Not a typo: Take the New York Knicks against Washington Wizards in Monday’s NBA odds

If you’re looking for good NBA odds among Monday’s 11-game extravaganza before the NBA goes dark Christmas Eve, the New York Knicks look good … no, really!

The NBA closes out its pre-Christmas schedule with 11 games on the schedule for Monday night before going dark on Christmas Eve. There are a lot of games to consider if you’re going to try your hand at playing the NBA odds, but the best pick might be the New York Knicks at home as 3½-point favorites over the Washington Wizards.

I’ll wait while the laughter subsides.

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OK, now that we’ve gotten that out of your system, there are several valid reasons to like the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Even with getting handled at Miami and by the Bucks in their last two games, the Knicks are 3-3 since firing coach David Fizdale and replacing him with interim coach Mike Miller.

New York is 4-2 against the spread over those six games, while the Wizards are 2-4 ATS in their last six, have lost seven of eight straight up and are woefully short-handed.

More than half of Washington’s 15 players on conventional contracts are listed as out on the team’s injury report submitted Sunday night, with the Wizards having just nine players — including both of their two-way guys — available against the Knicks. New York is relatively healthy, missing only Reggie Bullock — who has yet to make his Knicks debut this season — and Wayne Ellington.

This is the first meeting this season for the Wizards and Knicks, who will play again in Washington on Saturday. While the Wizards are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 against New York, the Knicks have gotten the cover in two of the last three meetings.

Throw in the Wizards depth concerns and it’s easy to like New York’s chances. It is also the Knicks’ last game until after Christmas — yes, the NBA has spared us the gift of giving us the Knicks at MSG on Dec. 25 for just the second time since 2001.

Washington Wizards at New York Knicks (minus 3½)

TV: NBC Sports Washington+ (Wizards), MSG Network (Knicks)
Tickets: Madison Square Garden, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Washington 8-20 (14-13-1 ATS, 9-7-1 road ATS), New York 7-23 (15-15 ATS, 7-8 home ATS)

Availability report (information from NBA injury report released at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday)
Washington: OUT–Davis Bertans (right quad strain), Thomas Bryant (stress reaction, right foot), Rui Hachimura (groin), Jordan McRae (right ring finger surgery), C.J. Miles (left wrist surgery), Isaiah Thomas (league suspension), Moritz Wagner (sprained left ankle), John Wall (left Achilles rehab).
New York: Kadeem Allen (two-way, G League), Ignas Brazdeikis (G League), Reggie Bullock (cervical disc herniation), Wayne Ellington (sore left Achilles), Ivan Rabb (two-way, G League).

Here’s a look at the rest of Monday’s NBA odds and schedule:

Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers (minus 1)

TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Atlanta (Hawks), Fox Sports Ohio (Cavaliers)
Tickets: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Atlanta 6-24 (13-17 ATS, 5-11 road ATS), Cleveland 8-21 (11-16-2 ATS, 6-8-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Atlanta: OUT–Charlie Brown (two-way, G League), Brandon Goodwin (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Evan Turner (right hamstring strain).
Cleveland: OUT–Tyler Cook (two-way, G League), Dean Wade (two-way, G League), Dylan Windler (stress reaction, left lower leg); QUESTIONABLE–Larry Nance Jr. (left knee soreness).

Notable: John Collins is eligible to return for the Atlanta Hawks on Monday after serving a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance and the Hawks will likely bring him back into the mix quickly. Atlanta was 2-3 at the time Collins was suspended and went just 4-21 while he was serving his banishment.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month and are 3-7 ATS over its last 10 games. The Hawks have lost seven straight SU and are 2-5 ATS over that losing streak. It’s the first meeting between the teams since last December, with the Cavs covering two of their last three meetings despite Atlanta winning two of the last three SU.

