Expert NBA Best Bets and Player Props Today – Sunday, December 17th
The 2023-24 NBA season has begun and we’re excited over here at VSiN. As always, Jonathan Von Tobel will be providing you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my best bets and player props. I’ll be doing this every single day of the week — although it’ll be a little shorter on the weekends. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Sunday, December 17. Also, check out our NBA Odds page for the latest line movement.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on December 17
2023 Record: 92-78-1 (+11.49 units)
NBA Best Bets Today – December 17
New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs – 3:30 pm ET
The Spurs have looked a lot sharper since making the decision to play Victor Wembanyama at center. I know San Antonio just snapped a very long losing streak, but the team earned a 14-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers last game. And the Spurs have also covered in six of their last 10 games. I just think this San Antonio team has looked a lot more competitive lately, and New Orleans is playing the final game of a three-game road trip. That means that the Pelicans could slip up here, especially after looking rather lousy against the Charlotte Hornets last game. With that in mind, I’m taking the points here. I simply think the Spurs are getting too many, especially with this being a home game. The Pelicans are just 5-8 against the spread on the road this year.
Bet: Spurs +8 (-110)
Houston Rockets at Milwaukee Bucks – 7:00 pm ET
The Bucks didn’t have to work very hard to beat the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, but this is still the second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee is also dealing with a Houston team that is the exact opposite of Detroit. This Rockets team plays hard every second of every game, and the team is also very disciplined defensively. The Rockets are third in the league in adjusted defensive rating (all adjusted numbers from Dunks & Threes), and they’re especially good when it comes to transition defense. The latter will come in handy against a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo. I also think Houston’s offense will look rather decent against a miserable Milwaukee defense. So, I’m expecting a competitive game here.
Bet: Rockets +7.5 (-115 – 2 units)
Washington Wizards at Phoenix Suns – 8:00 pm ET
The Suns are just 1-12 ATS when facing teams that shoot at least 46.0% from the field this season, and that isn’t all that surprising when you consider how weak the team is defensively. Phoenix hasn’t been good about getting out to open 3-point shooters, and the team is also good for some sloppy minutes every night. That should allow a team like Washington to hang around, even though the Wizards are absolutely dreadful. It’s just hard to ignore that the Wizards are coming off a win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, while the Suns have failed to cover in seven of their last eight games. I do expect Phoenix to win this game, but Washington should hang around longer than expected. And this could be a big game for Jordan Poole, if you’re interested in adding a player prop here.
Bet: Wizards +13 (-110)
NBA Player Props Today – December 17
Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers – 9:00 pm ET
Klay Thompson is averaging 27.0 points per game over his last two games, and he now faces a Blazers team that is just 22nd in the league in adjusted defensive rating. This Portland team just isn’t any good defensively, so there should be some openings for Thompson to get loose for open triples. The Blazers had such a hard time defending Luka Doncic last game that they doubled him and gave up wide open shots for other Mavericks. Steph Curry might warrant the same treatment, which would mean good things for Thompson’s point total. However, the most important thing for Thompson is that Brandin Podziemski is now in the starting lineup. That’s another good passer that can also space the floor for Golden State. That has made the offense flow a lot better, and Thompson has been a main beneficiary. I think he’s going to continue to play well moving forward. And I love him to score at least 20 tonight.
Bet: Thompson Over 18.5 Points (-120)
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