NBA Best Bets Today: Free Basketball Picks for Wednesday, December 20th
What kind of performances can we expect on Wednesday from the Nets, Clippers, and Kings? Follow along as our NBA betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite NBA bets for today — Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more NBA player props, at ScoresandOdds.
Tonight’s 10-game NBA slate features plenty of star power, including Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Domantas Sabonis. Bettors looking to attack sides tonight have a number of intriguing options to consider, with notable names such as Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson ruled out for their respective teams.
Below, we take a look at three best bets on the spread worth considering for December 20, 2023!
Don’t live in a state with sports betting? Use our PrizePicks referral code & Underdog promo code GRINDERS for a combined $200 in sign-up bonuses on NBA DFS Pick’em today.
NBA Best Bets Today – Wednesday, December 20
- New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets (+1)
- Los Angeles Clippers (-2) at Dallas Mavericks
- Boston Celtics at Sacramento Kings (-3)
New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets (+1)
Since Mitchell Robinson last played on December 8, the Knicks have been a league-average team, ranking 12th in the NBA with a +0.8 Net Rating. More concerning for head coach Tom Thibodeau is the fact that his stout defense has regressed to 25th in efficiency across their last five games. During that stretch, New York ranks 20th in opponent field goal attempts per game, 18th in opponent field goal percentage in the restricted area, and 20th in rebound percentage.
The Nets have lost each of their last three games entering play on Wednesday, but each of those losses came at the tail end of a five-game west coast road trip. Prior to going out west, Brooklyn had won five of their last six home contests, with their lone defeat coming by a single point. The Nets are well-positioned to get back in the win column this evening.
Los Angeles Clippers (-2) at Dallas Mavericks
The media was quick to attack the new-look Clippers in the immediate aftermath of the James Harden acquisition, but public perception of the team has changed dramatically after eight consecutive wins. During the month of December, the Clippers have outscored their opponents by 12.8 points per 100 possessions, and they are the only team in the league without a loss. Los Angeles ranks 2nd in offensive efficiency and 8th in defensive efficiency in those eight wins, proving that they can get the job done at both ends of the floor when needed.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are 5-4 this month, ranking 14th in the NBA in Net Rating. Surprisingly, they are only 2-3 on their home floor, which includes losses to the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Grizzlies.
This is a lopsided matchup on paper and in reality. Trust the Clippers to keep their hot streak alive on Wednesday night.
Boston Celtics at Sacramento Kings (-3)
Tonight, the Celtics will be without both Jayson Tatum and Al Horford on the second night of a back-to-back set after losing in overtime to the Warriors on Tuesday. Boston draws a tough matchup in this spot against a Sacramento team that has been dominant on their home floor this year (sporting a 10-3 record). In December, the Kings are 5-1 at home and have outscored their opponents by 8.2 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics are .500 on the road and missing multiple key pieces this evening, making them deserving underdogs in this spot.
Check out more DFS sites with Fantasy basketball pick’em like Betr Picks.