Philadelphia 76ers (minus 5½) at Detroit Pistons

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia+ (76ers), Fox Sports Detroit (Pistons)
Tickets: Little Caesars Arena, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Philadelphia 21-10 (14-16-1 ATS, 6-8 road ATS), Detroit 11-19 (11-18-1 ATS, 7-9 home ATS)

Availability report
Philadelphia: OUT–Shake Milton (G League), Marial Shayok (two-way, G League), Zhaire Smith (G League), Matisse Thybulle (right knee, sprain/bone bruise).
Detroit: OUT–Reggie Jackson (stress reaction, left lumbar spine), Khryi Thomas (right foot surgery), Christian Wood (left knee, bone bruise); QUESTIONABLE–Blake Griffin (flu), Luke Kennard (bilateral knee soreness), Derrick Rose (left knee soreness).

Notable: The Philadelphia 76ers were able to half a three-game losing streak by thumping the Wizards Saturday night, but they are just 1-4 ATS over their last five games. But the Detroit Pistons have lost four in a row and are 1-5 ATS over their last six games, so this is a movable object-resistible force matchup at first glance.

But the Sixers have covered in eight of their last nine meetings with Detroit and the Pistons are just 1-5 ATS in their last six games at Little Caesars Arena. The last time the teams met in Motown, Philadelphia got a win and covered as four-point favorites with a 117-111 decision on Oct. 26.

Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers (minus 6½)

TV: SportsNet1 (Raptors), Fox Sports Indiana (Pacers), NBA TV (national)
Tickets: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Toronto 21-8 (16-12 ATS, 6-7 road ATS), Indiana 20-10 (16-12-2 ATS, 9-5-2 home ATS)

Availability report
Toronto: Not required to submit report until 1 p.m. Eastern. In Sunday night’s 110-107 win over the Mavericks at home, the Raptors did not have Marc Gasol (left hamstring strain), Dewan Hernandez (right ankle sprain), Stanley Johnson (stress reaction, left groin), Shamorie Ponds (two-way, G League), Norman Powell (left shoulder subluxation), Pascal Siakam (groin strain) or Matt Thomas (left middle finger fracture).
Indiana: Not required to submit report until 1 p.m. Eastern. In their 117-89 loss at Milwaukee on Sunday, the Pacers were without Brian Bowen (two-way, G League), Alize Johnson (G League), Jeremy Lamb (sore right groin), Naz Mitrou-Long (right ankle sprain) and Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab).

Notable: It will be curious to see how much the Toronto Raptors have left after making the largest comeback in franchise history to beat the Mavericks at home Sunday night, winning after trailing by 31 points. The Indiana Pacers are also on a SEGABABA after being pummeled at Milwaukee. The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last five games and Indiana is 5-1 ATS in its last six.

These teams haven’t met since January, with Toronto winning and covering in two of the last three meetings. The Pacers have won eight of nine straight up at home and have covered four of their last five at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Raptors are just 1-2 ATS in their last three road games, but have covered four of the last five times they’ve played Indiana.

Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic (minus 5)

TV: NBC Sports Chicago+ (Bulls), Fox Sports Florida (Magic)
Tickets: Amway Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Chicago 12-19 (17-14 ATS, 9-6 road ATS), Orlando 12-17 (11-16-2 ATS, 4-9-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Chicago: OUT–Chandler Hutchison (right shoulder soreness), Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (left foot fracture), Max Strus (two-way, G League); PROBABLE–Wendell Carter Jr. (left abdomen maintenance), Zach LaVine (right shoulder strain).
Orlando: OUT–Al-Farouq Aminu (right knee, meniscus tear), Michael Carter-Williams (left shoulder, AC joint sprain), Josh Magette (two-way, G League).

Notable: The Chicago Bulls have been playing fairly well, splitting their last 10 games straight up and going 7-1 ATS over their last eight. The Orlando Magic have not been playing well, losing three in a row and six of seven while going 1-4-1 ATS over their last six games. The Bulls are a solid 9-6 ATS on the road this season, including six straight covers.

Orlando is a dismal 4-9-1 ATS at home. The teams last met in February, with Chicago winning and covering two of the last three and going 8-4 ATS in its last 12 against the Magic. Amway Center has held little Magic for Orlando of late, with the club covering just once in its last seven home games. However, Orlando did cover the last time it was favored — 17 days ago at Cleveland.

