NBA Monday picks, odds, best bets

With so many sports overlapping in October, it is easy for one of the NBA’s unheralded teams to fly under the radar during the regular season’s first week.

But the Utah Jazz have quietly started as a pleasant surprise, winning their first game in blowout fashion as a double-digit underdog and also covering in a one-point loss.

The Jazz visit the Phoenix Suns on Monday, and they should be lined as a short underdog once the betting odds are posted.

(Editor’s note: The Jazz opened as underdogs, but have moved to short favorites as of Monday morning.)

I think Utah is a team I want to back until further notice. They entered the season with the lowest win total (18.5), and I actually think their ceiling is about 30 wins.

Betting on the NBA?

They have a great coach in Will Hardy, and the front office has volunteered it will not tank this season to improve their draft lottery odds.

Lauri Markkanen is an All-Star, and the young core plays hard. Also, 21-year-old Keyonte George is a legit guard who could blossom into an All-Star.

Plus, the team prioritizes 3-point shooting and the favorable analytics allow the team to outperform expectations and betting markets.

I have a 71-59-2 ATS in this Post sports section, and my next play is the Jazz against the Suns. 

The Play: Jazz -1 (-105, Bet365)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.