Monday’s NBA schedule features 12 games, beginning with a rematch of Sunday’s game between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder, led by MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, defeated Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets 127-103. Today’s game is scheduled to tipoff at 8 p.m. ET. The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites in the Monday NBA betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 238 and Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to score first at +490. Another matchup between potential playoff teams unfolds when the New York Knicks take on the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET. According to the latest NBA odds, the Knicks are 2.5-point road favorites. Karl-Anthony Towns is the favorite to score the first bucket at +210.

SportsLine expert handicapper Jimmie Kaylor has broken down the NBA odds for every game on Monday and locked in three first basket scorer prop bets. Kaylor is a handicapper and DFS pro for SportsLine who won a DraftKings Millionaire contest in 2022 and also has multiple five-figure tournament wins on his DFS resume. Now, here are Kaylor’s top three first basket scorer bets for Monday.

Alperen Sengun (+500 at FanDuel) in Houston Rockets vs. Orlando Magic

Sengun (19.3 points per game) has scored the first basket in 16 games already this season, and the Rockets as a team have scored first in 36 of their 64 games this season. Sengun’s rare blend of size, physicality, and athleticism present a significant mismatch for the Magic in the frontcourt. The 22-year-old is a rising star in the NBA, and is one of the top options in Houston’s explosive offensive attack. FanDuel Sportsbook has the best odds for Sengun as first scorer at +500.

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Jamal Murray (+650 at FanDuel) in Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Murray is coming off a lackluster performance against the Thunder on Sunday, but the former Kentucky standout remains one of the most explosive scorers in the NBA when he is dialed in. Murray has taken the first shot for Denver in 19.3% of the team’s games, an has scored the first basket in nine games. The 28-year-old guard is in prime position for a bounce back game on Monday night, and Kaylor expects him to look to score early.

Austin Reeves (+700 at FanDuel) in Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Lakers have won the opening tip in 61.3% of their games this season, and without LeBron James on the floor, Reeves should see an uptick in shot attempts on Monday night. The 26-year-old guard is averaging 18.8 points per game, and has scored the first basket in nine games this season. Point guard Luka Doncic is also questionable for Los Angeles, and if he is also unable to go, it will boost Reeves’ chances here even more. Reeves has attempted the first shot in 18.5% of the Lakers’ games this season.

Want more NBA picks for Monday?
SportsLine’s model is on a 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season. Visit SportsLine to get all of its NBA picks for Monday right here.

The Mavericks’ trade deadline pact that shipped out Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis is the deal that keeps on giving — or perhaps taking in the eyes of one longtime Western Conference rival.

Phoenix’s star guard Devin Booker weighed in on the franchise-altering trade after the Suns’ 125-116 victory in Dallas Sunday, stating that he could sense the shift in the Mavericks’ demeanor even before the game started.

“You can feel it when we land,” Booker said. “The vibes are low right now, but hopefully they can look back and once everybody gets healthy, on top of next season, still root on their team and root on their city.”

Doncic had been a fixture with the Mavericks since the draft night trade that brought him to the team in 2018. After first-round playoff exits in 2020 and 2021, the Mavs reached the NBA Finals last June and the Western Conference finals in two of the last three seasons. In 2022, Dallas and Phoenix were locked in epic seven-game series that saw the Mavericks dispatch the Suns thanks to Doncic scoring 68 points over back-to-back elimination games.

In addition to Doncic being gone, injuries have decimated the sinking Mavs, who’ve only had Davis (adductor strain) for one game since the trade. And then last week, star point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season.

A pair of teams just outside certain NBA Playoffs thresholds will meet as part of Monday’s NBA schedule as the Atlanta Hawks host the Philadelphia 76ers. Atlanta (30-34) is seventh in the Eastern Conference, one spot behind a guaranteed postseason spot and avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament. Meanwhile, Philadelphia (22-41) is 11th in the East, one spot behind clinching a spot in the play-in tournament. This is the first matchup of the season between these teams, and they split four meetings last season.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Hawks favored by 11.5 points in the latest 76ers vs. Hawks odds, according to the SportsLine consensus. The over/under is 236 points. Atlanta is at -599 on the money line (risk $599 to win $100), while Philly is at +441 (risk $100 to win $441). Before entering any Hawks vs. 76ers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Philadelphia vs. Atlanta. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Hawks vs. 76ers:

