Free NBA Picks For Today 12/18/2023
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Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Rockets at Cavaliers—Oladipo is out with Thompson questionable for Houston. Garland, Jerome, Mobley and Rubio are out for Cleveland. Houston fell to 13-10 with their 128-119 road defeat at Milwaukee. The Rockets shot 53% with 41% from three. Fred VanVleet scored 22 points with six assists. Alperen Sengun chipped in with 20 points and eight rebounds. Houston allowed 50% shooting to the Bucks with 36% from three. Cleveland improved to 14-12 with their 127-119 home victory to Atlanta. The Cavaliers shot 49% with 38% from three. Jarrett Allen scored 25 points with 14 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell chipped in with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Cleveland allowed 48% shooting to the Hawks with 42% from three.
The Pick: Houston is 21st in road offensive efficiency by averaging 110.9 points per 100 possessions. Past five games the Rockets are shooting 41.2% and allowing 40.8% shooting. The Rockets play at the second slowest road pace in the NBA. Past five games the Cavs are 22nd in offensive efficiency while playing at the second slowest pace in this period. Play Houston and Cleveland under 214.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Clippers at Pacers—Plumlee and Diabete are out for Los Angeles with Hyland questionable. Nembhard and Smith are out for Indiana with Haliburton questionable. Los Angeles improved to 15-10 after their 144-122 home victory to the New York Knicks. The Clippers shot 57% with 48% from three. Kawhi Leonard put up 36 points with seven rebounds. Paul George chipped in with 25 points and seven assists. Los Angeles allowed 47% shooting to the Knicks with 31% from three. Indiana drops to 13-12 following their 127-108 road defeat to Minnesota. The Pacers made 50% with 29% from three. Aaron Nesmith off the bench produced 17 points and five rebounds. Bruce Brown got 17 points and five rebounds. Indiana allowed 56% shooting to the Timberwolves with 60% from three. Haliburton missed the game.
The Pick: Indiana at home sits fourth in offensive efficiency by averaging 121.9 points per 100 possessions and playing at the fastest pace. Los Angeles offensive form great as in their past five games averaging 127.9 points per 100 possessions while allowing 113.9 per 100. Past five games Indiana is allowing 55% shooting. Play Los Angeles and Indiana over 241.
Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Bulls at 76ers—Lavine is out with Craig doubtful for Chicago. Caruso is questionable. Philadelphia has a clean injury report. Chicago drops to 10-17 after their 118-116 road defeat to Miami. The Bulls hit 48% with 42% from three. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points with five assists. Patrick Williams chipped in with 25 points with seven rebounds. Chicago allowed 52% shooting to the Heat with 37% from three. Philadelphia improved to 18-7 after their 135-82 road win at Charlotte. The 76ers shot 60% with 45% from three. Joel Embiid got 42 points with 15 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey contributed 21 points and 7 assists. Philadelphia held Charlotte to 36% shooting with 20% from three. Six straight wins for Philadelphia.
The Pick: Bulls have covered four of five sitting sixth in offensive efficiency by scoring 122.6 points per 100 possessions and a +0.9 net rating. Philadelphia has been piling up big wins against some bad teams. During this six-game win streak two wins came against the Pistons and Wizards with single wins coming against the Hornets as well as Hawks at home. Play Chicago +11.
Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Pistons at Hawks—Duren, Morris and Stewart are out for Detroit. Bufkin, Griffin, Gueye and Johnson are out in Atlanta. Capela and Bogdanovic are questionable for Atlanta with Hunter probable. Detroit drops to 2-24 with their 145-114 road defeat to Milwaukee. The Pistons hit 45% with 21% from three. Cade Cunningham scored 25 points with six assists. Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 24 points with two assists. Detroit allowed 57% shooting to the Bucks with 45% from three. Atlanta fell to 10-15 with their 127-119 road defeat to Cleveland. The Hawks hit 48% with 42% from three. Trae Young posted 35 points and ten assists. De’Andre Hunter chipped in with 18 points and two rebounds. Atlanta allowed 49% shooting to the Cavaliers with 38% from three.
The Pick: Detroit in their past five games is allowing 126.6 points per 100 possessions and playing at a fast pace. The Hawks in this period are allowing 125 points per 100 possessions while scoring 121.8 per 100. Both teams giving up 52% shooting over this period. Play Detroit and Atlanta over 243.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Timberwolves at Heat—Clark is out with Minott, McDaniels and Edwards are questionable for Minnesota. Lowry is out for Miami. Minnesota improved to 19-5 following their 127-109 home victory to Indiana. The Timberwolves shot 56% with 60% from three. Kar Anthony Towns got 40 points with 12 rebounds. Anthony Edwards contributed 37 points with four assists. Minnesota allowed 50% shooting to the Pacers with 29% from three with Haliburton in the lineup. Miami improved to 15-11 with their 118-116 home victory over Chicago. The Heat made 52% of their shots with 37% from three. Jimmy Butler had 28 points with four rebounds. Kevin Love off the bench put up 22 points and seven rebounds. Miami allowed 48% shooting to the Bulls with 42% from three.
The Pick: The Timberwolves past five games sit third in defensive efficiency while playing at a slow pace. He in this period is playing at the second slowest pace. Play Minnesota and Miami under 220.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Hornets at Raptors—Ball, Martin and Ntilikina are out for Charlotte. Williams is doubtful with Washington and Hayward questionable. Rozier is probable. Koloko is out for Toronto. Charlotte fell to 7-17 following their 135-82 home defeat to Philadelphia. The Hornets converted 36% with 20% from three. Brandon Miller produced 14 points with four assists. Bryce McGowens chipped in with 12 points and two boards. Charlotte allowed 60% shooting to the 76ers with 45% from three. Toronto drops to 10-15 after their 125-104 home defeat to Atlanta. The Raptors hit 52% with 32% from three. Scottie Barnes had 23 points with eight assists. Pascal Siakam put up 15 points with five rebounds. Toronto allowed 51% shooting to the Hawks with 39% from three.
