'Double Dribble': Two NBA Best Bets For Cavaliers-Nuggets, Thunder-Lakers

Just because football ended doesn't mean the sports betting party is over. Like gas stations and 7/11, sportsbooks are open 24/7, 365. For the next six months, basketball takes centerstage in the sports betting world, featuring March Madness, which is a few weeks away. 

The NBA eases us into this post-NFL world with a solid slate Monday. I'm sure "load management" will ruin it, but for now, there are three interesting matchups, including the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Here are my looks for both games. 

NBA Betting Card for Monday

• Denver Nuggets moneyline (-108), up to -135, vs. Cleveland Cavaliers via FanDuel, risking 1.08 units (u).
• Los Angeles Lakers +5.5 (-105) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder via DraftKings, risking 1.05u.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets (-108)

Having James Harden and Donovan Mitchell as your starting backcourt is a nightmare. Neither can play defense, and both need the ball to be effective. Mitchell has a little more dog in him, whereas I just wouldn't want Harden on my team, and I'm philosophically opposed to the way he plays basketball. 

I know Denver is missing its best defensive player, PF Aaron Gordon, and wing Peyton Watson, who broke out while Gordon and Nikola Jokić were out with injuries. But this price for the Nuggets at home is just too good to pass up. That said, maybe I'm walking into a trap, and I'm blinded by my basketball hatred for Harden and Mitchell.

Denver Nuggets C Nikola Jokić looks to pass while being defended by Cleveland Cavaliers C Jarrett Allen at Ball Arena. (Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

Yet, the market is backing Denver, pushing it up from a slight home underdog on the opener, up to a slight favorite as of 3:30 p.m. ET Monday. Granted, the NBA regular-season market isn't always the sharpest, and the Cavs have won eight of their last nine games and three straight vs. the Nuggets. 

Nevertheless, without reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Cleveland big Evan Mobley, available, Jokic should dominate. Finally, the Cavaliers can't hide both Harden and Mitchell on defense, so Nuggets first-time NBA All-Star PG Jamal Murray (if he plays; he is "questionable" at the time of writing) should ball out. 

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers (+5.5)

I gave out the Lakers +5.5 in the OutKick newsletter earlier this morning. But, they are now +7/+7.5 because it has been announced that OKC All-Star Jalen Williams will return from his 10-game absence Monday. Even though I'm not a Lakers fan, this is a "homer pick" because I'm going to the game with a few friends who are big Lakers fans. 

Regardless, if I bet LAL at +5.5, then I have to like them at +7. Over the last two weeks, the Lakers have a better record, net rating, and spread differential, according to CleaningTheGlass.com. While LAL is missing Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves is back, and there is better ball movement when the Lakers run their offense through Reaves. 

Lakers SG Austin Reaves drives into the paint against Oklahoma City Thunder wingJalen Williams at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Hell, the ball moves better when LeBron James, a notorious ball-hog, runs the offense. Luka got hurt after just 16 minutes vs. the Philadelphia 76ers last Thursday, and LeBron finished that game with 10 assists and dished out another 10 assists against the Golden State Warriors Saturday. The Lakers won both games. 

Lastly, Los Angeles is a tough place for visiting professional athletes to play, especially basketball players, because the recreational marijuana couch-locks them. The Lakers have won and covered three of their last four home games vs. the Thunder, too. 

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