Top 3 NBA Betting Picks for Friday, December 17th (2021)
This week has been a fantastic week for the NBA. Steph Curry broke the record for most made threes, surpassing Ray Allen, one of the most prolific three-point shooters of all time. That was a feat that hopefully stands out as one of the best moments in the NBA this year during a time of turmoil. Currently, in all sports, there are many players out for COVID protocols. Before placing any bets, make sure to confirm which players are sitting out. That will help determine the best betting value. Let’s look into this value for the NBA.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>
1. Miami Heat -5 -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Miami Heat have been hit by the injury bug all season, but they are still finding ways to win. They are sitting at 17-12 and are going up against the 5-24 Orlando Magic tonight. The Magic have injuries and have not won a game since early December. Currently, they are on a six-game losing streak. During the last six games, they are losing by an average of 12 points. The Heat are 3-1 in the previous four games, with their only loss coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are playing great right now, so this is not a bad loss. The Heat is starting to hit their stride. That means tonight will be a great time to bet them against an ailing Orlando Magic.
2. Golden State Warriors -3 -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Warriors are one of the best teams in the NBA. They are great on offense and defense. They have dropped two games recently, but that was due to Curry trying to get his three-point record. Coach Steve Kerr even said that Curry was trying too hard to get the record during that time. Losing those two games adds betting value to the Warriors. The Warriors are good. There is no doubt about it. The Celtics, on the other hand, have a lot of work to do. They might be the most talented 14-14 team in the NBA but struggle to put it all together. They are 1-3 in their last four games and during those losses are losing by an average of 10 points. The betting value is on the Warriors.
3. Charlotte Hornets Moneyline +100 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Hornets are one of the best offensive teams in the NBA. They are ranked 10th overall in offense and second overall in offensive scoring. They average 115.6 points per game compared to the Trail Blazers, who average 108 points. LaMelo is out for the Hornets, but CJ McCollum and Tony Snell are sitting for the Blazers. The Hornets have more depth and scoring power than the Blazers. That means their injuries don't impact them as much. This game is an opportunity to get betting value on an underdog who is the better overall team. The Hornets start the hard part of their schedule after this game. That means bettors will want to bet the value while it's there.
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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.