Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (12/23)
We have a very busy slate for Saturday with 13 games on tap as we lead into the Christmas holiday. There are no games on Sunday, so the schedule is a little more loaded than usual. We’ll focus on the evening tips. 11 of the games tip off at 7:00 PM ET or later, with 10 of those games going off before 8:30.
Let’s continue to try and build that bankroll heading into the holidays.
Saturday’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit
Memphis Grizzlies at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 PM ET)
The Grizzlies have looked like a brand new team lately. In a way, they are. The Grizz welcomed Ja Morant back from a 25-game suspension, and Memphis is 2-0 SU and ATS in the two games since his return. The offense ranks 30th in the NBA with just 106.4 PPG, but the team is averaging 115.5 PPG in two games since Morant’s return, and this team is looking like a playoff-caliber team once more.
The Hawks have picked up just four wins in their past 13 games. Atlanta is a dismal 4-18 ATS across the past 22 games overall. Atlanta is just 1-3 ATS in the past four games against Western Conference teams. The Grizzlies are trending up, and it’s a good play against a struggling Hawks team which has mostly been a mess this season.
Bets: Grizzlies -1 (-108)
Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors (7:30 PM ET)
The Jazz make the third stop on a five-game road trip. Utah won last time out, but that’s not saying much since it came against the struggling Pistons. Still, Utah has a pair of wins in the past three games, while covering those two games, too. In fact, Utah is a respectable 4-2 ATS in the past six games overall. The Jazz have covered three of the past four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
As far as the Raptors are concerned, they have dropped the past two games, albeit against NBA championship contenders Denver and Philadelphia. Still, Toronto has been struggling mightily, going just 2-7 SU/ATS in the past nine games. Against the Western Conference, however, the Raps are a solid 3-1 ATS in the past four outings. The Jazz are likely to be a little road weary, and they’re prime for the picking by the home side.
Bets: Raptors -5.5 (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls (8:00 PM ET)
The Cavaliers are coming off a disappointing 123-104 showing against the Pelicans, snapping a three-game win and cover streak. Cleveland is back on the road where it has dropped three in a row, while going 6-7 ATS in 13 games away from home this season. The Cavs swept the four-game series last season, while going 3-0-1 ATS. However, it’s going to be an uphill climb for the Cavs here, as Donovan Mitchell is out with an illness. He joins Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) on the shelf.
The Bulls have won three straight games, averaging 115.3 PPG in those three outings against the 76ers, Lakers and Spurs, while covering five in a row, and 10 of the past 11 games overall. Chicago has pulled out of its offensive slumber lately, as it has scored nearly five more points last game across the past three than its 110.5 PPG regular-season average. Look for the Bulls to get the job done, especially since Spida is sidelined for the visitors.
Bets: Bulls -4 (-110)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:
- NFL Saturday Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NFL Week 16 Touchdown Scorer Prop Bet Picks & Predictions
- NFL Week 16 Player Prop Bets Odds, Picks & Predictions: Fitz's Favorites
- NBA Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions
- College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.