There are no NBA games tomorrow, which means tonight we are gifted with a jam-packed 14-game slate. Let’s not waste any more time and jump right into some of our favorite picks for Monday, December 23rd.
Monday’s Best NBA Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-125)
Fresh off a 10-block performance against the Trailblazers on Saturday, second-year superstar Victor Wembanyama heads to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. The blocks and steals combination is always going to be on the table for the San Antonio center. However, tonight we will be focusing on a different aspect of his game that goes overlooked.
Opponents are shooting just under 36% from beyond the arc against Philadelphia on the season. The Sixers have done a masterful job of holding the opposition to only 13.1 three-pointers in each contest. Yet, over the last five games, those numbers have jumped to 15.4 made three-pointers on 37.7% shooting.
Wembanyama is knocking down 3.2 baskets from deep on 9.1 attempts to start the season. In the last 10 games, the efficiency has increased to 3.5 threes per game, while connecting on 36% of his attempts. The Spurs center has made at least three shots from beyond the perimeter in 10 of his last 14 games.
Boston Celtics -10 (-106)
Orlando just cannot seem to stay healthy in a season where serious progress was evident to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Not only are the Magic without their two best scoring options for this contest, but they also just lost Moritz Wagner for the remainder of the season. To make matters worse, Jalen Suggs is also questionable for this contest.
The Magic are continuously keeping games competitive where they are seemingly out-manned roster-wise. Having said that, the Celtics have won six of their last eight games, scoring at least 110 points in seven of those eight games.
Boston owns the eighth-highest defensive rating in the NBA, with the third-highest offensive rating. Over the last five games, the Magic are ranked 19th in offensive rating. Orlando will have to find ways to score to keep this one close. With all their injuries, they simply do not seem to have the weapons to do so.
Brooklyn Nets Team Total Under 104.5 Points (-122)
As tough as the Orlando Magic have it currently, the Brooklyn Nets are on a completely different level of regression. To begin the season, Brooklyn was not only keeping games competitive, but they were also playing well beyond expectations. That appears to be the height of the success for Brooklyn, as the team has made it public that they are open to trading any player on the roster.
Dennis Schroder being moved to the Golden State Warriors was the first of what should be many deals involving the Nets. Since that trade, Brooklyn has not scored more than 101 points and is tied for the worst offensive rating in the NBA.
The Nets face a hounding Miami defense tonight, who rank 11th in the league in regards to defensive rating. The Heat are only allowing 109.9 points per game. Brooklyn was unable to reach 100 points on Saturday against the team with the worst defensive rating in the league – the Utah Jazz.
Phoenix Suns @ Denver Nuggets Over 232.5 Points (-110)
Devin Booker is currently listed as questionable with a groin injury after missing the last game for the Suns on Saturday. That seemingly did not have much impact on the scoring for Phoenix, who still managed 125 points in a loss against the Detroit Pistons.
As for the other side of the floor, the Denver Nuggets are allowing over 118 points while scoring 129.4 over the last five contests. This team is an absolute force in regards to scoring recently, and it’s clear that defense hasn’t been the highest of priorities.
The Nuggets have covered the over at a 69% clip this season (18-8), with the Suns not far behind them at 59.3% (16-11). This is going to be a fast-paced contest featuring two of the top five teams who surpass the over a combined 64% percent of the time.
Denver has only failed to exceed 232.5 combined points in one game in the whole month of December. We expect the Nuggets to keep that statistic going against a Phoenix team that can also pour on the points.
Detroit Pistons Moneyline (+184)
We close out the evening in Los Angeles where the Lakers take on the Pistons in a battle that, as of this morning, is filled with uncertainty for one team. The Lakers have won four of their last five games, however, both LeBron James and Anthony Davis are currently questionable for this contest, leaving the door open for a sneaky underdog win.
This selection is mainly predicated on the absence of one of these players for this contest. If both were to be out, we sincerely hope you were able to get to the window early because the odds will change drastically.
Detroit is coming off of a fantastic road victory against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday and has won three of their last five games, including wins against Miami and New York. Cade Cunningham is easily one of the most underrated superstars in the NBA and is averaging over 25 points per game this season. With Jaden Ivey returning to the lineup, the Lakers are surely going to have their cardio tested by the Pistons’ backcourt.
The Lakers own the best defensive rating across the league over the last five games, however, the point spread may be an indicator that either Davis or James will not be available for this contest. Normally, when a team is playing as well as the Lakers are, that would constitute a larger suggested point differential against an opponent who only has five wins on the road this season.
It’s certainly worth half of a unit to possibly cash in on this positive action play.
Enjoy the games tonight and best of luck with your picks. Happy Holidays!
