The Christmas slate of games put on a show from the moment the coffee started dripping until people were tucked away in their beds. “Anta Clause” made a three with less than 1.5 seconds remaining to send the Minnesota Timberwolves versus Denver Nuggets game into overtime. Nikola Jokic sealed the game with a 56-point triple-double. A great tradition delivered once again, and Ben Sheppard cleared his 12.5-point proposition.

However, the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks could not cover the spread. Victor Wembanyama was unable to earn 2.5 blocks coming off the bench. Frustration got the best of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have now lost three consecutive games to the San Antonio Spurs.

There are nine games across the Association today, including two games on Amazon Prime Video. Those games are mentioned in the best bets mentioned today. Starting with the first game on the primetime schedule.

 

 

 

NBA Best Bets Today, 12/26: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Friday

Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls: Friday 12/26

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET | TV: Amazon Prime | Location: United Center | Odds: CHI -1.5 | O/U 239..5

The Chicago Bulls have been a surging team as of late, and they have an opportunity to keep climbing up the Eastern Conference ladder. They have won four in a row, and despite being 2.5 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers, they are slight favorites at the United Center. Philadelphia is trying to find their rhythm with a healthy Paul George and Joel Embiid playing alongside Tyrese Maxey. They have the star power to be great, but have not figured out the best schemes with all three on the court. 

Chicago’s Josh Giddey and Coby White have been a force in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Nikola Vucevic has turned back the hands of time. He is playing more minutes and being active around the rim. He seems to always play well against the team that drafted him, too. The young Matas Buzelis is getting better with each game and will present problems for the 76ers' older frontcourt.

The Chicago Bulls have had plenty of time to rest and have an opportunity to gain a full game on the fifth-place 76ers. Expect them to keep playing with an uptempo offense and to be too much for Philadelphia. Put a unit on the best bet of the night, and expect Chicago to win.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers: Friday 12/26

Game Time: 10:00 PM ET | TV: Amazon Prime | Location: Moda Center | Odds: LAC -1.5 | O/U 225.5

The Los Angeles Clippers looked like an elite team in their most recent game against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets made the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers look like junior varsity in their matches against them. But the Los Angeles Clippers put a whooping on them with a 128 - 108 beatdown. Was it a fluke?

The Clippers are now on the road and playing the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. If Kawhi Leonard plays as he did in the previous match, Portland doesn’t stand a chance. The issue is that he is wildly inconsistent, as are the Clippers as a whole. However, the Clippers have superstars, and playing without Ivica Zubac has forced them into a smaller lineup that creates space. This helps Leonard and James Harden with attacking the rim and finding passing lanes.

Portland is a good but inconsistent team, also, and they are banged up across their depth chart. The Clippers must string together a few wins just to get back into play-in contention. Look for them to cover the low spread on the road with Harden and Leonard leading the way. Put a unit on this best bet at FanDuel, and new bettors can take advantage of the promotion at the end of this article.d

 

 


 

NBA Prop Bet Today, 12/26

The Utah Jazz are set to host the first-place Detroit Pistons at the Delta Center for a late-night match. It is expected to be a high-scoring thriller with a total of 244.5 points. That seems like a stretch, but Utah is allowing 127.4 points per game, and they have lost four in a row. This bet looks for missed field goals and for Jalen Duren to capitalize on them.

Duren is the starting center for the Pistons, and although they have great frontcourt depth, Duren is really making a name for himself. He is averaging 18.5 points per game, which is almost 5.0 points per game more than his season best. He is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game, and has recorded 11 or more rebounds in three of his last four games. 

The Jazz allow 44.8 rebounds per game, and Duren is one of the best young centers in the league. Utah’s centers of Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Love are old veterans who won’t be able to keep Duren out of the paint. Put a unit on the best bet of Duren earning over 10.5 rebounds today.

 

 

 

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Ready to elevate your NBA betting? New users at FanDuel Sportsbook can snag $150 in bonus bets after a winning $5 wager—perfect for tailing these picks. Sign up now, deposit, and bet on any Friday matchup to unlock the offer. T&Cs apply; 21+ in eligible states. Gamble responsibly.
 

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy G. -
*All bets placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise.