Best NBA Player Prop Bets for Monday, December 26

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What kind of performances can we expect on Monday evening from Tyrese Haliburton, Darius Garland, and Donovan Mitchell? Follow along as our NFL betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down his three favorite NBA prop bets for December 26 on the hardwood

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NBA Player Props, December 26, 2022

Tyrese Haliburton o19.5 points (-115)

Tyrese Haliburton has been on a tear during the month of December, averaging 23.6 points per game, including an outlier game in which he scored only one point against the Miami Heat on December 12. In his last five contests, Haliburton has attempted at least 16 shots on four occasions, including back-to-back games with at least 20 field goal attempts. Tonight, he gets a date with a New Orleans Pelicans team that will be without both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pelicans rank in the 85th percentile in defensive efficiency this year when Williamson is on the floor, but regress to the 55th percentile in defensive efficiency with him on the sidelines. Assuming that Haliburton’s recent volume remains consistent, he should have an excellent opportunity to eclipse this market number on Monday evening.

Darius Garland u19.5 points (-112)

Though Darius Garland is averaging 20.6 points per game for the season, he is only averaging 17.7 points during the month of December – a stretch of action in which he has scored fewer than 20 points in 9-of-12 games, with his highest output being a 23 point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks. His lack of scoring is tied both to volume and efficiency, with his shooting percentage regressing 4.4% from the field compared to November and his field goal attempts per game regressing by 2.6 shot attempts per night compared to November. Tonight, Garland will have a difficult matchup against a Brooklyn team that has won 12-of-13 games since November 27. Expect Garland to fall short of this number once again.

Donovan Mitchell u4.5 assists (-139)

Though the Nets do not meet the criteria to be classified as a defensive juggernaut, they have improved markedly on this end of the floor compared to earlier in the season. Across their last 13 games, Brooklyn has allowed the fourth-fewest opponent assists per game of any team in the NBA. Since November 23, Donovan Mitchell is averaging only 7.9 potential assists per game, and has only recorded five assists or more four times in eleven games. The under is a strong play in this spot against a Brooklyn defense that has done a good job cutting off passing lanes in recent weeks.

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About the Author

nickgalaida
Nick Galaida (nickgalaida)

A failed high school pitcher, Nick Galaida discovered that he has a higher aptitude for analyzing and writing about sports than he does playing them. To his friends, he is better known as “The Commish.” When he’s not organizing a fantasy league, placing a bet, or writing an article, he’s probably nose-deep in a book—further illustrating the point that his niche in this world is as a nerd rather than an athlete. Follow Nick on Twitter – @CommishFilmRoom