76ers vs. Hawks spread: Hawks -11.5
76ers vs. Hawks over/under: 236 points
76ers vs. Hawks money line: Hawks -599, 76ers +441
ATL: The Hawks are 31-33 against the spread (ATS) this season
PHI: The Sixers are an NBA-worst 22-41 ATS in 2024-25
76ers vs. Hawks picks: See picks at SportsLine
76ers vs. Hawks streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia ended a three-game losing streak with a 126-122 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The game wasn’t as close as the score indicated as Philly led by as many as 22 points and controlled the game, leading for over 32 minutes throughout. Quentin Grimes and Lonnie Walker IV each had 25 points to lead the Sixers, with Walker’s points coming as a reserve. As a team, the 76ers’ bench combined for 78 points, which is the second-most in a game in franchise history.

With six players in double-figures, Philadelphia showed it still has talent to put plenty of points on the board even without star players like Joel Embiid (knee), Paul George (groin) and Tyrese Maxey (back). The Sixers who will take the court can exploit a Hawks defense which struggles in multiple areas, ranking 28th in both field goal percentage allowed and 3-point percentage allowed, with additional bottom-eight rankings in opposing points in the paint and opposing fastbreak points per game. See which team to pick here.

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Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta emerged with a 120-118 victory over Indiana on Saturday, giving the Hawks back-to-back victories for the first time since the All-Star break. Trae Young was the standout performer with 36 points, while new acquisition, Caris LeVert, contributed 26 points off the bench. The Hawks also covered and have now covered in three of their last four games, while the 76ers are 0-4 ATS over their last four outings.

LeVert is averaging 16.8 points on 51% shooting in 12 games with the Hawks, after putting up 10.2 points on 45.3% shooting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, guard Dyson Daniels leads the NBA with 3.0 steals per game, which is on pace to be the most by any NBA player since Alvin Robertson in the 1990-91 season. He could wreak havoc versus a Sixers team whose primary ballhandlers are expected to be sidelined, and Philly is coming off an 18-turnover game on Sunday, which is its most since Jan. 14. See which team to pick here.

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How to make 76ers vs. Hawks picks
The model has simulated Hawks vs. 76ers 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, projecting 226 combined points, and it also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Sixers vs. Hawks, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Hawks vs. Sixers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 147-107 roll on top-rated NBA picks since last season, and find out.

Where to bet on NBA games
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It’s somewhat fitting that the Sacramento Kings, specifically, were the team to knock the Golden State Warriors out of the 2024 postseason. For the bulk of their decade-long dynasty, the Kings were Golden State’s doormat. The Warriors went 23-7 against their neighbors to the north between the 2014-15 and 2021-22 seasons. The Kings never reached the playoffs in that span. They finally did a season ago, and they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a seven-game war. Golden State just barely survived. This time, in the Play-In Tournament, they weren’t so lucky.

Life comes at you fast in the NBA. Dynasties never live quite as long as you hope, and their deaths are often swifter and more brutal than you can possibly imagine. The Warriors lasted long enough for even the lowly Kings to catch up to them. Now, they’re at the end of their contending cycle, and for perhaps the first time in this entire run, the dynasty is truly at risk of ending, not because the Warriors will never contend again, but because the holy trinity of superstars that made it possible may finally break up.

Klay Thompson is set to become a free agent this offseason. For the bulk of Golden State’s tenure atop the league, the thought of a Splash Brother ever waiving goodbye seemed impossible. But things have changed. Thompson is no longer a superstar. He went scoreless in Tuesday’s season-ending loss and just averaged below 20 points per game for the first time since 2014. For a stretch earlier in the season, he wasn’t even a starter. He ceded that position to rookie Brandin Podziemski before ultimately claiming the spot back later on. Golden State reportedly offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million extension last offseason. It’s hard to imagine them going much higher with Podziemski waiting in the wings to replace him. Thompson has said he’s open to a smaller role if it means staying with Golden State. A smaller role and a smaller deal aren’t necessarily the same things.

Thompson obviously won’t command another max contract in his current state, but the market is breaking right for him to get a significant chunk of change. Grayson Allen just re-upped in Phoenix for $70 million over four years, establishing a market for shooters in the $20 million per year range. Removing Allen from the market also gives Thompson less competition in free agency. Malik Monk’s injury might do the same. Without another strong playoff performance, he appears somewhat likelier to re-sign in Sacramento using Early Bird Rights.

