The NBA Christmas Day games delivered, with all the games close and another amazing chapter added to the LeBron vs. Curry saga. No time to waste as we dissect another 9 game slate today.
Best Bet
Miami Heat @ Orlando Magic (11:10am)
Someone had to step up for Orlando with their best two players missing and its been Jalen Suggs.
Orlando are decimated with injuries with oblique tears to Banchero and Wagner of the Franz variety. His brother Mo is now out for the year after a recent ACL rupture. Orlando draw a favourable match up here against a Miami side ranked 17th for rebounding. Neither team set the world alight with FG% either, both ranking outside the top 20 teams in the league.
Suggs looks to have made a push to be more assertive on the glass, going at 5.8 rebounds per game over his last five starts. He is averaging 11 rebound chances over his last four games. His minutes should be high, so this low line looks really achievable.
SGM – Suggs 4+ Rebounds/ Robinson Over 11.5 Points/ Adebayo Under 4.5 Assists = $5.50
Next Best
Toronto Raptors @ Memphis Grizzlies (12:10pm)
Jackson will look to take advantage of a Toronto Raptors side that is without starting Centre Jakob Poeltl, leaving them somewhat undersized.
Jackson has been reliable of late as Memphis are now starting to get some cohesion between their starting line-up. They currently lead the league in points scored and are also number one in efficiency. JJJ is averaging 20.3 over his last ten and has pretty consistent numbers with FG attempts and three pointers taken.
I expect him to be a big part of the offence against Toronto here and if he can replicate his 26 shot attempts from last game he will smash this points line again.
SGM – Jackson Jr 20+ Points/ Morant 6+ Assists/ Dick 15+ Points = $3.60
Value Bet
Charlotte Hornets @ Washington Wizards (11:10pm)
The floor general for Charlotte continues to play his fast paced and sometimes reckless brand of basketball. He went to town on the Wizards just 6 days ago finishing the game with 34 points and 13 assists.
Even if Washington look to make the necessary adjustments, I see them trying to challenge Ball higher up the court which may minimise his outside shot, but it will open up the floor allowing more drives and opportunity for assists. The return of Miles Bridges has helped Ball’s assists with Bridges often positioning in a dunker spot or cutting for an alley oop. Averaging 18 potential assists over his last ten games and the shot being made on 10.7 of those.
I won’t waste my time watching this game because both teams are putrid, but back the 23-year-old to give us a similar production to last game against the inexperienced Wizards.
SGM – Ball 8+ Assists/ Williams 10+ Points/ Bridges 6+ Rebounds = $4.00
Friday NBA Multi
Thunder/ Hawks/ Grizzlies/ Kings
$3.55