NBA: Monday's plays

Play: L.A. Clippers -5 -105

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

Reasoning: Los Angeles endured a brutal stretch of games in December, but the Clippers are finally rested and will be playing only their second game of the new year. Add to that the fact that their starters barely broke a sweat in Saturday's 127-91 throttling of Philadelphia. Chris Paul played the most of any starters against the 76ers, a game in which L.A.'s bench outscored Philadelphia 57-16. Paul, who is third in the NBA in steals (2.03 per game), nearly recorded a triple-double in 30 minutes against the Sixers. DeAndre Jordan, who will play in his league-high 275th straight contest on Monday, leads the NBA in rebounding (13.6 per game). He has scored 19 or more in his last six tilts and he grabbed 22 boards in his last meeting with Atlanta. The Hawks won the last matchup on Dec. 23, but they needed 12 three-pointers to do it. And I don't see them making that many against the Clippers again. At home L.A. allows opponents just 32.7% shooting from behind the arc. A big part of Atlanta's game is points off of turnovers, and the Clippers are fourth in the league in fewest giveaways (just 11.9 per game). L.A. has allowed opponents just 92.4 ppg over their last five. The Hawks have played the NBA's third-easiest schedule, and the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.



Play: Oklahoma City +3.5 -110 and Oklahoma City/Golden State under 218 -110

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

Reasoning: The Warriors won the last meeting 114-109, but Kevin Durant was able to play only 19 minutes of that one before going down with an ankle injury. Still, Durant was able to pour in an NBA-record 30 points during those 19 minutes. In the other game against Golden State this season Durant had a career-high 54 points, but the Thunder lost that one in part because they didn't have Russell Westbrook in the lineup. OKC has played a much tougher schedule than the Warriors and the Thunder should have a big rebounding advantage. Especially since Andrew Bogut (knee) is out and Festus Ezili (ankle) is listed as questionable. I don't think the teams will combine to get anywhere near this total since they both play great perimeter defense (31.8% and 32.3% shooting, respectively). Games for both teams don't average anywhere near 218 points overall or in the home/away splits. And Thunder games average below 200 points overall and on the road.


Record: 238-184-8 (56.4%)
Bankroll: +117.11%