Top 3 NBA Betting Picks for Thursday, December 23rd (2021)
With Christmas now just days away, there are 11 more games today before we take a break tomorrow ahead of the holiday. While things can change at a moment’s notice, as of Thursday morning, all things are a go except for the Nets vs. Trail Blazers game tonight.
Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the teams in action and see where we can find the edge.
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1. Heat -10 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
A spot once held by the Rockets, the 5-25 Pistons find themselves on a slide where they’ve lost nine of 10 and sit in dead last in the league standings. The last time we saw them on the court was Tuesday in New York, as they lost to the Knicks 91-105 as 7.5-point underdogs.
For the Heat, no Jimmy Butler has been no problem, as the team has won four of six, including a big 125-95 win vs. the Pacers on Tuesday. In what will be their second game vs. the Pistons in four days, I like for the Heat to avenge their Sunday loss and pick up a statement win in this one.
2. Knicks +1 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Few teams have fallen from grace as swiftly as the Wizards have managed to this season, as they’ve now lost seven of their last 10 as Thomas Bryant and Rui Hachimura’s absence continues to be felt. Now, they’re also dealing with the loss of Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as they deal with COVID protocols.
As for the Knicks, the absence of Derrick Rose and RJ Barrett hasn’t been all bad, as Kemba Walker has found himself back in the lineup as he went for 21 in the Knicks win 105-91 on Tuesday. I like for Walker to have another big night in this one, as the Knicks beat up on a spiraling Wizards team.
3. Lakers -1 | -115 at DraftKings Sportsbook
We’re beginning to be forced with the very real idea that the Lakers, including LeBron James, just aren’t going to be flipping the switch we’re so accustomed to them flipping. Through 32 games, the Lakers sit at the .500 mark and come into this one having lost three straight as now Anthony Davis is slated to miss extended time.
Their opponent in this one, the Spurs, started the season with their worst start in the Popovich era but have battled back. Coming into this one on the last of a four-game West Coast swing, they draw a hungry LeBron desperate to get a win before heading into Christmas.
I like for the Lakers to grind this one out via a big performance from LeBron before their attention turns to Christmas Day and their game with the Nets.
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