Seven teams are currently looking at $20 million or more in cap space this offseason. Most of them could use shooting. If Monk does indeed stay put, Thompson becomes the obvious target for anyone looking for an offensive jolt. The Orlando Magic have already been linked to him.

The fit is obvious. The Magic have pathways to over $45 million in cap space. They ranked 29th in 3-point attempts and 22nd in offense this season, but their No. 3-ranked defense is more than equipped to cover for his age-related deficiencies on that end of the floor. The Magic are about to begin their first playoff run of this era. Experience will be vital as they attempt to make the leap from playoff team to genuine contender. Thompson offers plenty of it.

Fred VanVleet set something of a model for this sort of free-agency pursuit last offseason when he landed what was functionally a two-year max deal with the Houston Rockets. That contract got the Rockets the short-term help they needed without exposing them to long-term risk, effectively setting VanVleet up as a bridge point guard until Amen Thompson would hopefully be ready to replace him. Orlando, with plenty of young guards in the pipeline and the trade assets to land more later, may be eyeing a similar path. The Magic wouldn’t go to the max for Klay, but their cap space gives them room to offer a shorter deal at a higher immediate cap figure that would make matching a deal particularly painful for Golden State.

The Warriors have racked up nearly $628 million in estimated luxury tax bills alone over the past four seasons, according to Spotrac. That approach isn’t sustainable no matter how much revenue Golden State’s fancy new arena generates. Owner Joe Lacob has said openly that his preferred plan for next season would be to avoid the luxury tax entirely.

Is that feasible? Well, maybe, but perhaps not sustainably. The projected tax line for next season is $172 million. At present, the Warriors have only $134 million or so committed in salary for next season. However, that only accounts for eight players, not including the impending free agent Thompson or Chris Paul, Kevon Looney and Gui Santos, whose deals are not guaranteed. The Warriors could conceivably fill out the roster while retaining Thompson and possibly Paul while staying below the line, but it’s hard to imagine them improving in any significant way while doing so.

More importantly, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody become extension-eligible this offseason. Kuminga’s extension alone is likely to vault Golden State’s payroll back up into the stratosphere. That makes guaranteeing Thompson any long-term money potentially impossible. With both earning high-end salaries in the 2025-26 season couple with existing contracts for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors would be right back in repeater tax territory. Good luck finding a trade taker for Wiggins after the season he just had or Green given his disciplinary issues.

Ultimately it’s just money. Joe Lacob has a lot of it. The Warriors earn plenty thanks to the Chase Center. If they want to pay Thompson what it takes to bring him back, they could probably find a way. Would it be worthwhile for a team that just finished No. 10 in the Western Conference?

Head coach Steve Kerr was part of a dynasty in Chicago. He saw it end after the 1998 championship, and the culprit was the same one that will likely bring down the Warriors. “I think ultimately the reason the Bulls were broken apart was that everyone’s contract ended in 1998,” Kerr said in a 2005 episode of ESPN Classic’s Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame… which centered around the end of Chicago’s dynasty. “I think it was unrealistic to expect the team to all of a sudden just say, ‘sure, we’ll put together a $100 million payroll and try to win one more championship.'”

If one more championship were on the table for Golden State, such a payroll (adjusted for inflation, of course) might be a worthwhile risk. It just doesn’t seem like there are any more championships left to be squeezed out of this group. Now that even the Kings have outgrown the Warriors, the reality of the dynasty ending may finally set in. There is a good chance Thompson just played his last game as a Warrior, but whether he has or hasn’t, the end of this legendary run is near.

For the third time in the past five seasons, the Golden State Warriors will not be participating in the playoffs. Their campaign came to an end on Tuesday night with an embarrassing 24-point loss to the Sacramento Kings in the 9 vs. 10 game in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.

The defeat raises significant questions about the team’s future with an aging, extremely expensive core that no longer seems capable of competing at the top of the West. It appears, though, that they are going to forge ahead with Steph Curry leading the way.

They have “no interest” in tanking, according to Zach Lowe, and plan to “make the most of Curry’s remaining seasons.”

Curry, now 35 years old, showed some signs of slowing down this season. While he still had plenty of big nights and magical moments, he was more inconsistent than ever. He shot under 40% from the field in 28 of his 74 appearances, the most such games in any season of his career. He is signed through 2026, however, and is still too good to allow them to tank. They would have to trade him to truly sink to the bottom, and that is simply not going to happen.

