Tonight’s Best NBA Tips – Monday, 22nd December

CHARLOTTE HORNETS @ CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

TEAM TRENDS

• Hornets’ last 6 road games have gone UNDER
• Hornets have lost 15 of their last 17 road games vs teams with a winning record
• Cavaliers have lost the first half in each of their last 6 home games
• Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 6 games vs teams with a losing record

PICKS ATS

The Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers meet for the second time this season on Monday night at Rocket Arena. Charlotte claimed the first matchup here 119–111 on December 14 behind a strong showing from Brandon Miller. Cleveland enters off a 136–125 home loss to Chicago and has now dropped five of its last six games at Rocket Arena.

On the other side, the Hornets continue to struggle away from home after a 112–86 defeat in Detroit, marking their 20th loss in the last 23 road games. Sam Merrill is expected to return for Cleveland, while Charlotte lists Collin Sexton as doubtful and Ryan Kalkbrenner as questionable.

PICK – UNDER 238.5 TOTAL POINTS

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INDIANA PACERS @ BOSTON CELTICS

TD Garden, Boston, MA

TEAM TRENDS

• Celtics have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 games
• Pacers have lost 15 of their last 16 road games
• Last 6 Pacers–Celtics games at TD Garden have gone OVER
• Celtics have won the 1st quarter in 7 straight games
• Pacers have lost both halves in 8 of their last 10 road games

PICKS ATS

The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics open their season series on Monday night at TD Garden. Indiana took last year’s matchup 2–1, winning both at home and in Boston. The Celtics come in off a 112–96 road win over Toronto, powered by a huge night from Payton Pritchard, and have now won eight straight games when he scores 30 or more points.

The Pacers are reeling away from home after a 128–109 loss in New Orleans, their 15th defeat in the last 16 road games. For Indiana, T.J. McConnell is listed as questionable.

PICK – OVER 224.5 TOTAL POINTS

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DALLAS MAVERICKS @ NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA

TEAM TRENDS

• Pelicans’ last 8 home games have gone OVER
• Home team has won each of the Mavericks’ last 7 games
• Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last 6 home games

PICKS ATS

The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans meet Monday night at Smoothie King Center, sitting four games apart in the Western Conference standings. This marks their third matchup of the season after splitting the first two games in Dallas. New Orleans comes in off a 128–109 home win over Indiana, led by a strong scoring night from Zion Williamson, and has now won four straight games.

Dallas is coming off a 121–114 loss to Philadelphia despite solid efforts from Anthony Davis and Naji Marshall, and will be looking to end a six-game road losing streak within the division. On the injury report, Herb Jones is questionable for New Orleans, while Dallas lists Klay Thompson, Max Christie and Cooper Flagg as questionable.

PICK – OVER 237.5 TOTAL POINTS

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UTAH JAZZ @ DENVER NUGGETS

Ball Arena, Denver, CO

TEAM TRENDS

• Jazz’s last 9 games after overtime have gone OVER
• Jazz have lost 39 of their last 40 road games vs Western teams with a winning record
• Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last 6 games vs the Jazz

PICKS ATS

The Denver Nuggets wrap up a four-game homestand on Monday night when they host the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena in their first meeting of the 2025–26 season. Denver has won six straight against Utah, including a sweep of last year’s series, with Nikola Jokic playing a key role in those matchups. The Nuggets are coming off a 115–101 home loss to Houston that ended a six-game winning streak.

On the other side, Utah dropped a 128–127 overtime decision to Orlando on Saturday despite strong performances from Keyonte George and Kevin Love, and continues to struggle without Lauri Markkanen, having lost 14 of its last 15 games without him. For Denver, Peyton Watson is listed as questionable to return after missing the last two games.

PICK – DENVER / UNDER 248.5 TOTAL POINTS

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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

TEAM TRENDS

• Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last 9 home games vs the Grizzlies
• Thunder have won 42 straight games vs teams with a losing record
• 7 of the last 8 Grizzlies–Thunder games have gone UNDER

PICKS ATS

The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder meet for the second time this season on Monday night at Paycom Center. Oklahoma City took the first matchup 114–100 on November 9, extending its winning streak against Memphis to 14 games. The Thunder are coming off a narrow 112–107 loss to Minnesota despite another big performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and still sit at an impressive 25–3 on the season.

Memphis suffered a 130–122 home loss to Washington after giving up a large lead, even with standout efforts from Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr., while Ja Morant remained sidelined. The Grizzlies now head on the road aiming to build on a 6–1 record over their last seven away games. Oklahoma City lists Chet Holmgren and Aaron Wiggins as questionable.

PICK – OVER 229.5 TOTAL POINTS

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ORLANDO MAGIC @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

TEAM TRENDS

• Warriors have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 9 games as favourites following a home win
• Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 home games vs the Magic
• Magic’s last 5 road games vs Western Conference teams have gone OVER
• Warriors have lost the 1st quarter in each of their last 4 home games

PICKS ATS

The Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors meet for the second time this season on Monday night at Chase Center. Orlando won the first matchup 121–113 on November 18 despite playing without Paolo Banchero. Golden State enters off a 119–116 home win over Phoenix, led by strong performances from Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, and will look to extend an eight-game home winning streak against Eastern Conference teams.

The Magic are coming off a 128–127 overtime win in Utah, powered by a big night from Desmond Bane, and have now won 12 of their last 18 games. Orlando is expected to be without Franz Wagner again, while Jalen Suggs is listed as doubtful.

PICK – ORLANDO +5.5

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DETROIT PISTONS @ PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Moda Center, Portland, OR

TEAM TRENDS

• Underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Trail Blazers’ last 11 home games
• Trail Blazers have lost 11 of their last 12 games vs Eastern Conference teams with a winning record
• Pistons’ last 4 road games vs Western Conference teams have gone UNDER
• Home team has won the first half in each of the Pistons’ last 6 games

PICKS ATS

The Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers meet for the second time this season on Monday night at Moda Center. Detroit took the first matchup 122–116 on December 5, extending its winning streak against Portland to four games. The Trail Blazers come in off a 98–93 road win over Sacramento, led by a big performance from Deni Avdija, and have now won three straight games.

Detroit rolled past Charlotte 112–86 at home behind a triple-double from Cade Cunningham and a strong all-around effort from Ausar Thompson. The Pistons have gone 11–1 in their last 12 games when Cunningham dishes out 10 or more assists. For Portland, Jerami Grant is listed as questionable.

PICK – DETROIT -5.5

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