We have made it to a new week, ladies and gentlemen. Before March Madness tips off, let's get you set with an eight-game slate of NBA action with an ESPN doubleheader to top it all off.
Our NBA betting experts get player prop heavy for today's NBA best bets, featuring a pick on the over with the latest NBA odds for Monday, March 18. From the much-needed return of Desmond Bane for the Grizzlies who face the Kings to Jimmy Buckets prop for the Heat vs. 76ers matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, we have props that you definitely don't want to miss.
Here are our best bets for Monday's NBA games:
NBA Best Bets Today | Monday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 10 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
| 10 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Grizzlies vs. Kings
By Joe Dellera
The Grizzlies take on the Kings on Monday night and one player to target just recently made his return to action.
Let’s dive in to Desmond Bane’s return to action. Bane's return is extremely meaningful for the team and he immediately returned while taking over the top Usage mark for the team (31.1%) with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 3s in 32 minutes on Saturday night.
On the season, Bane is averaging 24.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 3s per game on the season.
Here, the Kings allow the second-highest 3 point percentage to their opponents (40.2%) while playing at the 12th-Fastest Pace in the league. Bane's points is set at 21.5 and his 3s prop is currently set at 3+ (-145 FD); 4+ (+175); 5+ (+450) and I'm interested in that ladder opportunity.
Bane has exceeded 21.5 points in 24/38 games and has 3+ 3s in 28/38 including 3/3 vs the Kings over the last two seasons. I like Bane to exceed his points and his 3s prop on Monday night. If you parlay 20+ points and 3+ 3s you can get (-101 FD) as well.
I expect Bane to make 3+ 3s tonight and will grab some alts as well.
Pick: Desmond Bane over 2.5 3s
| | | | |
Pistons vs. Celtics
Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds in Boston in December.
He has double-doubles in four straight contests, six of his last seven and in 11 of 13. This probably should (and will) be a less bettor friendly number by tip-off, so I jumped on it early.
Kristaps Porzingis has been out for a few games with a hamstring injury, and Al Horford played Sunday — he hasn't been playing back-to-backs. The receipe is there for Duren to do it again.
Pick: Jalen Duren Double-Double (-135)
| | | | |
Cavaliers vs. Pacers
By Chris Baker
No Donovan Mitchell here but the Cavs will also be without their three best defenders in Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Dean Wade. The Cavs have an awful defensive rating of 126.7 (2nd percentile) and a great offensive rating of 120.6 (84th percentile) when these four guys are off the floor this season. Clearly their defense suffers massively but Darius Garland and the other shooters are able to produce good offense still. That should continue to be the case here as they go up against this Pacer team that ranks 2nd in adjusted offensive rating but just 25th in adjusted defensive rating.
The Pacers three point attempt rate has plummeted to a bottom-5 rate since trading for Pascal Siakam but they are still playing at a fast pace and still have a good offensive rating of 120.1 with him on the floor. They should have no issues scoring against this bad Cavs defense. Finally, these teams have gone over twice this year scoring 237 and 238 in the first two matchups and they went over this number in three of four games last year and the one game that didn’t go over the Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner.
These teams don’t match up well and I am especially confident here as the Cavs are devoid of their three best wing defenders. Take the over 225 here and play this up to 227.
Pick: Over 225
| | | | |
Grizzlies vs. Kings
By Joe Dellera
While I’m targeting Bane for the Grizzlies, I’ll be turning to Domantas Sabonis for the Kings.
Sabonis should dominate on the interior in this matchup.
In his two games against the Grizzlies this season he has recorded 21 and 26 rebounds while averaging 28 rebound chances per game! Those are absolutely absurd numbers.
On the season, he is averaging 13.65 on 22.6 chances per game. He has been even better of late though and is averaging 15.6 and has 14+ in 8 of his last 10 games.
Memphis is one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, and Sabonis should find plenty of success on the glass.
I like Sabonis to exceed 13.5 Rebounds.
Pick: Domantas Sabonis over 13.5 Rebounds
| | | | |
Heat vs. 76ers
This line is already at -150 and even higher at some books. Butler sat out the Heat's win against the Pistons Sunday, as if he were targeting tonight's must win situation, because Miami and Philly are tied in the Eastern Conference, breathing down the necks of the Pacers and Magic (maybe the Knicks, too?)
Butler, when engaged, generally hits this in his sleep, often with steals alone (which is +124 at DraftKings right now).
Butler's over 1.5 stocks in 10 of his last 13, seven of his last 10 since the All-Star break.
Additionally, he hasn't played Philly this year, sitting out on Christmas and Valentine's Day, the latter due to personal reasons and the former due to an injury.
Pick: Jimmy Butler over 1.5 steals + blocks (-140)
| | | | |
