I have a bunch of plays for the loaded NBA slate on Monday, March 16. So, while I normally break things down with two separate articles, I’m bringing everything under one roof instead of splitting up sides/totals and player props — a streamlined look at my favorite bets for the day’s slate. Keep reading for my NBA picks and predictions for Monday.

RELATED: Check out the Pro Picks page for more selections from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts!

NBA Best Bets Today

Hawks -2.5 (-110) vs. Magic

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Magic at Hawks – 7:00 pm ET

The Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, going 10-1 with a net rating of +12.8 over the last 11 contests. That’s tied with the Thunder when looking at the records, and the net rating is the highest in basketball. Of course, it should be noted that the Magic are also 9-2 with a net rating of +7.6 in that same span. So, Orlando is also playing good basketball. However, this is a home game for Atlanta, the team has been a little better statistically, and the injury report favors the Hawks. The Magic will be without Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and Jonathan Isaac tonight. Those are three very good players, and they’re all important to this team’s defense.

I also love Atlanta’s defensive matchups here. The Hawks will throw Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels at Desmond Bane, and that should mean that he’ll be forced into tough shots all night. Atlanta also has some good length at the forward spots to get good contests on Paolo Banchero’s jumpers.

The Magic are also 2-3 straight-up and 1-4 against the spread in road games with lines of +3 to -3 this season.

Rockets ML (-140 – 1.5 units) vs. Lakers

Lakers at Rockets – 9:30 pm ET

The Lakers have been playing extremely well lately, as Luka Doncic has the offense humming and JJ Redick has his group bought in defensively. However, I still believe the personnel is the issue when looking at the defense, so I don’t think this recent stretch means the team is bound to have long-term success. And tonight’s game could be the start of a slide for Los Angeles.

The Rockets come into this game having last played on Friday, so they have a rest advantage over the Lakers. This is also Los Angeles’ first road game since March 5, which was a loss — both SU and ATS — in Denver. This Lakers team is just 6-9 both SU and ATS as a road underdog this season, so leaving California might not be kind to this squad. Also, the Lakers are 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS when playing on the road against teams that outrebound opponents by at least 3.0 rebounds per game.

I just like Houston’s toughness in this matchup, even if the team doesn’t have Steven Adams around to bully opponents on the glass. The Rockets are still long and athletic, and that should help them control the rebound battle here. I also like the length on defense, as I can see Houston doing solid work on Doncic and Austin Reaves.

A meeting with the Lakers, with two days to prepare, should also give Ime Udoka a chance to get his offense back on track. Let’s just hope Alperen Sengun ditches his questionable tag and plays. If he does, we should be looking at a good number with the home team.

NBA Player Props Today

Jalen Green Over 19.5 Points (-107) vs. Celtics

Suns at Celtics – 7:30 pm ET

The Celtics are excellent defensively, but they struggle covering above-the-break 3s and have had issues containing pick-and-roll ball handlers. That should benefit Green, who scores 33% of his points on above-the-break triples. He also scores 6.4 points per game as a PnR handler. That said, while this matchup looks tough, there will be openings for Green to do what he does. Also, Green is averaging 28.8 points per game over the last five contests, and his 35.0% usage rate in that span is just a hair below Devin Booker’s 35.3%. He’s getting every opportunity to go out and be Booker’s Robin, and he has been a killing it lately. Green is also doing some of the best work of his career as a pull-up shooter in the mid-range area, which has made him more of a three-level scorer than a 3s-and-dunks guy.

Kris Dunn Over 6.5 Points (-114) vs. Spurs

Spurs at Clippers – 10:00 pm ET

Kawhi Leonard is doubtful for Los Angeles tonight, so there will be other rotation players with bigger roles against San Antonio. Well, I’d keep an eye on Dunn this evening. He has had double-digit points in three of the last four games he has played without Leonard, and he should play a ton of minutes with the Spurs having such a dangerous guard rotation. I should note that the last four games he played without Leonard were also played without Darius Garland, who is going to be out there tonight. That could take away some touches from Dunn. But overall, I just don’t think you’ll get as much hesitation and deferring from Dunn tonight. When he has shots, he’ll take them. He’ll also attack the rim. So, I’m taking a chance on him scoring seven.

Additional Plays (Late Adds, Parlays, Teasers, Futures)

PARLAY: Warriors ML vs. Wizards, Trail Blazers vs. Nets, Mavericks vs. Pelicans (+109)

2025-26 NBA Record: 399-384 (+1.15 units)

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