Best NBA Bets Today: Odds & Picks for every game on Monday, March 9th - Clippers host Knicks on Peacock

Napier Montgomery

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College football handicapper for Pickswise, specializing in college football, soccer and college basketball. Much prefer betting on the smaller/forgotten games than the big matchups, where the lines are a lot more vulnerable. PhD in Victorian Literature, putting my skills of the written word to the test with betting analysis.

76ers vs Cavaliers NBA best bet: Under 227 (-110)

Odds available at Sleeper at time of publishing.

The Under is the play because the total is still pricing in more Philadelphia shot creation than the Sixers are likely to have without Tyrese Maxey, who will miss this game with a finger injury. Maxey’s departure is no small reduction. He averages 29 points per game and 6.7 assists per contest. As a result, the Sixers can easily get bogged down.

Cleveland being an 11.5-point favorite also points toward a game script where the Cavs can control tempo rather than chase points. If Philadelphia slows things down to survive and Cleveland plays from in front, possessions should become more valuable and less frequent. In that setup, the Over is asking for too much clean offense from both sides.

Nuggets vs Thunder NBA best bet: Thunder -7.5 (-110)

Odds available at FanDuel at time of publishing.

The Nuggets look tempting here with this many points but there is just cause for it. Oklahoma City has the ability to create separation through defense and pace. The Thunder frequently generate scoring runs fueled by defensive pressure and transition offense. While Denver can score in their own right, Oklahoma City’s defense can be disruptive and create turnovers. Once the Thunder build momentum, their offensive bursts often stretch games into double-digit margins.

At home, the Thunder are simply elite. That only enhances OKC’s appeal here. Factor in location alongside the fact that Oklahoma City has the tools to turn defensive stops into quick points and extend leads, SGA and company have the wherewithal to cover the number.

Grizzlies vs Nets NBA best bet: Under 221 (-110)

Odds available at Novig at time of publishing.

Brooklyn enters with the league’s lowest-scoring offense at 106.9 points per game, and while the Nets are coming off a comeback win, their season-long identity remains the same: they struggle to generate reliable scoring over 48 minutes. Memphis is only a slight favorite, but the Grizzlies are also coming in on a three-game skid, which suggests a team that has not exactly been functioning at peak offensive efficiency either. That helps the Under out of the gate.

Brooklyn is also trying to win consecutive games for only the fourth time all season, while Memphis is trying to stop the slide. That usually produces a tighter, more cautious game. This is a contest where the victor will likely win ugly and to bank on either side producing consistent offense is a bit of a reach.

Warriors vs Jazz NBA best bet: Jazz ML (+180)

Odds available at FanDuel at time of publishing.

Yeah, we are going to pull the trigger on the Notes here. The number says it all. Golden State’s offense relies heavily on perimeter shooting, which can create volatility if outside shots go cold. Utah is comfortable pushing tempo and generating offense in bursts. What does that mean? This is essentially a glorified toss-up disguised as the W’s having some form of an edge. That’s more due to namesake. Make no mistake, the potential offensive pyrotechnics and game flow can have this contest go in either direction.

The Jazz can dictate pace and get off a high volume of both field goal attempts and perimeter shots, just like Golden State can. And if Utah successfully speeds up the game and forces Golden State into uncomfortable defensive stretches, the Jazz have a strong opportunity to win outright. At a near two-to-one price in a game that has variance written all over it, we’ll make the investment on the upset. Jazz straight up.

Knicks vs Clippers NBA best bet: Clippers ML (+110)

Odds available at Novig at time of publishing.

The is largely a situational play, but the price also speaks to us as the Knicks are a very modest road favorite. New York enters on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Lakers last night. Their offense already looked suspect failing to break 100, but a back-to-back can only hinder offensive efficiency further, particularly late in games. That’s the perfect set-up for the hosts.

Los Angeles is comfortable slowing games into half-court possessions and forcing opponents to execute late in the shot clock. That type of environment often favors the rested home team. With the spread sitting near pick’em, the game is likely to be decided by late possessions. If the game becomes a slower, possession-by-possession contest as expected, Los Angeles has the structural advantages needed to close out the win. Backing the Clippers to win outright provides more equity at a plus-money return.