How to bet Suns-Cavs in Booker's likely return
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It's a new week in the NBA and Monday features a six-game slate. Let's get right to our three best bets, featuring two player props and a side.
Devin Booker: Under 35.5 PRA (points + rebounds + assists)
Devin Booker is expected to return from an ankle injury against the Cavs on Monday night. He's missed the last four games. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the Suns star will presumably be on a slight minutes restriction as he continues to recover.
Booker's efficiency would have to be incredible to reach this prop on a minutes restriction. If he does play a full load, this prop gets dicier. The Cavs have one of the league's best defenses, but they're without Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell.
Booker failed to record over 35 combined points, rebounds, and assists in three of his four games before the injury despite playing at least 36 minutes in all four.
Odds: -120
Draymond Green: Over 0.5 threes
The Warriors' 3-point volume and offensive production suffer without Steph Curry, who's out with a sprained ankle. Draymond Green is by no means a sharpshooter, but he's having the best 3-point shooting season of his career. Green is shooting a career-high 43% from three and connecting on 1.1 3-pointers per game on 2.4 attempts.
The Warriors face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Monday. Wembanyama is a daunting presence near the rim and a phenomenal shot blocker. When Green plays center for Golden State, the Dubs will likely try to keep him on the perimeter to take Wembanyama away from the basket. If Green's a shooting threat, Wembanyama will have no choice but to guard him on the perimeter.
That, at the very least, should lead to more 3-point attempts from Green. We just need him to connect once to reach this prop, and he's gotten there in 11 of the last 14 games.
Odds: -135
Suns @ Cavaliers (+6, O/U 220.5)
Believe it or not, this spread opened with the Suns as underdogs before the betting world pounced on a bad line and forced a major shift.
The Cavs are playing for the second time in as many nights and their third game in the last four days. They're 3-7-1 against the spread with no rest.
As previously mentioned, Cleveland is without Mitchell and Mobley, two-fifths of its starting lineup. Max Strus and Dean Wade also missed Sunday's game and Darius Garland is questionable for Monday after he was seen icing his wrist following Sunday's blowout loss to the Nets.
The Cavs are depleted and tired, while Booker's return should energize the unusually healthy Suns. Phoenix needs every win it can get to remain the sixth seed and stay out of the play-in tournament. That means taking care of business against inferior opponents.
Pick: Suns -6
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.