NBA Best Bets Monday: Jazz vs Cavaliers, Lakers vs Kings, Hornets vs Clippers

The Utah Jazz once had a budding superstar named Donovan Mitchell and a very bright future. The Jazz get to see the former king of Salt Lake City when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday just two nights after registering the worst margin of defeat in the Utah history of the Jazz.

You see a team trailing by 47 points in the first half of an eventual 150-95 setback and it’s almost like the Jazz aren’t even putting up a fight. Oh, did someone say fight? The Sacramento Kings are pretty abysmal but they apparently bring the fight in arena tunnels 40 minutes after the game ends.

It figures to be a very testy rematch between the Kings and Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers. The Charlotte Hornets were the team that blasted the Jazz and they look to repeat that stellar level of play against the scorching Los Angeles Clippers.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS AT UTAH JAZZ

The Jazz made the playoffs in all five of Mitchell’s seasons – they also had defensive force Rudy Gobert on the roster – but they are an unsightly 30-90 over the past 1 1/2 seasons as their rebuild didn’t materialize. Lauri Markkanen (27.9 scoring average) and Keyonte George (23.6) are standout players but Utah needs a lot of roster help to even see the postseason with a telescope.

Meanwhile, Mitchell is in his fourth season with the Cavaliers and ranks fourth in the NBA with a 29.8 scoring average, which would be a career best. Cleveland hasn’t reached last season’s level of success but there’s plenty of time to find it in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers are coming off a two-game split with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jarrett Allen has 10 or more rebounds in each of the past six games and his career high of 24 boards could be in reach because the Jazz were outrebounded 65-31 by the Hornets. OK, Utah has to be soooo embarrassed that it will come out with plenty of fight and somehow cover the spread.

Jazz +13.5 points to cover spread, -115 (DraftKings)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS AT SACRAMENTO KINGS

The Lakers rolled past the Kings 125-101 on Dec. 28 in Los Angeles when Doncic scored 34 points. About 40 minutes after the game, Sacramento’s Dennis Schroder reportedly confronted Doncic and attempted to strike him and drew a three-game suspension that includes the Monday matchup. Schroder and Doncic were exchanging barbs throughout the contest.

The Lakers will be glad to see the Kings again after losing their last two games and six of their past 10. Doncic scored 30 or more points in six straight games before having 24 on 8-of-25 shooting in Friday’s 105-101 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the Kings this season and has won each of the past six meetings.

Sacramento ended its seven-game losing skid on Sunday by taking down the Houston Rockets 111-98 behind 22 points from DeMar DeRozan. But the Kings will likely start a new losing streak.

Luka Doncic to score 35-plus points, -127 (DraftKings)

CHARLOTTE HORNETS AT LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

This rates as an intriguing matchup with the Clippers winning nine of 11 games and the Hornets coming off the 55-point beat down of Utah that ranks as the second-largest margin of victory in franchise history. That’s not the only bulldozing win by Charlotte lately as it clobbered the host Oklahoma City Thunder 124-97 on Jan. 5.

Los Angeles beat the Hornets 131-116 on Nov. 22 in Charlotte when James Harden set a franchise record with 55 points. Kawhi Leonard matched the mark with 55 against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 28 and he’s been hot with 20 consecutive 20-point appearances. Leonard’s right ankle has been sore so that’s worth a watch.

The Clippers are back home after a three-game road trip while the Hornets are playing the second contest of a five-game excursion. This is one of the most one-sided series in the league – Los Angeles has won 15 straight meetings and 27 of the last 29 – so you ride the Clippers all the way.

Clippers -4.5 points to cover spread, +-110 (DraftKings)