The Pick: Charlotte is 29th in the league in road defensive efficiency by allowing 123.3 points per 100 possessions while scoring 113.9 per 100. The Raptors past five games sit 26th in defensive efficiency by allowing 124.2 points per 100 possessions while scoring 118.3 per 100. Each team giving up over 50% shooting the past five games. Play Charlotte and Toronto over 226.5.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Grizzlies at Thunder—Clarke, Kennard, Morant, Rose and Smart are out for Memphis with Biyombo is doubtful. OKC has a clean injury report. Memphis fell to 6-18 after their 103-96 home defeat to Houston. The Grizzlies shot 40% with 28% from three. Desmond Bane scored 28 points with thirteen rebounds. Jaren Jackson contributed with 22 points and three rebounds. Memphis held Houston to 36% shooting with 38% from three. Oklahoma City improved to 16-8 with their 118-117 road win at Denver. The Thunder hit 51% with 33% from three. Shai Gilgeous Alexander had 25 points with eight assists. Jalen Williams produced 24 points with three assists. OKC held Denver to 45% shooting with 38% from three.
The Pick: Memphis is fifth in road defensive efficiency by allowing 111.3 points per 100 possessions and play slow. Oklahoma City past five games are allowing 116.2 points per 100 possessions with a +0.8 net rating. Play Memphis +10.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Mavericks at Nuggets—Green, Irving, Kleber and Lively are out for Dallas with Holmes probable. Cancar is out with Caldwell Pope questionable. Gordon and Murray are probable. Dallas improved to 16-9 with their 131-120 road win at Portland. The Mavs shot 49% with 34% from three. Luke Doncic scored 40 points and a Triple Double. Tim Hardaway chipped in with 25 points and six rebounds. Dallas allowed 50% shooting to the Trailblazers with 22% from three. Denver drops to 17-10 after their 118-117 home defeat to Oklahoma City. The Nuggets hit 45% with 38% from three. Nikola Jokic had 24 points with 12 assists. Michael Porter got 20 points and 11 rebounds. Denver allowed 51% shooting to the Thunder with 33% from three.
The Pick: Dallas on the road is allowing 114.4 points per 100 possessions while scoring 117.2 per 100 and playing at a fast pace. Denver is second in home offensive efficiency by scoring 123.1 points per 100 possessions while allowing 113 per 100. Play Dallas and Denver over 238.5.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Nets at Jazz—Simmons, Smith and Walker are out for Brooklyn with Finney Smith questionable. Clarkson and George are out for Utah with Collins, Samanic and Yurtseven questionable. Brooklyn drops to 13-12 after their 124-120 road defeat to Golden St. The Nets made 48% of their shots with 40% from three. Cam Thomas got 41 points with five rebounds. Nic Claxton put up 19 points and 12 rebounds. Brooklyn allowed 46% shooting to the Warriors with 53% from three. Utah fell to 9-12 following their 125-104 road defeat to Sacramento. The Jazz hit 44% with 32% from three. Collin Sexton posted 28 points with three rebounds. Lauri Markkanen chipped in with 18 points and six rebounds. Utah allowed 55% shooting to the Kings with 49% from three.
The Pick: Utah has covered nine of eleven at home as they average 114.6 points per 100 possessions with a +1.5 net rating. Brooklyn on this road trip is allowing 123.7 points per 100 possessions with a -8.5 net rating. Play Utah +4.
Washington Wizards vs. Sacramento Kings NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Wizards at Kings—Davis, Rollins, Shamet and Wright are out for Washington. Len is out with Fox questionable for Sacramento. Washington fell to 4-21 following their 112-108 road defeat to Phoenix. The Wizards shot 41% with 30% from three. Daniel Gafford scored 26 points with 17 rebounds. Tyus Jones contributed 22 points with 11 assists. Washington held Phoenix to 46% shooting with 23% from three and forced 17 turnovers. Sacramento improved to 15-9 after their 125-104 home victory to Utah. The Kings made 55% of their shots with 49% from three. Keegan Murray put up 47 points with eight rebounds. Domantas Sabonis had 20 points and ten rebounds. Sacramento allowed 44% shooting to the Jazz with 32% from three.
The Pick: Washington on the road sits 23rd in offensive efficiency by averaging only 110.2 points per 100 possessions. They are last on the road in offensive rebounding and shoot poorly from three. Sacramento at home is 11th in offensive efficiency. Play Washington and Sacramento under 245.
New York Knicks vs. Los Angels Lakers NBA Pick Prediction 12/18/2023
Knicks at Lakers—Robinson is out for New York. Vincent is out with Wood, James and Davis questionable for Los Angeles. Vanderbilt and Russell are probable. New York fell to 14-11 with their 144-122 road defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Knicks shot 47% with 31% from three in this back-to-back spot. Julious Randle scored 22 points with four rebounds. Jalen Brunson contributed 22 points and seven rebounds. New York allowed 57% shooting to the Clippers with 48% from three. Los Angeles drops to 16-11 with their 129-115 road defeat to San Antonio. The Lakers converted 48% with 31% from three. LeBron James produced 23 points with 14 assists. Austin Reeves chipped in 22 points and seven rebounds. Los Angeles allowed 49% shooting to San Antonio with 43% from three. Anthony Davis did not play.
The Pick: New York has lost four of five on the road where they sit last in defensive efficiency by allowing 131.3 points per 100 possessions. Los Angeles has defended well at home by limiting the opposition to 43.7% shooting. Play Los Angeles -4.5.