The question, then, becomes how to build the best supporting cast to maximize Curry’s last few All-Star level seasons.

On that note, here’s what Lowe had to say about some of the key figures on the Warriors:

Draymond Green

The former Defensive Player of the Year missed 21 games through suspension this season for multiple on-court incidents, including choking Rudy Gobert and hitting Jusuf Nurkis in the face. It’s no surprise, then, that Lowe notes Green’s “volatility has worn on several within the organization.”

At the same time, Green is still a terrific defender and smart playmaker who understands, perhaps better than anyone, how to play with Curry. Even with all the antics, Green remains more valuable to the Warriors than any other team and is owed $77 million over the next three seasons. He does not appear to have much trade value and, thus, is likely to stick around.

Klay Thompson

If the Warriors’ big three splits up this summer, it will be because Thompson signs elsewhere. He is expected to draw interest from other teams when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. Per Lowe, there have been “no substantive talks between the team and Thompson’s representatives about a new deal for months.”

Thompson’s age and injuries appeared to catch up to him in a major way this season. He averaged fewer than 20 points per game for the first time since 2014, and there were far too many nights where he simply didn’t have it. The Play-In loss to the Kings was a perfect example, as he scored zero points on 0-of-10 from the field, including 0-6 from behind the arc.

It’s one thing to keep franchise heroes who are already under contract. But will the Warriors be willing to give Thompson another big contract just for nostalgia’s sake? And will Thompson even want to return to the Bay Area? It would be strange to see Thompson in a new jersey, but a fresh start could be best for both parties.

Jonathan Kuminga

This was a strange season for Kuminga, who was so frustrated by his lack of playing time early on that he or his camp leaked to the media that he was “losing faith” in Warriors coach Steve Kerr. In the end, he won that battle, as Kerr gave him a chance, and he averaged 18.7 points and 5.4 rebounds on 54.2% shooting after that report.

Of all the Warriors’ young talent, Kuminga has the most potential. While that gives the Warriors an incentive to keep him around, it also makes him the player other teams would be most interested in should the Warriors investigate the trade market. Furthermore, the Warriors do have depth at Kuminga’s position, which could make him expendable.

He is eligible for an extension this summer and the Warriors “brain trust remains very high on his potential.” This is probably the most fluid situation. The Warriors might like to keep him, but you never know what could emerge on the trade front.

Chris Paul

Thompson wasn’t the only veteran who struggled in the Warriors’ Play-In loss. Paul finished with three points and two assists on 1-of-3 shooting in 18 minutes on Tuesday night. That brought a frustrating season to a close for the veteran, who remains without a ring. A broken hand cost him nearly two months, and he had to adjust to a bench role for the first time in his career.

Paul’s $30 million contract for next season is non-guaranteed, and the Warriors have plenty of options. They could guarantee that deal and bring him back, use the big cap number to trade him, or release him before the guaranteed date of June 28. At this point, it’s unclear what the Warriors will do with Paul.

Where he suits up next season remains to be seen, but he will be playing somewhere. Paul said following the loss tot he Kings that he has no plans to retire.

As managing director for Team USA, Grant Hill has had a busy schedule surprising players with their jersey for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His first stop was Philadelphia, where he surprised Joel Embiid. The 76ers center became an American citizen in September 2022, but he also had the chance to represent France or his homeland Cameroon, if they qualified. However, Embiid said last October he would compete with Team USA in honor of his son, Arthur, who is American.

Hill has long known Embiid’s commitment, but he still wanted to make a formal invite in person.

“I came to you almost two years ago, you were the first guy I went to, and you are the first guy now that I’m reaching out to,” Hill told Embiid. “We would like to formally invite you to play this summer. I know we’ve talked a bunch, but I wanted to come in person.”

He stays repping the red, white & blue!

Welcome to the 🇺🇸 #USABMNT @JoelEmbiid! pic.twitter.com/IH90pkGU6C

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
After Philadelphia, Hill also headed to Boston to surprise Celtics’ Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum.

“Are you good? Are you with us?” Hill asked after showing up at Tatum’s doorstep and showing him his Team USA jersey.

“Hell yeah,” Tatum replied.

Hill then found himself in Holiday’s kitchen. The point guard’s daughter, J.T., ran to his room to get him.

“Jrue, I know you don’t like surprises but I wanted to come on behalf of USA Basketball and ask you to be a part of things this summer at the Paris Olympics,” Hill said.

