The countdown to NBA Christmas is officially on as the calendar flips over to December, and the month opens with nine intriguing matchups full of value in the player prop market.
Today, we focus on Giannis Antetokounmpo, who should be a freak on the glass against the Charlotte Hornets, while exploring what Jonas Valanciunas can do for an encore after a career performance in his last game.
Check out our NBA prop picks for Wednesday, December 1, as we bank on some of the NBA's best to do their thing.
NBA player props for December 1
- Antetokounmpo Over 12.5 Rebounds (-115)
- Valanciunas Over 18.5 Points (+100)
- George Over 2.5 Made Threes (-130)
Picks made on 12/1/2021 at 11:50 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Today’s best NBA player props
Board hoarding
The Milwaukee Bucks are starting to shake off the cobwebs from their early-season injury drought. The Bucks have now won seven straight and will look to make it eight in a row when they host the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night.
The buzz around the Hornets this season is for real because, led by LaMelo Ball, this is one of the best offenses in the NBA. But if there is one area where the Hornets need to improve if they really want to become a contender in the East, it's on the glass.
Charlotte is one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, ranking 29th in rebounding percentage and dead last in opponent rebounds per game. And while the Bucks aren’t what you would call an elite rebounding team, Giannis Antetokounmpo is an elite rebounder.
The two-time MVP is averaging 11.8 rebounds for the season, but he has cleaned up the glass even more recently. Antetokounmpo has upped that average to 13 over his last 11 games and has hauled down 13 or more boards seven times over that span.
Bet on the Greek Freak to get freaky on the glass tonight against the Hornets and go Over his rebounding total.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 12.5 Rebounds (-115 at DraftKings)
Not the JV team
It has been an abysmal year for the New Orleans Pelicans. They're 6-17 for the season and star Zion Williamson is still several weeks away from his return. But one bright spot for the Pelicans has been center Jonas Valanciunas.
The Pels center is averaging 19.3 points while shooting 51.2 percent from 3-point range with 12.4 rebounds and is coming off a career performance against the Clippers. Valanciunas poured in 39 points (which included him going 7-8 from deep) while adding 15 boards.
Now, we’re going to ride JV’s hot streak as the Pelicans host the Dallas Mavericks tonight. The Mavericks have really struggled to defend opposing centers. Dallas allows 24.9 points per game to opposing big men – which ranks 21st in the NBA – and rank 26th in opponent points in the paint. That includes surrendering 22 points to JV on 10-16 shooting the last time they faced the Pelicans back on Nov. 8.
With JV in a groove and putting up 19 or more points in 13 of his last 21 games, getting even money on the Over for his point total seems like a solid bet in this one.
Pick: Jonas Valanciunas Over 18.5 points (+100 at FanDuel)
Paul over all
The Los Angeles Clippers are still getting used to life without Kawhi Leonard, and although it's been Paul George who's had to shoulder most of the load and at this point, PG-13 has struggled to find his shooting touch.
George is averaging 25.9 points per game this season but is shooting just 33.3% from 3-point range this season. But that hasn’t hurt his confidence, as he is still jacking up 8.8 attempts from deep per game. Don’t expect him to slow down in tonight’s matchup against the visiting Sacramento Kings.
The Kings come into this matchup average-at-best defending the perimeter, ranking 15th in opponent 3-point percentage. They have also lost six of their last eight games, allowing opponents to shoot 48% from the field, including 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite George’s struggles, he has still hit three or more threes in eight of his last 12 games and looks like a good bet to keep letting it fly tonight against the Kings and hit the Over on his made threes total.
Pick: Paul George Over 2.5 Made Threes (-130 at DraftKings)
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