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Martin Luther King Day is the second most popular day of the NBA regular season. This year’s slate tips off at 12:30 pm ET and goes all the way to midnight on the east coast. There are 12 games today including four nationally-televised games. What a way to come out of Wild Card weekend! Monday’s odds are powered via PointsBet.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards (+4.5) Total: 213.5
Despite being on a three-game winning streak, the Washington Wizards are 9-12 on the Money Line and 7-14 ATS since December. Washington will be looking to snap a four-game ATS losing streak later today when they face the Sixers. These two teams have already met once this season, which saw a 21-point Philly victory. It’s worth noting that the Sixers have won their last six games against the Wizards.
At the time of this writing, PointsBet has the 76ers at +150 to win the Atlantic Division. With Kevin Durant expected to miss time for the Nets, that’s not a bad price. I have been rolling with the 76ers lately because they have been playing great basketball. Philadelphia is 10-2 on the Money Line in its last 12 games. They have gone 9-3 ATS in that time frame.
If you get a chance to watch this game this afternoon, please do. Joel Embiid has been playing at an elite level as of late. He has scored at least 30 points in nine of his last 10 games. His name is rightfully starting to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.
Bradley Beal is questionable for the Wizards this afternoon. It won’t make much of a difference if he plays or not though. The Sixers will defeat the Wizards once again with or without Beal.
Edge: Sixers -4.5
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Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat (-3.5) Total: 209.5
Since the month of December started, the Raptors and Heat have been playing some of the best basketball in the league. The Raptors are 12-6 on the Money Line since December 1st and the Heat have a 14-8 record during that same span.
To be honest I have not bet on the Miami Heat much this season. Despite currently being the third seed in the East they always seem overvalued to me. Miami is 12-16 (42%) ATS as favorites this season. Kyle Lowry will not be in the lineup vs. his former team this evening as he’s out for personal reasons. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are expected to play for Miami though. The Raptors are also expected to be at full strength.
Toronto will be playing their third straight road game this afternoon. The Raptors are a veteran bunch but the “ South Beach Flu” can hit veteran teams as well. Coming into this contest, they have won six of their last eight games but I think they are going up against a better team today. Toronto is 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games and 4-6 on the Money Line in their 10 on the road.
Miami could be slightly overvalued again today. They are 1-4 ATS on their last five home games. Even though they are being asked to lay a short number today I think the Heat Money Line is the safest play.
Edge: Heat -160
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