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NBA Monday betting preview: Can Suns spoil Knicks' winning ways?

Michael Gonzales / National Basketball Association / Getty

We split our picks over the week, led by the Knicks' incredible run against the spread. Can that continue Monday? Here are our favorite bets.

Thunder @ 76ers (-12.5)

As always, injuries for the 76ers will define where this line settles before Monday's tip. Even if Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid don't suit up, they're still worth betting against a beleaguered Thunder roster.

Oklahoma City is 3-12-2 ATS over its last 17 games, all of which came without injured rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder have been outscored by an incredible 18 points per game over that stretch following Friday's 20-point home loss to the Wizards.

Philly is 4-2 ATS this year as a double-digit favorite with an average scoring margin of plus-13.7 points. Even if its stars aren't healthy, this should still be a cakewalk.

Pick: 76ers -12.5

Spurs (-3.5, 228.5) @ Wizards

This line is a direct response to speculation that Russell Westbrook may sit out the second night of a back-to-back after playing 35 minutes Sunday. Even if he does, this is still a steal for Wizards bettors.

Washington has won eight consecutive games with a 10-1-1 ATS run dating back to April 5, a stretch in which the Wizards have been a top-five team by advanced metrics and managed a 5-1 ATS record as underdogs. Bradley Beal has been the steadying force during this run, scoring at least 29 points in each of his team's last eight contests.

The Spurs have managed their own 8-2 ATS run behind a stout defense, but they don't have the offensive firepower to match what Beal will likely bring Monday. If Westbrook plays, too? Watch out.

Pick: Wizards +3.5

Suns (-2, 215) @ Knicks

Anybody who follows the NBA knows how good the Knicks have been over the last few weeks. They've won their last nine games and have covered a ridiculous 12 straight games, the longest ATS streak by any team since the 2014-15 season.

Don't get too carried away, though. While New York has the NBA's best net rating (+10.7) over that span, only five of those 12 opponents entered the contest with a winning record, and two of those teams (the Lakers and Nets) were missing their best player.

The Knicks are 16-8 ATS this year against teams that entered the game above .500, though they're just 12-12 straight up and have been outscored in that spot. Meanwhile, the Suns are 18-8-1 ATS/20-7 SU, both ranking second in the league. This isn't a spot to get cute - bet the better team.

Pick: Suns -2

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.

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