O'Sullivan's Monday NBA Picks: Thunder vs Knicks, Magic vs Nuggets, Warriors vs Clippers, DeMar DeRozan, more

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Follow Seattle O’Sullivan on Twitter: @OSullyPicks

Seattle O’Sullivan 2021-2022 NBA Season so far: 153-178-6, -$430.18

(Standing Caveat: The universe is chaotic. Life is unpredictable. Things happen. Like injuries. And COVID protocols. In following Seattle O’Sullivan’s betting advice, be advised that you should always monitor your bets during the day to make certain unforeseen things have not occurred which might change your wagering opinion. Thank you.)

Detroit Pistons at Washington Wizards, 7 pm Eastern

The Pick: Washington -4 (-110), bet $25 to win $22.73; Washington -174, bet $20 to win $11.49

Two teams biding time until the All-Star Break (biding time until the end of the season, really). Detroit has lost seven games in a row on the road, and while Washington hasn’t been much better, they are 14-10 as a favorite this season. The Pistons have lost four of the last five to the Wizards, and are 12-16 against the spread as a road underdog. Washington scores almost five points per game more than Detroit, and even though neither team will have, say, a sense of urgency, I think Washington will win an ugly game.

Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks, 7:30 pm Eastern

The Pick: Oklahoma City +8.5 (-110), bet $16.50 to win $15

Oklahoma City is in the “enviable” position of being a terrible team that’s tanking, meaning they don’t really have to try to play poorly. That being said, they try, which is important to things like point spreads. On the road as an underdog, the Thunder are 19-10 against the spread on the road as an underdog. New York, on the other hand, are trying hard but are also in chaos. They actually have already lost to Oklahoma City this year, so it’s more than possible they can lose again. I don’t think they will, but I think the Thunder will just play their game and be pesky enough to keep it close in Madison Square Garden.

Toronto Raptors at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 pm Eastern

The Pick: New Orleans +4.5 (-109), bet $23.26 to win $20; New Orleans +150, bet $10 to win $15

Toronto has won six in a row on the road, so that’s gotta end sometime. It might as well be tonight. Their last two road wins were against Houston and Oklahoma City, so not exactly the ’85 Bears (running joke alert). New Orleans is 9-10 against the spread as a home dog, with an average margin of loss of 4.4 (+0.3 ATS). That gets them a cover tonight. The Pelicans have lost two in a row at home, which tells me they’re gonna give a full effort tonight. Brandon Ingram will be the best player on the floor, and New Orleans still has a shot to make the playoffs. They’ll put it all out there tonight.

San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls, 8 pm Eastern

The Pick: Chicago -4.5 (-110), bet $22 to win $20; Chicago -188, bet $28.20 to win $15

DeMar DeRozan Revenge Game! (shrug) Enh, not really. But DeRozan is third in the NBA in scoring this season, at 27.7 points per game. He’s really been the surprise of the season, and it’ll continue tonight. Not to mention, the Bulls lost to the Spurs in their last matchup in San Antonio. I can't imagine Chicago wants a repeat, given that they’re legitimately in contention for the NBA Finals this season. They’re 21-8 at home, 15-7 against the spread as a home favorite, and the Spurs have won two in a row. They’re ripe to come back to Earth. DeRozan has a nice game, and the Bulls cruise.

Player Prop: DeMar DeRozan under 31.5 (-104), bet $15.60 to win $15

I said “nice” game, not “tremendous” game.

Orlando Magic at Denver Nuggets, 9 pm Eastern

The Pick: Denver -11 (-110), bet $16.48 to win $15

Orlando has been on the road for a week and have lost their last two games by an average of 21 points. Denver lost to them on December 1st, and they’re not going to want to lose to them again. The Nuggets have won five of six against the spread, and are scrapping for playoff position, while the Magic are waiting for next year (and the year after that, and the year after…). Orlando’s looking forward to a week off.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 pm Eastern

The Pick: Golden State -6 (-110), bet $10.99 to win $10

I’ll take the team that’s gonna contend for a title against the team that’s missing its best two players, and playing the game in the same city where the circus that is the Super Bowl took place last night. Back in November, the Warriors beat the Clippers by 15 in Los Angeles; there’s no reason they can’t do it when L.A.’s without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers have lost 12 of 15 at home against the Warriors. Steph Curry and company are not intimidated in the slightest by this team. Golden State wins easily.