Utah Jazz at Miami Heat (minus 4)

TV: AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Jazz), Fox Sports Sun (Heat)
Tickets: AmericanAirlines Arena, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Records: Utah 18-11 (12-17 ATS, 6-9 road ATS), Miami 21-9 (19-9-1 ATS, 11-2 home ATS)

Availability report
Utah: OUT–Mike Conley (left hamstring strain), Juwan Morgan (G League), Nigel Williams-Goss (G League), Justin Wright-Foreman (two-way, G League).
Miami: OUT–Daryl Macon (two-way, G League), KZ Okpala (G League), Dion Waiters (team suspension), Justise Winslow (lower back strain).

Notable: The Utah Jazz haven’t exactly been money in the bank, even as they are well above the .500 mark SU. Utah is just 3-6-1 ATS over its last 10 games and only 1-3-1 in its last five on the road. Conversely, the Miami Heat are 5-1 ATS over their last six games and are an NBA-best 11-2 ATS at home this season.

It’s been more than a year since the Jazz and Heat tangled. Miami has won two of the last three meetings SU, with Utah covering in two of those three outings. The Heat have won 13 of 14 at home SU, while the Jazz have won five straight SU and six of their last seven.

San Antonio Spurs (minus 1) at Memphis Grizzlies

TV: Fox Sports Southwest-San Antonio (Spurs), Fox Sports Southeast-Memphis (Grizzlies)
Tickets: FedExForum, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: San Antonio 11-17 (8-19-1 ATS, 4-7-1 road ATS), Memphis 11-19 (14-16 ATS, 8-9 home ATS)

Availability report
San Antonio: OUT–Drew Eubanks (two-way, G League), Keldon Johnson (G League), Luka Samanic (G League).
Memphis: OUT–Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G League), John Konchar (two-way, G League), Yuta Watanabe (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Jonas Valanciunas (right foot soreness).

Notable: It still feels like Vegas is a little slow to tumble to the fact the San Antonio Spurs are no longer THE Spurs of the last two decades. San Antonio has the worst ATS record in the NBA and is just 6-13-1 over its last 20 games. The Memphis Grizzlies have gone 6-4 ATS over their last 10, winning five of those games outright as the kids are learning quickly.

It was Memphis that took the first meeting between the teams this season, winning on the road 113-109 on Nov. 11 as 10½-point dogs. The Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS over their last five games and have covered three of their last four at FedEx Forum. The Spurs are coming off a homecourt beatdown at the hands of the Clippers on Saturday night and are 2-2-1 ATS over their last five.

Denver Nuggets (minus 3½) at Phoenix Suns

TV: Altitude Sports 2 (Nuggets), Fox Sports Arizona (Suns)
Tickets: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Denver 20-8 (13-13-2 ATS, 6-5-1 road ATS), Phoenix 11-18 (15-13-1 ATS, 8-8-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Denver: Not required to submit until 3 p.m. Eastern. In their 128-104 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles Sunday night, the Nuggets did not have Bol Bol (left foot, injury management), PJ Dozier (two-way, G League) or Jarred Vanderbilt (G League).
Phoenix: OUT–Deandre Ayton (right ankle sprain), Jared Harper (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Ricky Rubio (illness); PROBABLE–Frank Kaminsky (right knee soreness), Dario Saric (right leg soreness).

Notable: The Denver Nuggets are sizzling, winning six straight games SU and they are 3-2 ATS on the road, while the Phoenix Suns are scuffling with six consecutive losses SU and a 1-4-1 ATS record over that span. They are 2-2 ATS in their last four true home games, getting a push in their Dec. 14 games at Mexico City.

The Nuggets have won the first two meetings with Phoenix this season SU, with each team covering once. It was Denver that got the cover at home on Nov. 24, winning 116-104 as 11-point favorites, but it was the Suns getting the cover as 12-point road underdogs in Denver on Oct. 25, with the Nuggets taking a 108-107 victory.

