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Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Monday's NBA slate

Jose Alvarado is playing well in the injury-depleted Pelicans' rotation. Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

We've got a lighter schedule for a Monday with only five games on tap. Even so, there are some intriguing games and storylines.

The last remaining undefeated team in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, look to go to 12-0 with a game against the Bulls in Chicago. The Oklahoma City Thunder, fresh off horrible injury news for star big man Chet Holmgren, host a quietly surging LA Clippers squad, and Victor Wembanyama is in action as the San Antonio Spurs host a Sacramento Kings team that just won an overtime marathon Sunday.

As always, we'll dig deeper into the matchups and identify some fantasy streamers and betting angles.

Odds by ESPN BET

Fantasy streamers for Monday

Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans (available in 74.8% of ESPN leagues)

Alvarado has started the last six games for the Pelicans with Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum out injured. Alvarado has played well in his six starts, but has increased his production over the past three games, averaging 22.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2.7 RPG, 4.7 3PG and 2.0 SPG in 34.7 MPG.

Brandon Boston Jr., New Orleans Pelicans (88.0% available)

Boston is another player that has stepped into a larger role in the Pelicans' backcourt. He has started the last three games and averaged 20.0 PPG (53.5 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 40.0 3P%), 4.0 APG, 3.7 RPG, 2.0 3PG, 1.3 SPG and 0.7 BPG in 37.7 MPG.

Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards (91.5% available)

George has started four the past five games for the Wizards with Kyle Kuzma (groin) sidelined and has played well. The rookie has averaged 13.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.8 3PG, 1.4 SPG and 1.0 BPG in 33.0 MPG over his past five games.

Dre's best bets for Monday

LA Clippers (+6.5) over Oklahoma City Thunder (-105).

The Thunder won't be the same team without Holmgren for the next several months. Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by 16.9 PPG while Holmgren is on the court (best on OKC) and has been 9.3 points better per 100 possessions (second-best behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's +10.7).

The Thunder are a deep team and will likely remain formidable, but are also very small with Holmgren joining Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams on the sidelines. Meanwhile, the Clippers have won four straight games, are getting excellent interior play from Ivica Zubac, and James Harden should be able to threaten the paint all game, putting the Thunder in disadvantageous positions. Oklahoma City may still win at home, but I look for the Clippers to at least make it competitive if they don't win outright.

Cam Thomas over 23.5 points (-125)

Thomas has scored at least 24 points in six of his 10 games this season. He is fresh off a back-to-back this weekend in which he dropped a combined 53 points on the road against two excellent defenses in the Cavaliers and Celtics. His defensive opposition will be much lighter on Monday, against a Pelicans squad that has allowed 27.1 PPG to opposing shooting guards, tied for the worst mark in the NBA.

Bilal Coulibaly over 14.5 total points (-105)

Coulibaly has stepped up as an impact scorer for the Wizards with Kuzma sidelined. He has scored at least 17 points in five of his past seven games, with at least 20 in four of those contests (including 20 in his last outing on Sunday).


Projections and Injury Reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET

Players in italics are available in a majority of ESPN Leagues


Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET

Line: Cavaliers -8.5 (-105) | Bulls +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Cavaliers -340 | Bulls +270
Total: 237.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 9.2, straight up 77%, 231.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Cavaliers: None reported
Bulls: Zach LaVine, (GTD - Thigh); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Wrist)

Cavaliers projections:

  • Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 37.9 FPTS (23.5 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.9 ast, 2.7 3PM)

  • Darius Garland, PG: 35.9 FPTS (19.7 pts, 2.0 reb, 6.1 ast, 2.7 3PM)

  • Evan Mobley, PF/C: 30.3 FPTS (16.8 pts, 8.0 reb, 2.9 ast, 1.8 blk)

  • Jarrett Allen, C: 30.0 FPTS (14.7 pts, 10.7 reb, 1.9 ast, 1.3 blk)

  • Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 24.2 FPTS (11.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.8 ast)

  • Ty Jerome, PG: 16.1 FPTS (7.4 pts, 1.6 reb, 3.4 ast)

  • Isaac Okoro, SG/SF: 14.7 FPTS (6.9 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.7 ast)

Bulls projections:


Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET

Line: Wizards +13.5 (-115) | Rockets -13.5 (-105)
Money line: Wizards +550 | Rockets -900
Total: 228.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 13.1, straight up 85%, 230.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Wizards: Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee); Carlton Carrington, (GTD - Leg); Kyle Kuzma, (GTD - Groin); Malcolm Brogdon, (GTD - Thumb)
Rockets: Steven Adams, (GTD - Knee)

Wizards projections:

Rockets projections:


Brooklyn Nets at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET

Line: Nets -1.5 (-115) | Pelicans +1.5 (-105)
Money line: Nets -125 | Pelicans +105
Total: 210.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nets by 4.8, straight up 65%, 218.1 total points.

Injury Report:
Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic, (OUT - Foot); Trendon Watford, (OUT - Hamstring); Day'Ron Sharpe, (OUT - Hamstring)
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III, (GTD - Hamstring); CJ McCollum, (OUT - Thigh); Herbert Jones, (OUT - Shoulder); Jordan Hawkins, (OUT - Back); Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Hand); Zion Williamson, (OUT - Hamstring)

Nets projections:

Pelicans projections:


LA Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Line: Clippers +6.5 (-110) | Thunder -6.5 (-110)
Money line: Clippers +220 | Thunder -275
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 5.4, straight up 67%, 222.2 total points.

Injury Report:
Clippers: Mo Bamba, (OUT - Knee); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Knee); P.J. Tucker, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Thunder: Chet Holmgren, (OUT - Hip); Nikola Topic, (OUT - Knee); Kenrich Williams, (GTD - Knee); Isaiah Hartenstein, (OUT - Hand); Jaylin Williams, (OUT - Hamstring)

Clippers projections:

Thunder projections:


Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET

Line: Kings -1.5 (-105) | Spurs +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Kings -115 | Spurs -105
Total: 221.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 2, straight up 57%, 228.0 total points.

Injury Report:
Kings: Devin Carter, (OUT - Shoulder); Malik Monk, (GTD - Ankle); Orlando Robinson, (GTD - Knee)
Spurs: Malaki Branham, (GTD - Ankle); Tre Jones, (OUT - Ankle); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT - Thumb)

Kings projections:

Spurs projections: