The NBA has a light schedule for the first Monday in December, with only four games on tap.
Still, those four games have some interesting storylines. The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a fast start, facing a Minnesota Timberwolves squad that is struggling just a season after making the Western Conference Finals. There's a Dejounte Murray game, with the New Orleans Pelicans facing the Atlanta Hawks team that traded him.
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat face off, and though the Celtics have the much better record these teams have built up quite a bit of history by facing off in the playoffs almost every season. And the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls could be exciting just for the fireworks, with the highest scoring total line of the night.
Monday's Stream Team
Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics (rostered in 45.0% of ESPN leagues): Pritchard has been one of the most consistent 3-point shooters in the NBA all season, but he has really stepped up his scoring of late. He has scored 20 or more in three straight games, averaging 24.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.3 3PG, 2.7 APG and 1.0 SPG in 30.3 MPG in those three games. The Celtics have four rotation players listed as game-time decisions tonight, including Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Al Horford, so Pritchard could have a larger role than usual on Monday night.
Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans (11.3%): Missi has scored in double figures in five straight games, flirting with a double-double on a nightly basis. In those five games, he's averaged 13.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG and 0.6 APG in 25.8 MPG.
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls (20.6%): Dosunmu moved into the starting lineup with Patrick Williams injured, and in those five starts he has averaged 14.8 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.4 3PG and 1.2 SPG in 32.0 MPG. He can be a sneaky source of assists and steals.
Snellings' bets for the day
Odds by ESPN BET
Jalen Johnson over 19.5 points (-115): Johnson is playing excellent basketball of late. He has scored 20 or more points in five straight games, averaging 23.0 PPG during that stretch. On Monday, he faces a Pelicans squad that ranks in the bottom third of the NBA in points allowed to opposing power forwards (24.3 PPG, T21st).
Anthony Davis over 26.5 points (-120): Davis tends to detonate against Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves. In his last four meetings against the Timberwolves when he's played more than 12 minutes, including three games last season and one this season, Davis has averaged 31.7 PPG with at least 27 points in all four games. When he faced them this season, he dropped 36 points.
Zach LaVine over 22.5 points (-120): LaVine has scored 25 or more points in five of his last seven games, including 29 in his last outing against the Celtics. On Monday, he faces a Nets squad that ranks bottom-10 in the NBA in points allowed to opposing small forwards (21.8 PPG allowed, 21st in NBA).
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
New Orleans Pelicans at Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +9.5 (-110) | Hawks -9.5 (-110)
Money line: Pelicans +360 | Hawks -475
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 6.3, straight up 70%, 230.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram, (GTD - Calf); Herbert Jones, (GTD - Shoulder); Jordan Hawkins, (GTD - Back); Jose Alvarado, (OUT - Hamstring); Zion Williamson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic, (GTD - Hamstring); Trae Young, (GTD - Achilles); Cody Zeller, (OUT - Personal); Seth Lundy, (OUT - Ankle)
Pelicans projections:
Brandon Ingram, SF: 39.0 FPTS (23.4 pts, 5.1 reb, 5.7 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Dejounte Murray, PG/SG: 33.1 FPTS (17.5 pts, 5.4 reb, 4.9 ast)
CJ McCollum, PG/SG: 29.8 FPTS (18.0 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.4 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Trey Murphy III, SG/SF: 26.2 FPTS (14.1 pts, 5.2 reb, 2.4 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Brandon Boston Jr., SG/SF: 21.0 FPTS (9.8 pts, 2.9 reb, 3.2 ast)
Yves Missi, C: 16.6 FPTS (7.8 pts, 6.6 reb, 1.6 ast)
Javonte Green, SF: 15.2 FPTS (8.0 pts, 2.4 reb, 1.3 ast)
Hawks projections:
Trae Young, PG: 41.7 FPTS (20.7 pts, 3.2 reb, 9.0 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Jalen Johnson, PF: 39.4 FPTS (19.7 pts, 8.7 reb, 5.8 ast)
Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 24.6 FPTS (11.3 pts, 4.3 reb, 3.1 ast)
De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 22.6 FPTS (14.4 pts, 3.4 reb, 1.6 ast)
Clint Capela, C: 21.8 FPTS (10.4 pts, 8.0 reb, 1.4 ast)
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF: 21.7 FPTS (12.0 pts, 2.9 reb, 2.3 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Onyeka Okongwu, C: 19.6 FPTS (9.3 pts, 6.3 reb, 1.7 ast)
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +8.5 (-110) | Celtics -8.5 (-110)
Money line: Heat +285 | Celtics -365
Total: 217.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 9, straight up 77%, 224.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Josh Richardson, (GTD - Illness); Kel'el Ware, (GTD - Foot); Nikola Jovic, (GTD - Ankle)
