There are only four games on the NBA betting board on Thursday but there are still plenty of player props available.
Today, we're backing an All-Star big man in a favorable matchup, grabbing a red-hot rookie in a rematch, and wagering on a forward who needs to step up for his team. Here are our best free NBA player prop picks for Thursday, December 30.
(Editor's Note: These picks were made prior to Thursday's announcement that Warriors-Nuggets has been postponed.)
NBA player props for December 30
Picks made on 12/30/2021 at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2021-22 NBA season, here are two of the best welcome bonuses available:
USA: Caesars Greetings! From now through 1/19/2022, any user that opts in to Caesars’ promotion and places $100 worth of settled bets (by 1/19) will receive a gift card for a FREE NBA Jersey. Opt in Now
Canada: Bet $1, get $100 in free bets when you sign up with BetVictor! Sign Up Now
Today’s best NBA player props
No stopping JoJo
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid is coming off back-to-back 36-point performances against the Raptors and Wizards. He has now dropped over 30 points in four of his last five games, which includes a showdown against the Nets two weeks ago.
Embiid and the 76ers will face off against the Nets again tonight and it should be a very competitive contest with Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge expected to be back in the lineup for Brooklyn after missing time due to COVID. Embiid had a slower start to his season, which was disrupted by a COVID bout of his own in November, but with his conditioning back he's looking like a force once again.
The four-time All-Star is averaging 30.3 points per game over his last 11 games. Brooklyn's biggest weakness is down low where over-the-hill big men Aldridge and Blake Griffin, and overwhelmed youngster Nic Claxton, won't be able to contain Embiid. Take the Over on his points.
Pick: Joel Embiid Over 26.5 points (-115 at William Hill)
Franz fills it up
We've got a rematch in Orlando as the short-handed Magic run it back against the defending champion Bucks after losing 127-110 on Tuesday. It's been a rough season for the Magic, who have the second-worst record in the league, but one bright spot has been the play of rookie forward Franz Wagner.
The Michigan product was seen as a high-floor, albeit low-ceiling, prospect when he was selected eighth overall in July's draft. Wagner has exceeded those expectations, putting up at least 20 points in six of his last nine contests, including a career-high 38 points against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
The Magic are very banged up at the moment with leading scorer Cole Anthony, fourth-leading scorer Jalen Suggs, and fifth-leading scorer Terrence Ross all expected to be out again today. That's an average of 38.1 field goal attempts that other players are going to have to take. Who better than Wagner, who is shooting a very efficient 47/39/88 this month?
With the Bucks playing at a fast pace, which puts them in the middle-of-the-pack when it comes to scoring defense, take the Over 18.5 on Wagner's points total.
Pick: Franz Wagner Over 18.5 points (-109 at Unibet)
Gettin' Wiggy with it
The final game on the board tonight is a Western Conference showdown between the Warriors and Nuggets, which features a pair of MVP candidates in Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic. This is also a rematch after the Nuggets edged the Warriors 89-86 on Tuesday.
Jokic has carried a Denver squad that has been decimated by injuries but the Warriors have been missing key players as well, despite owning the league's best record. The Dubs are still waiting on the season debuts of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman, while Draymond Green joined Damion Lee in the health and safety protocols on Sunday.
One area where the Warriors have surprisingly impressed has been on the boards, where they rank third in the league in rebounding rate despite playing small and not having a single player average over 8.0 rebounds per game. Green leads the team with 7.9 rpg and in his absence, his teammates will have to step up on the glass.
Forward Andrew Wiggins has really improved his all-around play this season and cleared protocol just before Tuesday's game. He snagged eight rebounds in that contest in Green's absence and he has now grabbed at least six boards in three straight games. Take the Over 5.5 on his rebounds total which is priced at plus money.
Pick: Andrew Wiggins Over 5.5 rebounds (+125 at SugarHouse)
Did you know that if you played today’s NBA props as a parlay, you could win $70.66 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