New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers (minus 6)

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans (Pelicans), NBC Sports Northwest (Trail Blazers), NBA TV (national)
Tickets: Moda Center, 10 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: New Orleans 7-23 (10-18-1 ATS, 4-9-1 road ATS), Portland 14-16 (13-16-1 ATS, 6-7-1 home ATS)

Availability report
New Orleans: OUT–Zylan Cheatham (two-way, G League), Josh Gray (two-way, G League), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Zion Williamson (right knee scope).
Portland: Failed to submit report by 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. In their win Saturday over the Timberwolves, the Trail Blazers were without Carmelo Anthony (left knee contusion), Zach Collins (left shoulder dislocation), Rodney Hood (left Achilles’ tendon rupture), Jusuf Nurkic (left leg fracture).

Notable: The Portland Trail Blazers have dug themselves out of an early hole with five wins SU in their last six games and face a New Orleans Pelicans team that has lost 14 of its last 15 SU. The Pelicans are also just 2-10 ATS over their last 12, with both of those covers coming on the road. Portland is 4-2-1 ATS in its last seven at Moda Center.

It was New Orleans winning and covering the first time the teams met back on Nov. 19 in NOLA. The Pelicans were three-point home favorites and picked up a 115-104 win. That broke a string of four straight victories SU and covers by the Trail Blazers in the series and New Orleans is just 4-14 SU in its last 18 tries at Moda Center.

Houston Rockets (minus 5½) at Sacramento Kings

TV: AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Rockets), NBC Sports California (Kings)
Tickets: Golden 1 Center, 10 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Houston 20-9 (14-15 ATS, 8-7 road ATS), Sacramento 12-17 (16-13 ATS, 5-6 home ATS)

Availability report
Houston: OUT–Michael Frazier (two-way, G League), Eric Gordon (right knee arthroscopy), Gerald Green (left cuneiform fracture), Isaiah Hartenstein (G League), Nene (left adductor strain); PROBABLE–Clint Capela (right heel contusion).
Sacramento: OUT–Kyle Guy (two-way, G League), DaQuan Jeffries (not with team); QUESTIONABLE–Bogdan Bogdanovic (right ankle soreness).

Notable: It’s road, sweet road for the Houston Rockets, who have covered four of their last six away from home. It’s not quite home, sweet home for the Sacramento Kings, who are 1-5 ATS over their last six games and have failed to cover in either of their last two games at Golden 1 Center.

Houston may have more motive in this matchup, as the Kings came away from their last meeting as 12-point road underdogs and pulled out a 119-118 straight-up victory on Dec. 9, snapping a string of four consecutive covers in the series by the Rockets. Houston is on a very odd stretch of late, with five consecutive wins SU on the road while losing three of four at home.

Minnesota Timberwolves (minus 2) at Golden State Warriors

TV: Fox Sports North (Timberwolves), NBC Sports Bay Area (Warriors)
Tickets: Chase Center, 10:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. local)
Records: Minnesota 10-18 (10-16-2 ATS, 8-6-1 road ATS), Golden State 6-24 (13-16-1 ATS, 5-7-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Minnesota: OUT–Jake Layman (left toe sprain), Kelan Martin (two-way, G League), Jordan McLaughlin (two-way, G League), Naz Reid (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee sprain).
Golden State: OUT–Ky Bowman (two-way, G League), Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), Alen Smailagic (G League), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation); QUESTIONABLE–Glenn Robinson III (right ankle sprain).

Notable: This one is what I call my Chernobyl special for the night — as in stay as far away as possible. The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost 10 games in a row SU and are 1-8-1 ATS over that period. The Golden State Warriors are tied for the NBA’s worst record and have covered just once in their last four games at Chase Center.

Nothing good happens by putting anything on this game. Period. The Warriors are the “hot” team at 3-6 ATS over their last nine games. Minnesota won but did not cover the first time the teams met in Minneapolis on Nov. 8, with Golden State getting the cover as 11½-point road dogs in the T-Wolves 125-119 win. To reiterate: HAZMAT gear can’t even save you from this game.