Celtics: Derrick White, (GTD - Foot); Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Illness)
Heat projections:
Bam Adebayo, C: 42.8 FPTS (18.9 pts, 10.9 reb, 5.5 ast)
Tyler Herro, PG/SG: 42.2 FPTS (24.9 pts, 5.5 reb, 5.4 ast, 3.6 3PM)
Jimmy Butler, SG/SF/PF: 33.7 FPTS (19.0 pts, 4.8 reb, 4.9 ast)
Terry Rozier, PG/SG: 22.5 FPTS (12.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Nikola Jovic, PF: 19.1 FPTS (8.9 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.7 ast)
Duncan Robinson, SF: 17.2 FPTS (9.2 pts, 1.9 reb, 2.0 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SG/SF: 16.3 FPTS (8.1 pts, 4.2 reb, 2.0 ast)
Celtics projections:
Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 51.0 FPTS (28.1 pts, 8.5 reb, 5.9 ast, 3.7 3PM)
Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 40.3 FPTS (23.8 pts, 5.8 reb, 4.2 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Derrick White, PG/SG: 30.0 FPTS (15.0 pts, 4.1 reb, 3.9 ast, 3.1 3PM)
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C: 24.7 FPTS (14.3 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.4 ast)
Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 24.6 FPTS (11.5 pts, 4.0 reb, 3.9 ast)
Al Horford, PF/C: 20.6 FPTS (8.8 pts, 5.0 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Payton Pritchard, PG: 17.4 FPTS (7.8 pts, 2.4 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +7.5 (-105) | Bulls -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Nets +250 | Bulls -300
Total: 232.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 10, straight up 79%, 235.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Ben Simmons, (GTD - Knee); Cameron Johnson, (GTD - Ankle); Day'Ron Sharpe, (GTD - Hamstring); Dorian Finney-Smith, (GTD - Ankle); Ziaire Williams, (GTD - Knee); Bojan Bogdanovic, (OUT - Foot); Cam Thomas, (OUT - Hamstring); Noah Clowney, (OUT - Ankle)
Bulls: Coby White, (GTD - Ankle); Patrick Williams, (OUT - Foot)
Nets projections:
Dennis Schroder, PG: 37.0 FPTS (19.0 pts, 3.3 reb, 6.5 ast, 2.6 3PM)
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 30.1 FPTS (16.5 pts, 4.0 reb, 3.0 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 20.5 FPTS (9.8 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.7 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Nic Claxton, C: 20.2 FPTS (9.5 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.9 ast)
Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 18.9 FPTS (6.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 4.7 ast)
Ziaire Williams, SF: 17.3 FPTS (8.8 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.3 ast)
Jalen Wilson, PF: 17.2 FPTS (9.6 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.4 ast)
Bulls projections:
Nikola Vucevic, C: 37.7 FPTS (20.7 pts, 10.5 reb, 3.2 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Zach LaVine, SG/SF: 33.5 FPTS (20.8 pts, 4.5 reb, 4.4 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Coby White, PG/SG: 32.0 FPTS (17.9 pts, 3.7 reb, 4.3 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Josh Giddey, PG/SG/PF: 27.6 FPTS (12.5 pts, 5.6 reb, 5.2 ast)
Ayo Dosunmu, SG: 24.7 FPTS (13.2 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.1 ast)
Lonzo Ball, PG: 21.9 FPTS (9.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.9 ast)
Matas Buzelis, SF: 14.8 FPTS (8.6 pts, 3.8 reb, 0.7 ast)
Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers +8.5 (-120) | Timberwolves -8.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Lakers +260 | Timberwolves -330
Total: 218.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 6.7, straight up 71%, 225.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Austin Reaves, (OUT - Pelvis); Bronny James, (GTD - Heel); Cam Reddish, (OUT - Illness); D'Angelo Russell, (OUT - Illness); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot); Jaxson Hayes, (OUT - Ankle); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee)
Timberwolves: Joe Ingles, (OUT - Calf)
Lakers projections:
Anthony Davis, PF/C: 46.3 FPTS (27.3 pts, 12.2 reb, 4.0 ast, 1.9 blk)
LeBron James, SF/PF: 42.5 FPTS (23.2 pts, 7.9 reb, 8.4 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF: 24.8 FPTS (14.1 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.8 ast)
Dalton Knecht, SG/SF: 22.3 FPTS (12.8 pts, 4.3 reb, 1.5 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Max Christie, SG: 14.4 FPTS (7.8 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.3 ast)
Gabe Vincent, PG: 11.2 FPTS (5.9 pts, 1.6 reb, 1.1 ast)
Austin Reaves, SG/SF: 9.8 FPTS (3.8 pts, 0.9 reb, 2.6 ast)
Timberwolves projections:
Anthony Edwards, SG/SF: 44.3 FPTS (28.2 pts, 4.8 reb, 4.1 ast, 3.7 3PM)
Julius Randle, PF: 34.5 FPTS (21.4 pts, 7.0 reb, 4.0 ast)
Rudy Gobert, C: 27.7 FPTS (12.3 pts, 11.6 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.3 blk)
Mike Conley, PG: 24.2 FPTS (9.7 pts, 3.0 reb, 3.9 ast)
Jaden McDaniels, SF: 21.0 FPTS (10.9 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.9 ast)
Donte DiVincenzo, SG: 20.5 FPTS (9.8 pts, 2.3 reb, 2.7 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Naz Reid, PF/C: 18.7 FPTS (10.5 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.5 ast)