NBA Player Props Today: Best Bets & Predictions for Wednesday (12/20)
What kind of performances can we expect on Wednesday from Joel Embiid, Jabari Smith, and Malik Monk? Follow along as our NBA betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite NBA prop bets for today — Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more NBA player props, at ScoresandOdds.
Wednesday’s NBA slate features 10 games, beginning with a quarter of contests on the east coast at 7:00 PM ET. Tonight’s action is headlined by a matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers, but there is plenty of other superstar talent on display this evening as well, including the likes of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum.
Below, we take a look at three player prop leans worth considering for December 20, 2023!
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NBA Player Props Today – Wednesday, December 20, 2023
- Joel Embiid Over/Under 33.5 Points
- Jabari Smith Over/Under 8.5 Rebounds
- Malik Monk Over/Under 2.5 Three-Pointers Made
Joel Embiid Over/Under 33.5 Points
In 13 games against teams with a winning record this season, Joel Embiid is averaging 37.7 points per game, compared to only 30 points per game in 9 matchups against teams above the .500 mark. Embiid enters play tonight averaging 40 points per game during the month of December, but tonight’s contest against the Timberwolves will be the first time that he has played a team with a winning record since November 27th.
During the last 30 days, the Timberwolves lead the NBA in defensive efficiency and have allowed the 6th-fewest opponent free throw attempts per game. Embiid attempts nearly all of his field goals from the restricted area, the paint, or the mid-range – all areas that the Timberwolves defend well. Over the last month, Minnesota ranks 6th in opponent field goal percentage in the restricted area, 9th in opponent field goal percentage in the paint, and 1st in opponent field goal percentage in the mid-range. In the rare instance that Embiid shoots a 3-pointer, it usually comes from above the break, where the Timberwolves rank 4th in opponent shooting percentage since November 20th.
All meaningful data points indicate that this is an extremely difficult matchup for Embiid tonight, making the under a worthwhile play.
- PICK: Embiid UNDER 33.5 Points (-111), FanDuel
Jabari Smith Over/Under 8.5 Rebounds
Jabari Smith has been erratic scoring the basketball in recent weeks, but his rebounding has been much more consistent. In the last 30 days, Smith is averaging 10.2 rebounds on 15.4 rebound chances per game. Tonight, he gets a favorable matchup against an Atlanta team that ranks 21st in rebound percentage and 23rd in opponent rebounds per game since November 20th. According to props.cash, 12 of the last 21 power forwards to face the Hawks have gone over their pregame market number for rebounds. Smith should have every opportunity to get the job done here.
- PICK: Smith OVER 8.5 Rebounds (-125), bet365
Malik Monk Over/Under 2.5 3-Pointers Made
In 13 home games this season, Malik Monk is averaging 3 made 3-pointers per contest on 43.8% shooting from beyond the arc. Tonight, he gets an extremely favorable matchup against a Celtics defense that has struggled mightily to defend the perimeter of late. Across the last month of action, Boston ranks 27th in opponent 3-point attempts per game and 24th in opponent 3-point percentage. The Celtics have been particularly vulnerable above the break, allowing the most such attempts per game and ranking 25th in opponent success rate. Playing at home against a weak perimeter defense, this is great value for Monk, who has eclipsed this market number in 9-of-11 games overall since November 24th.
- PICK: Monk OVER 2.5 3-Pointers Made (-120), FanDuel
Check out more DFS sites with Fantasy basketball pick’em like Betr Picks.
NBA 2023-2024 Results – Wager Type
Points: 38-23-2
Rebounds: 12-18
Assists: 7-11-1
Points + Rebounds + Assists: 7-12
Points + Rebounds: 4-0
Rebounds + Assists: 3-2
Three-Pointers Made: 11-3
Field Goals Attempted: 1-0
3-Point Field Goals Attempted: 0-0-1
Turnovers: 1-0
Steals: 0-1
Blocks + Steals: 0-1
Combined Record: 84-69-5 (54.9%)
Image Credit: Getty Images