J.T. helped out by handing her dad his jersey.

“I think to represent my country and my family is the most important thing, so I’m super honored and very humble,” Holiday said.

Along for another Olympics!

Let’s go get another gold @Jrue_Holiday11 & @jaytatum0 🤝

🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/SxuFhu5rmx

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo’s special moment was also captured on camera when, in front of his teammates, he was given his jersey by head coach Erik Spoelstra.

“I feel like I’m going to look real swole in it,” Adebayo said.

We had to bring some Heat to Paris 🔥

Welcome back @Bam1of1!

🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/KMCCIHDZ8S

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
The full roster is made up of Embiid, Tatum, Holiday, Adebayo, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis. Team USA will be led by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. His staff includes Spoelstra, Gonzaga men’s basketball’s Mark Few and the LA Clippers’ Tyronn Lue.

The team will start their preparation with training camp in Las Vegas on July 6, then follow with five exhibition games in Vegas, Abu Dhabi and London.

The San Antonio Spurs, losers of 13 straight games, look to get back on the winning track as they travel east to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday evening. The Spurs (3-15) enter off a 137-135 loss to Atlanta on Thursday, while the Pelicans (10-9) defeated the 76ers 124-114 on Wednesday. New Orleans swept all four of the matchups between these two teams last season, winning all by at least nine points. San Antonio is 6-11-1 against the spread, while New Orleans is 11-7-1 ATS in 2023.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pelicans are 13.5-point favorites in the latest Spurs vs. Pelicans odds according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 237.5 points. Before entering any Pelicans vs. Spurs picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 86-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Spurs vs. Pelicans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pelicans vs. Spurs:

Pelicans vs. Spurs spread: Pelicans -13.5
Pelicans vs. Spurs over/under: 237.5 points
Pelicans vs. Spurs money line: Pelicans -859, Spurs +580
Pelicans vs. Spurs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Spurs can cover
San Antonio lost a franchise high 16 straight games last season and is approaching that mark with only three games to spare. However, the team is showing promise and remains fairly competitive most nights. While No. 1 overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, has been ruled out tonight due to a hip injury, the Spurs have several other young players who could shine with a bigger spotlight.

San Antonio has four players averaging double-digits outside of Wembanyama including guard Devin Vassell (18.6 PPG) and forwards Keldon Johnson (16.9), Zach Collins (13.9), and Jeremy Sochan (11.6). This is a very young team whose potential is most likely to be realized in future seasons. Defensively, the Spurs have struggled, giving up the third-most points per game (124.1) and will have to lock down more efficiently to keep tonight’s game within reach. See which team to pick here.

Why the Pelicans can cover
Former No. 1 overall pick, forward Zion Williamson, is finally healthy and playing at an elite level of late. In each of his last six games, Williamson has scored at least 25 points, improving his season average to 24.0 points per game. Additionally he’s averaging nearly six rebounds and five assists nightly and is impacting the game in all facets.

Tied with Williamson for the team’s scoring lead is forward Brandon Ingram (24.0 PPG), who had his streak of 12 straight 20-plus point games snapped on Wednesday night (15 vs. Philadelphia). The former No. 2 overall pick averages 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, and along with Williamson and guard CJ McCollum, forms a formidable trio which is hard for other teams to stop. McCollum returned from a three week absence to score 20 points in 28 minutes on Wednesday night. See which team to pick here.

How to make Spurs vs. Pelicans picks
The model has simulated Pelicans vs. Spurs 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread is hitting nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

The Detroit Pistons have amassed a ton of promising, young talent in recent years but are amid an ugly losing streak at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Jaden Ivey, the fifth overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, is one of the several pieces Detroit is still trying to figure out. While he was one of last year’s top rookies, he began this campaign in a reserve role without any warning from the Pistons’ staff.

“There wasn’t anything said,” Ivey told Yahoo Sports when addressing the build-up to him coming off the pine. “Once I saw what was going on, coming off the bench was no problem for me. I love every single one of these dudes in here. I’d ride for them any day. Coming off the bench isn’t a confidence thing or a downer for me. I’m still confident in my game and play the same way.”

Ivey logged at least 28 minutes in his first four starts of the season but has since fallen short of 20 minutes in his previous two outings. Detroit benched Ivey for Killian Hayes on Thursday against the New York Knicks and seemed to prefer 2025 first-round pick Marcus Sasser over him in that competitive matchup.

