Even though it seems like we are losing players and games by the day to COVID there are still eight games on the board today for NBA player prop bettors to dive into.
Today, we focus on Jimmy Butler picking up Bam Adebayo's rebounding slack, and can Milwaukee Bucks' wing Khris Middleton light it up from beyond the arc?
Check out our NBA prop picks for Tuesday, December 28, as we bank on some of the NBA's best to do their thing.
NBA player props for December 28
- Khris Middelton Over 2.5 made threes (+135)
- Jimmy Butler Over 6.5 rebounds (+100)
- Jonas Valanciunas Over 22.5 points (+100)
Picks made on 12/28/2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Today’s best NBA player props
Post-Khristmas range
The Milwaukee Bucks have been merry this holiday season. They have gotten healthy and have won three games in a row heading into tonight’s matchup with the Orlando Magic.
It has been a little harder for the Magic to be filled with holiday spirit after a month of December that has seen them go 3-9. The Magic's defense continues to be a problem and ranks 26th in the NBA when it comes to defensive rating.
But an area where they really struggle has been on the perimeter. The Magic rank 27th in the association in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and 20th in opponent 3-point attempts this season. Now, they face a Bucks team that takes the fourth-most threes in the NBA.
Milwaukee’s most notable sharpshooter is Khris Middleton. The small forward is jacking up 6.2 threes per game and is hitting 35.8% of his attempts. But over his last seven games, he has bumped those numbers up to 6.9 attempts and 41.7% over his last seven games.
With Middleton hitting four or more threes four times over his last seven games, getting plus money on his Over made threes prop in this matchup is a great value.
Pick: Khris Middelton Over 2.5 made threes (+135 at FanDuel)
Picking up Bam's slack
Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat lineup just when his team needed him the most. The Heat are riddled with injuries at this point in the season, but Butler looked solid in his first game back going for 17 points with 11 rebounds and five assists, leading Miami to a win over the Orlando Magic.
The Heat will need Butler to keep doing it all as the Heat host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. The Wizards are looking for some consistency having lost five of their last seven games and continue to struggle on offense, ranking 23rd in offensive rating.
Washington has also had their issues on the glass this season, ranking 20th in rebounding percentage and it won’t help that Rui Hachimura is questionable and Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell are out for this matchup.
Miami is dealing with its own injury issues with Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and P.J. Tucker all out as well. That means Butler will have to be Mr. Everything for the Heat and he is already averaging 6.1 rebounds per game this season. He looks like a solid bet to go Over his rebounding total in this one.
Pick: Jimmy Butler Over 6.5 rebounds (+100 at FanDuel)
Cleveland-sized Christmas feast
Jonas Valanciunas is expected to return to the lineup for the New Orleans Pelicans after a two-game absence and he returns to one juicy matchup as the Pels host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Pelicans big man has been a solid contributor this season averaging 18.6 points and 12 rebounds per game. Heck, he is even shooting 45.2% from beyond the arc on his modest 2.3 threes per game, and JV is primed for some big production in his return.
The Cavaliers have been a much better defensive team this season ranking second in the NBA in defensive rating but one area they have struggled with is opposing big men. The Cavs allow the most points per game to opposing centers, giving up 46.2 points per game. That’s nearly 14 points more than the next-worst team.
It won’t help matters that the Cavs will be without their twin towers in this matchup as both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are out.
This is a big point total for Valanciunas but we are getting even money and it appears that the Cavaliers will provide little resistance for him in the post. He should feast on the Cavs like Christmas dinner leftovers.
Pick: Jonas Valanciunas Over 22.5 points (+100 at DraftKings)
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