NBA Predictions Immediately: Finest Bets and Participant Props

The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. Be sure you take a look at the superb work of Jonathan von Tobelwho shall be writing in-depth NBA options for us this 12 months. Attempt listening to the numbers recreation each morning Kelly Bedlon He typically dishes out his favourite NBA picks. However I will be giving one of the best bets and props to gamers within the NBA right here at any time when attainable, and I will additionally sometimes write options about massive information shaking up the league. So, be sure you take a look at my work all through the season. With that, let’s get into a number of the greatest NBA bets and NBA participant props for Friday, December 20. Additionally be sure you take a look at the Choices web page (linked under) earlier than beginning the video games. Typically I add alternatives all through the day.

MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page to see everything our experts have on December 20

Immediately’s greatest NBA bets – December 20

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder & Miami Warmth – 8:00 PM ET

It is a brutal scheduling spot for the Thunder. Though the flight from Orlando to Miami is straightforward, that is the second evening of the flight again to Oklahoma Metropolis. The Thunder additionally needed to play within the UAE Basketball League Cup last simply two days in the past, so that they had been working whereas everybody else was on trip. In the meantime, Miami shall be hungry for a win after leaving a recreation in Detroit earlier within the week.

The Warmth additionally occur to be a very good defensive group, so that they’ll attempt to beat the Thunder just like the Bucks did in Las Vegas. Erik Spoelstra is nearly as good as a head coach relating to preparation and game-by-game technique, so he will certainly watch this movie and see what he can do to copy Milwaukee’s defensive efficiency. A few of that’s all the way down to poor taking pictures from Oklahoma Metropolis, however the Bucks have additionally been aggressive in each manner and forcing the Thunder to seem like they do not wish to look frequently. It’s value noting that one in all Miami’s weaknesses this season is its three-point protection. However Oklahoma Metropolis is not precisely one of the best group on the earth relating to taking pictures threes — particularly with Chet Holmgren out. The Warmth have additionally been taking pictures the ball very effectively from 3 recently, so it isn’t out of the query that they may win the mathematics battle tonight.

I additionally like a number of the defensive matchups we’ll see right here. Miami will be ok with Jimmy Butler and Haywood Highsmith defending Jalen Williams. And whereas the group does not have a whole lot of solutions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Warmth would take an opportunity on him in the event that they did their job on anybody else. And Miami is likely one of the few groups within the league that has a giant man who can match Isaiah Hartenstein’s vitality, as Bam Adebayo is a relentless participant who will do every part in his energy to forestall Oklahoma Metropolis’s downtown from dominating the glass.

By the best way, I discussed it is a unhealthy place to schedule for the Thunder, however they’re simply 9-14 straight up when taking part in the second leg of a street back-to-back underneath Marc Daigneault. It is an actual downside for each group, and that is no exception. In the meantime, the Warmth have gone 60-27 in a row when taking part in on three or extra days off, with their loss to the Pistons on Monday.

Wager: Warmth ML (+102 – 1.5 items)

Immediately’s NBA Participant Props – December twentieth

Charlotte Hornets at Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 PM ET

LaMelo Ball has recorded a double-double in factors and assists in three of his final 5 video games. In one of many two video games during which he didn’t, he recorded a double-double in factors and rebounds. Additionally, Paul confronted this Philadelphia group on December 16, when he scored 15 factors and dished out 11 assists in simply 26 minutes of motion. I do not suppose it is loopy to suppose he’ll do it once more, so I will put a bit spray on him at +190 odds. This recreation may doubtlessly get out of hand, because the Sixers may get Joel Embiid again and are favored by double digits. However Ball isn’t any stranger to placing up massive numbers in losses. General, Philadelphia’s backcourt struggles to protect, so it is a good matchup for him.

Wager: Ball to get a double double (+190 – 0.5 items)

Promotions/Teasers/Lately Added Performs/In-Season Futures

Nothing but.

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2024-25 NBA document: 123-112 (+10.34 items)