The Pistons seem adamant about continuing to mix things up as they look to turn things around. Detroit’s lineup decisions moving forward are worth keeping an eye on, as Ivey could be a valuable trade target alongside Bojan Bogdanovic this season.

Six NBA games are set to tip off Friday’s slate. The Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards will get things started at 7 p.m. ET and the Denver Nuggets will wrap the slate up with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Looking for a sports betting edge ahead of tip-off? We’ve got you covered with three worthwhile plus-money options.

Bismack Biyombo under 9.5 rebounds + assists (+100)
Neither the Dallas Mavericks nor Memphis Grizzles are particularly strong rebounding teams, but Biyombo hasn’t hit this total in his previous five games. Xavier Tillman has missed six games but is questionable for Friday and could take a significant chunk of Biyombo’s playing time. I like this number whether Tillman suits up or not and it’ll only sweeten things if the Michigan State product is ready to return ahead of tip-off.

Zach Collins over 6.5 rebounds (+108)
Victor Wembanyama is set to miss his first-ever NBA game since joining the San Antonio Spurs, so Collins could have to do a little more work on the glass. Collins is averaging 6.1 rebounds per game this season despite playing alongside one of the league’s better rebounders. The New Orleans Pelicans give up the seventh-most rebounds per game (44.9) to opposing teams, so Collins is well worth a look here.

Dennis Schroder over 6.5 assists (+108)
Schroder picked apart the Suns with a season-high 12 assists and is averaging 6.9 assists per game this season. He’s on a roll at home with the Toronto Raptors and has notched at least seven dimes in six consecutive contests. While the New York Knicks have a stingy defense, Schroder has eclipsed this mark against a pair of top-10 scoring defenses in his last five games.

The Boston Celtics welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to TD Garden on Friday evening. The Celtics have the Eastern Conference’s best record at 14-4, while the 76ers enter at 12-6 overall. The two teams split a pair of matchups in Philadelphia earlier this season. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is out of action for the Celtics. Joel Embiid (illness) is listed as questionable for the 76ers, with Kelly Oubre Jr. (rib) ruled out.

For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Celtics as 6.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 224.5 in the latest 76ers vs. Celtics odds. Before you make any Celtics vs. 76ers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 86-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Celtics and locked in its NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Sixers:

76ers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -6.5
76ers vs. Celtics over/under: 224.5 points
76ers vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -262, 76ers +213
Philadelphia: The 76ers are 5-3 against the spread in road games
Boston: The Celtics are 6-2 against the spread in home games
76ers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the 76ers can cover
Tyrese Maxey has performed as one of the best guards in the NBA this season, averaging 27.0 points and 6.7 assists per game. Maxey is making 39.6% of his attempts from 3-point range, and he is averaging 30.7 points per game over his last three outings. Philadelphia’s offense is clearly elite, scoring 1.2 points per possession to rank in the top three of the NBA. Philadelphia also uses the free throw line better than any team in the league.

The 76ers lead the NBA in free throw creation (27.8 per game) and free throw accuracy (85.6%), and Philadelphia is in the top eight of the league in second-chance points (15.9 per game) and fast break points (17.0 per game). Philadelphia is also in the top 10 of the league in points in the paint, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and turnover avoidance. On defense, Philadelphia is also above-average, and the 76ers are comfortably in the top eight of the NBA in both blocked shots (6.5 per game) and steals (8.3 per game). See which team to pick here.

Why the Celtics can cover
The Celtics are led by one of the best forwards in the NBA in Jayson Tatum. He is averaging 27.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, and Tatum enters this game with career-best shooting efficiency (61.7% TS). He has eight games with at least 30 points this season, and Tatum is the centerpiece of a team that leads the NBA with a +9.7 net rating. Boston has also been dominant at TD Garden, maintaining an unbeaten record with dominant fashion, and the Celtics have two-way strengths.

On defense, the Celtics are allowing only 1.07 points per possession with excellent metrics across the board. Opponents are shooting only 43.9% from the field against Boston while generating fewer than 19 free throw attempts per game. The Celtics are also excellent on the defensive glass, securing 73.3% of available rebounds. On offense, Boston makes more than 15 3-pointers per game and shoots almost 58% inside the 3-point arc. The Celtics also avoid turnovers, committing only 13.6 per game, and that helps Boston to maintain its transition defense. See which team to pick here.