The Milwaukee Bucks have been without starting center Brook Lopez for several games due to injury so they have decided to sign former All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins to a non-guaranteed deal to join the defending NBA champions. Teams must guarantee contracts for the balance of the season by Jan. 7. Cousins isn’t what he used to be but should help Milwaukee. Here’s a look at two interesting early-week NBA matchups and picks.

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The @warriors hold the No. 1 spot in this week's power rankings ahead of their matchup with the Suns ?https://t.co/uYehmHEGQ4 pic.twitter.com/fWlD105DXB

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 29, 2021

Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls

• When: Monday, November 29th, 2021. 8:00 pm ET
• Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
• TV: NBA TV
• Radio: 102.5 FM (Hornets) // 670 The Score (Bulls)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Chicago Bulls -6

Game is Monday at 8 PM ET and the first matchup this season between the Ball brothers: Lonzo, the point guard for the Chicago Bulls, and younger brother LaMelo, a rising star with the Hornets. He’s definitely the better player.

The Bulls acquired Lonzo in a sign-and-trade from the Pelicans this offseason, while the Hornets took LaMelo with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft – the Bulls picked fourth and were hoping he would slide to them but no dice. If that draft were held again today, LaMelo would go No. 1 overall to Minnesota after winning Rookie of the Year last season.

On Saturday, LaMelo had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists at Houston on Nov. 27, his second triple-double of the season as he has recorded six double-doubles over his last seven games. Ball is one of five players with multiple triple-doubles this season as this marked the third triple-double of his career, which he recorded at 20 years and 97 days old. He is the third youngest player to notch their third career triple-double only behind Luka Doncic and Magic Johnson.

Ball is just the third player in franchise history with multiple triple-doubles through the team’s first 25 games of a season along with Baron Davis (2, 2000-01) and Kendall Gill (1995-96) as he is already tied for the third most triple-doubles in a season in team history. After dishing out 13 assists vs. Minnesota on Nov. 26, it marked the first time in his career that Ball has tallied 13 or more assists in consecutive games. He now has four games this season with 13+ assists, which is the third most in the NBA, only trailing Chris Paul (6) and Westbrook (5). Ball is averaging 63.5 passes made per game, which ranks fourth in the NBA and sits at eighth among league leaders in assists points created. He is averaging 20.1 assist points created points as Ball has made 1334 total passes this season, the most in the NBA this season.

Charlotte is without starting center Mason Plumlee due to injury. P.J. Washington will remain in the starting lineup for Monday. In his last two games, Washington is averaging 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Bulls won all three last season and we like them again.

NBA Betting Pick: Bulls

READ MORE: Suns vs. Warriors 2021 NBA Odds and Preview – December 3rd, 2021

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors

• When: Tuesday, November 30th, 2021. 7:30pm ET
• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
• TV: NBA TV
• Radio: ESPN Radio 92.9 FM (Grizzlies) // TSN 1050 (Raptors)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Toronto Raptors -5

Tuesday game at 7:30 PM ET. This will wrap up the season series between the teams as last Wednesday, the Raptors won 126-113 in Memphis as the Grizzlies blew a 12-point halftime lead. Gary Trent Jr. scored 17 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors. Fred VanVleet scored 23 points, and Precious Achiuwa, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes added 17 each for the Raptors. Barnes had nine rebounds.

Ja Morant led Memphis with 23 points and nine assists. Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks finished with 20 points each, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke added 16 points apiece.

Toronto won’t have to worry about the sensational Morant in this game, though. He injured his knee in Friday’s loss to Atlanta. It looked potentially serious but Coach Taylor Jenkins said Morant avoided any tears or ligament damage to that left knee but added that there was no official timetable for his return. He probably will miss at least a few weeks.

Morant was hurt while dribbling the ball toward the paint, although there was no contact that appeared to cause the injury. He began to limp, passed the ball and then hobbled off the floor in the middle of the play. He seemed to be on the path to his first All-Star appearance this season, averaging a career-best 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game entering Friday.

Toronto has been without one of its good young players in OG Anunoby for several games due to injury and he might return Tuesday. Anunoby is averaging a team-high 20.1 points and has scored 20+ points eight times in 15 games this season.

NBA Betting Pick: Raptors

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READ MORE: Top 2021 NBA Week 8 Betting Picks