promise you there won’t be a third straight 1-for-2 performance … because we’ve got three plays lined up Tuesday.

Can we deliver our first winning day with Best Bets since April Fools’ Day? Let’s find out!

Best Bets Track Record

Monday: 1-1
Year-To-Date: 50-45-1

Bostonian vs. The Book: 13-15-1
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 13-17
NBA Props: 17-7
NHL Props: 6-6
MLB Props: 1-0

NBA Side: Cleveland Cavaliers

The bet: Cavaliers +9.5 points (at Brooklyn Nets)
The odds: -120
Where to bet: WynnBet
From: Matt Perrault via The Bostonian vs. The Book podcast

Shifting sports after that brutal NHL loser Monday, Matt Perrault — host of The Bostonian vs. The Book podcast — has his eye on the NBA’s big ‘dog of the day. Yep, he’s taking the points with the Cleveland Cavaliers in their play-in tournament game against the Brooklyn Nets.

And his support of Cleveland has everything to do with where this game is being played.

“The Nets are 6-26-1 ATS in their last 33 home games,” Perrault said. “Even with Kyrie back, they haven’t been [covering point spreads] at home.”

Indeed, since the unvaccinated Irving finally was allowed to hit the floor at Barclays Center on March 27, the Nets have played six home games and covered exactly one. Even though that lone spread-cover came against the Cavaliers on Friday (a 118-107 win as an 8.5-point home favorite), podcast co-host Dave Sharapan agrees that the ‘dog is the right side in this one.

“I think they can cover,” he said of the Cavs. “Anything over +7.5, I’ll bet it.”

On board with the Cavaliers tonight? If so, WynnBet is offering Cavaliers +9.5 at slightly reduced juice (-108).

You can listen to the replay of The Bostonian vs. The Book podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

NBA Prop: PF Marcus Morris (Los Angeles Clippers)

The bet: Over 13.5 points (at Minnesota Timberwolves)
The odds: -120
Where to bet: DraftKings
From: Matt LaMarca via Tuesday NBA props

Since we launched this Best Bets endeavor, the Props.com crew that puts together the daily NBA props article has delivered the most winners — and as you can see by the records listed above, it’s not even close.

However, the two most recent NBA props Best Bets came up short. Matt LaMarca is determined to get back on the right side of the earnings ledger with Tuesday’s NBA props Best Bet. He likes Los Angeles Clippers veteran forward Marcus Morris to put up some points in a play-in game at Minnesota.

Here’s the breakdown:

Morris is a 13-year veteran who’s still a capable player when called upon. His playing time was down over the final few weeks of the regular season, but the Clippers really had nothing to play for down the stretch. They’ve been essentially locked into the No. 8 seed for a while now, so it made no sense to push their veteran players.

With Los Angeles’ season on the line this week, Morris should return to his usual 30-plus minutes, making him an appealing buy-low candidate Tuesday. The 32-year-old former Kansas star played at least 28 minutes in 30 games this season, and he scored at least 14 points in 23 of them. For the season, he’s averaged 15.4 points in 29.0 minutes.

Morris is facing the ideal opponent Tuesday, as the Timberwolves played at the fastest pace in the league this season. They also ranked 27th in defensive efficiency over the final 10 games of the year.

Morris appeared in just one of four meetings against the TWolves this season, and he put up just 12 points. But he barely played 24 minutes. He’ll be on the floor a lot longer than that Tuesday — and he absolutely should produce more than those 12 points.

You can grab Morris Over 13.5 points (-120) at DraftKings.

NBA Prop: C Nic Claxton (Brooklyn Nets)

The bet: Under 6.5 rebounds (vs. Cleveland Cavaliers)
The odds: +100
Where to bet: FanDuel
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com

The BetPrep crew bagged another Best Bet winner Monday, as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood blew past his 4.5 strikeout prop, punching out six San Diego Padres in just 4 1/3 innings of work.

For Tuesday’s BetPrep Prop of the Day, it’s back to the NBA for a bit of an obscure play from the opening play-in game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets. The BetProp folks are betting on Nets center Nic Claxton to finish with fewer than seven rebounds.

Here’s the rationale:

• Claxton has averaged 5.6 rebounds per game for the season. That includes pulling down five boards in just under 16 minutes against Cleveland on Friday (the only time Claxton has played against the Cavaliers this season).
• The former Georgia star has yanked down more than six rebounds in just 16 of 47 games this season.
• Claxton has played at least 23 minutes in 12 of those 16 contests. However, with this being a win-and-in game for Brooklyn, it’s hard to believe he will exceed his season average of just less than 21 minutes per game.

If you like Claxton’s chances to finish with less than seven boards, head over to FanDuel, which is offering the best price at even-money odds.