VSIN’s Easy-Peasy 2026 NBA Summer League Bets for Monday, July 13

What Is Going On? (ELI5 Intro)

The NBA Summer League is like a special summer basketball tournament where young and new NBA players show their skills. Right now, in 2026, it’s happening in Las Vegas, Nevada—right in the backyard of the Vegas Sports & Information Network (VSIN). Because it’s so close, we are sharing daily best bets (friendly suggestions on who might win) for the games in Sin City (that’s a nickname for Las Vegas). Below are our picks and predictions for Monday, July 13.

Bet 1: A Two-Team Combo Bet (Parlay) – Pistons & Bulls to Win (+161)

A parlay is like a double-dare bet: you pick two teams to win, and if BOTH win, you get a bigger reward. “ML” means Moneyline – just pick the straight winner.

The Picks:

1. Pistons Moneyline vs. Knicks (Detroit to win)
2. Bulls Moneyline vs. Jazz (Chicago to win)

Why We Like It (ELI5 Style):

• The Pistons still have something to play for in Vegas, so they should beat the Knicks. New York has been one of the worst teams in the event so far, and they have no answer for a player named Ebuka Okorie.
• Detroit plays very early in the day, and that fact also influences the next game choice.
• The Bulls face Utah, a team that lost to Los Angeles on Sunday and dropped to 0 wins, 2 losses. That means Utah has very little reason to go “balls to the wall” (try super hard).
• Chicago is expected to close as the favorite (the team likely to win). The odds of +161 mean if you bet $100, you could win $161 extra if both teams win.

Important: The author hopes to grab this +161 price before the Bulls game “tips” (starts), because the odds might change!

Bet 2: Hawks Must Win by 5 Points vs. Celtics (Spread -4.5, Odds -110)

A “spread” bet means a team must win by more than a certain number of points. Here, Hawks need to win by 5 or more. The -110 means you bet $110 to win $100.

• The author already has a future bet (a bet made earlier) on Atlanta to win the whole Summer League, so this single-game bet isn’t strictly necessary. But if the Hawks want to reach the knockout stage (the elimination playoff round), they MUST win this game.
• Atlanta should win pretty clearly. Boston beat Charlotte yesterday, but Atlanta is way more talented, balanced, and organized.
• Atlanta has the best guard (player who handles the ball) in Kingston Flemings, and a serious advantage in the frontcourt (tall players near the hoop).
• They just need to contain Hugo Gonzalez (a skilled wing player) if he plays.
• Cool note: Atlanta has been the best team in the Summer League, even though we haven’t seen them shoot well from long distance (“from deep”).

Important: “-4.5” means the Hawks must win by 5 or more points. If they win by exactly 4, the bet loses. The -110 is the price you pay to place the bet.

Bet 3: Another Combo Bet (Parlay) – Grizzlies & Timberwolves to Win (-115)

The Picks:

1. Grizzlies Moneyline vs. Mavericks
2. Timberwolves Moneyline vs. Trail Blazers

Why We Like It:

• The author was wrong about Dallas earlier—thought they’d be set in the backcourt (guards), but their guard play has been suboptimal (not good). Dallas is 0-2 and has no shot at making the semifinals, so motivation should be lacking.
• Memphis is 1-0 and needs a win to get into the knockout stage. They also have the more talented roster, so they should take care of business.
• In the second game, we’re hoping Joan Beringer (a big player) suits up after missing the last game. If he does, Minnesota’s size can keep Portland’s big frontcourt in check.
• The Timberwolves also have the advantage when looking at guards and wings.

Important: Odds of -115 mean you bet $115 to win $100 (they are slight favorites). Both teams must win for the parlay to pay out.

Summary

Here’s the quick recap of our Monday, July 13, 2026 Summer League suggestions:

• Parlay 1: Pistons ML + Bulls ML at +161 odds.
• Single Bet: Hawks to win by 5+ points (-4.5) at -110 odds vs Celtics.
• Parlay 2: Grizzlies ML + Timberwolves ML at -115 odds.
• Remember: Summer League is for developing players, and teams that can’t advance may not try as hard!

FAQ

1. What is a Moneyline (ML) bet?
   It’s the simplest bet: you just pick which team will win the game straight up.

2. What is a Parlay?
   It’s a bet that ties two or more picks together. All must win, or the whole bet loses, but the payoff is bigger.

3. What does “knockout stage” mean?
   It’s the part of the tournament where losing means you’re eliminated—like the playoffs.

4. Why might a team lack motivation?
   If they have lost too many games to win the title (like 0-2), they might rest players or not give full effort.

5. What does “tips” mean in sports?
   It’s slang for when the game starts (from the jump-ball tip-off).