It’s been a gentle week by NBA standards, but things heat up tonight with seven games on the Sunday docket.
That includes some meaningful matchups in both conferences, with the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic colliding in a key battle in the East and Klay Thompson making another return to Chase Center.
While LeBron James is away from the Los Angeles Lakers and Steph Curry is listed as questionable tonight, the NBA picks market remains strong — and I’ve selected my three favorite NBA player props for the December 15 schedule.
Best NBA player props today
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 13.5 rebounds (-115 at bet365) -
Klay Thompson Over 3.5 made 3-pointers (+190 at bet365) -
Devin Booker Over 5.5 assists (+100 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-15 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
NBA player props for December 15
Prop bet #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 13.5 rebounds
When the New York Knicks swung for the fences with the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, the offensive upgrade was the obvious place to focus. But Towns has delivered on the glass in a huge way too, putting up the kind of numbers he delivered in Minnesota before Rudy Gobert’s arrival.
He’s on pace for a career year on the boards, averaging 13.6 rpg through his first 23 contests (No. 1 in the league), and I see his dominant stretch continuing tonight against an Orlando Magic team that’s short on elite shooters.
Towns finished with 19 rebounds in New York’s NBA Cup quarterfinal loss on Wednesday, and I expect the Knicks to come out in a frenzy after the frustration of that setback.
KAT has blown past this 13.5 O/U number in five straight games, and he’s had 14 or more boards in eight of his past nine outings.
Until Mitchell Robinson returns, the onus is on Towns to man the paint, so look for Tom Thibodeau to keep giving him big minutes. There should be a lot of rebounds to fight for in what could be an ugly slugfest tonight, and I’m jumping on this Over.
Prop bet #2: Klay Thompson Over 3.5 made 3-pointers
The fanfare and emotion likely won’t be on the same level as Klay Thompson’s first return to Chase Center as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, but I still expect some electricity in the building with Klay facing the Golden State Warriors franchise, where he won four championships.
Klay’s shot-making has played a part in Dallas’ strong 16-9 start, and I like these plus-odds for a dialed-in night from downtown.
Thompson is coming off five triples against the Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Cup action this week, and he went 6-for-12 on 3-pointers in his last clash with the Warriors on the way to 22 points.
Playing next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving provides a guarantee of open looks as the defense overcommits to cut off driving lanes, and that duo will keep feeding Klay if he gets on a roll.
Thompson never needs any encouragement to let fly, and he’s 11-for-24 from beyond the arc across his last three games. There’s extra motivation to put on a shooting clinic here, and I’m banking on him to deliver.
Prop bet #3: Devin Booker Over 5.5 assists
It’s been a stop-start year for the 13-11 Phoenix Suns, but Kevin Durant is back and the offense clicked into place in Friday’s 134-126 win over the Utah Jazz.
Durant and Devin Booker combined for 64 points that night, but it’s the Booker assists prop that’s got my attention ahead of tonight’s clash with the Portland Trail Blazers.
While Tyus Jones’ arrival has soaked up some of the playmaking duties, Booker continues to be the biggest spark for the Phoenix offense, prompting the kind of panic that causes defenses to leave open shooters.
Booker served up eight assists against the Jazz, and he’s had seven or more dimes in each of his last three games, pushing his season average up to 6.5. That feels like a repeatable formula, especially with KD on the end of some of those passes.
The Blazers are giving up 116.1 ppg, which ranks in the bottom third of the league, and this feels like another contest where the Suns can flex their offensive muscles, with Booker taking his turn at the controls.
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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