This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
Domantas Sabonis over 41.5 points+rebounds+assists at WAS -- FanDuel (2:01 PM CT)
This will make for a better prop if Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) remains sidelined, but I think it's worth wagering on anyway. Sabonis had a huge performance in his first game back from injury, as he posted 26 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists in 29 minutes against the Thunder. The Wizards are obviously better than the Thunder, but their center rotation is their weak point. Sabonis is averaging 37.9 combined P+R+A on the season, and I think he can post better numbers than usual in this matchup against Alex Len, Robin Lopez and Daniel Gafford.
76ers to cover -6 (-110) at CHI -- FanDuel (2:12 PM CT)
Nikola Vucevic is questionable. Even if he plays, he'll likely be less than 100 percent, which is bad news against Joel Embiid. If he doesn't play, I expect things to get really ugly really quickly. Aside from that matchup, Ben Simmons -- a Top-2 Defensive Player of the Year candidate -- will likely be shadowing Coby White. Considering the tough matchups, Chicago is impossible to trust, even to cover at home.
Nick Whalen
Nuggets -5.0 (-112) at LAL -- DraftKings (2:20 PM CT)
The Lakers aren't the only team battling injuries, and while they won't have LeBron James on Monday, Denver will also be without a few regulars. Nonetheless, the Nuggets have their best player available, and Nikola Jokic's presence alone has been more than enough to keep the Nuggets afloat since losing Jamal Murray. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about Anthony Davis, who's been mostly a disaster on the offensive end since returning from a 30-game injury absence. He was terrible once again Sunday night as the Lakers blew an early lead en route to an ugly home loss to Toronto. With both James and Dennis Schroder out Monday, the Nuggets are in a great spot to cover the five-point spread.
PJ Dozier OVER 10.5 points (-113) at LAL -- DraftKings
I know, I know, this is going to be a popular bet. Everyone is always trying to get some action on PJ Dozier props. But in all seriousness, I like Dozier's chances to hit a few baskets early and take advantage of a Lakers backcourt that provided close to zero resistance against Toronto on Sunday night. Dozier is by no means a big-time scorer, but he's averaging 30 minutes per game since joining the starting five, and he's attempted at least 11 field goals in four of the last five games. The key will be breaking out of his recent slump from beyond the arc (4-21 3Pt over last four games).
