NBA Monday best bets: Pelicans to rebound in rematch vs. Jazz

As November dwindles and the holiday season draws near, the NBA keeps on cooking. It's been an exciting start to the season with loads of surprises and unanswered questions.

We're 10 games above .500 with our best bets in this forum. Let's keep churning along with Monday's best bets.

Pelicans @ Jazz (+5, O/U 230.5)

The Pelicans won five of their last six before losing to the Jazz in New Orleans on Saturday. The Pelicans still aren't fully healthy, but they're beginning to make a push into playoff contention as Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson consistently put forth dominant performances.

The Pelicans were without Williamson when they lost by five to the Jazz, and Utah had dropped four straight before that game. New Orleans was also on the second leg of a back-to-back. With time off and an active Williamson on Monday night, the Pelicans should dismantle an inferior Jazz squad in the rematch.

Pick: Pelicans -5

Clippers team total: Over 112.5 points

The Clippers are laying 5.5 points against the Nuggets at home Monday night. Los Angeles should win, but it's wiser to take its team total.

Denver is 8-0 at home this year and 3-6 on the road. The Nuggets are 1-8 against the spread as an away team and they traveled to L.A. late Sunday night after hosting the Spurs.

Before their win over San Antonio, the Nuggets had lost four of their last five. Meanwhile, the Clippers are surging, winning four of their last five. This is a bad spot for Denver on the road with no rest, which should lead to an offensive explosion for the Clippers.

Odds: -120 (playable to -130)

Ausar Thompson: Over 8.5 rebounds

Ausar Thompson has been a revelation as a rebounding rookie, averaging the 13th-most rebounds in the NBA with 9.8 per game. He's provided a bright spot for a Pistons team that's in rebuilding mode with a 2-14 record.

Thompson's athleticism allows him to stay in the mix for boards, especially on the offensive end. The Pistons play the Wizards on Monday night in a clash for the NBA's worst record (exciting!).

While the game itself won't be pretty, the Wizards have the league's worst rebounding rate, so Thompson should have plenty of opportunities on the glass.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Brandon Ingram: Over 35.5 points+rebounds+assists

Brandon Ingram has been on a tear in recent weeks, propelling his Pelicans team back to relevancy after a tough start. CJ McCollum remains out with a rib injury, so Ingram's scoring has been a necessity.

He's averaging 28 points over his last five games and filling a role as a playmaker, creating looks for his teammates with dribble-drive penetration.

This prop has hit in six of Ingram's last nine games. The Jazz have the NBA's fifth-worst defensive rating, so Ingram's poised for a big night.

Odds: -125 (playable to -140)

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.