Free NBA Picks For Today 12/20/2023
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Utah Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Jazz at Cavaliers—Clarkson, George and Yurtseven are out for Utah. Garland, Jerome, Mobley and Rubio out for Cleveland. Utah improved to 10-17 with their 125-108 home victory to Brooklyn Nets. The Jazz shot 49% with 41% from three. Collin Sexton scored 27 points with six assists. Talen Horton-Tucker had 27 points with six assists. Utah allowed 43% shooting to the Nets with 41% from three. Cleveland improved to 15-12 after their 135-130 home win to Houston in overtime. The Cavs hit 48% with 40% from three. Donovan Mitchell got 37 points with six assists. Max Strus chipped in with 17 points and three boards. Utah allowed 46% shooting to the Rockets with 36% from three.
The Pick: Utah is 29th in road defensive efficiency by allowing 123.2 points per 100 possessions. They are giving up 51.1% shooting away from home. Cavs past five games are allowing 121.2 points per 100 possessions while scoring 118.8 per 100. In this span they are surrendering 47.2% shooting. Play Utah and Cleveland over 228.5.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Hornets at Pacers—Ball, Martin and Ntilikina out for Charlotte with Williams doubtful. Hayward is probable. Nembhard is out for Indiana with Smith and Turner questionable. Charlotte fell to 7-18 following their 114-99 road defeat at Toronto. The Hornets converted 44% with 25% from three. Terry Rozier produced 22 points with seven assists. PJ Washington had 15 points with seven rebounds. Charlotte allowed 51% shooting to the Raptors with 28% from three. Indiana drops to 13-13 after their 151-127 home defeat to Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers hit 52% with 36% from three. Bennedict Mathurin off the bench had 34 points with six rebounds. Isaiah Jackson got 15 points with four rebounds. Indiana allowed 57% shooting to the Clippers with 50% from three.
The Pick: Charlotte on the road sit 28th in defensive efficiency by allowing 122.1 points per 100 possessions while scoring 112.7 per 100. Past five games the Pacers sit 30th in defensive efficiency by allowing 127.9 points per 100 possessions while scoring 115.8 per 100. In this span they are allowing 55.8% shooting. Play Charlotte and Indiana over 248.5.
Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Heat at Magic—Butler is out for Miami with Love questionable. Fultz out with Ingles questionable for Orlando. Miami fell to 15-12 with their 112-108 home defeat to Minnesota. The Heat shot 47% with 37% from three. Tyler Herro scored 25 points with three rebounds. Bam Adebayo contributed 22 points with six assists. Miami allowed 49% shooting to the Timberwolves with 38% from three. Orlando sits at 16-9 following their 114-97 road defeat at Boston. The Magic hit 38% with 31% from three. Paolo Banchero scored 36 points with ten rebounds. Franz Wagner had just eight points with eight boards. Orlando allowed 47% shooting to the Celtics with 47% from three.
The Pick: Heat on the road play at the 28th pace and sit second in defensive efficiency by allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions They hold opponents to 46.2% shooting away from home. Orlando is fourth in home defensive efficiency by allowing 107 points per 100 possessions as they limit opponents to 45.9% shooting. Play Miami and Orlando under 221.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Timberwolves at 76ers—Clark is out for Minnesota. Batum out with Morris and Covington questionable for Philadelphia. Minnesota improved to 20-5 after their 112-108 road win at Miami. The Timberwolves converted 49% with 38% from three. Anthony Edwards put up 32 points with eight rebounds. Karl Anthony Towns produced 18 points and eight rebounds. Minnesota allowed 47% shooting to the Heat with 37% from three. Philadelphia drops to 18-8 following their 108-104 home defeat to Chicago. The 76ers hit 43% with 34% from three. Joel Embiid scored 40 points with fourteen rebounds. Tyrese Maxey contributed 29 points and eight assists. Philadelphia allowed 47% shooting to the Bulls with 41% from three.
The Pick: Minnesota in great form as in their past five games averaging 119.6 points per 100 possessions with a +9.9 net rating. Over this period, they are shooting 49.8% shooting. Philadelphia has been beating up on down teams to inflate numbers. They faced an up-arrow team in the Bulls on Monday and fell 108-104. Timberwolves are getting healthier. Play Minnesota +3.
New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Knicks at Nets—Robinson out with Sims questionable for New York. Simmons, Smith and Walker are out for Brooklyn. New York improved to 15-11 with their 114-109 road win at Los Angeles Lakers. The Knicks made 48% of their shots with 33% from three. Jalen Brunson had 29 points with four rebounds. Julious Randle chipped in with 27 points and fourteen rebounds. New York allowed 42% shooting to the Lakers with 32% from three. Brooklyn fell to 13-13 following their 125-108 road win at Utah. The Nets shot 43% with 41% from three. Cam Thomas scored 32 points with four rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 17 points and 11 assists. Brooklyn allowed 49% shooting to the Jazz with 41% from three.
The Pick: Past five games New York averaging 124.1 points per 100 possessions while allowing 123.4 per 100. Nets in this period are sitting 27th in defensive efficiency by allowing 123.9 points per 100 possessions while scoring 114 per 100. In this period, they are allowing 48.8% shooting. Play New York and Brooklyn over 233.
Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Nuggets at Raptors—Cancar is out with Gordon probable for Denver. Koloko out for Toronto. Denver improved to 18-10 with their 130-104 home victory to Dallas. The Nuggets converted 56% with 54% from three. Jamal Murray scored 22 points with four rebounds. Aaron Gordon chipped in with 21 points and five assists. Denver held Dallas to 45% shooting along with 34% from three. Toronto is 11-15 after their 114-99 home victory to Charlotte. The Raptors hit 51% with 28% from three but 17 turnovers. Pascal Siakam produced 27 points with eight assists. Scottie Barnes had 22 points with 17 rebounds. Toronto allowed 44% shooting to the Hornets with 25% from three.
The Pick: Toronto the past five games sit 21st in defensive efficiency by allowing 121.6 points per 100 possessions while scoring 121 per 100. In this period, they are shooting 52% and allowing 51.6%. The Nuggets in this span sitting fourth in offensive efficiency by scoring 125.3 points per 100 possessions while allowing 112.2 per 100. Play Denver and Toronto over 229.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Lakers at Bulls—James and Davis are questionable for Los Angeles with Vincent along with Vanderbilt probable. Bitim, Craig, Drell and LaVine are out for Chicago. Caruso and Williams are probable. Los Angeles fell to 16-12 following their 114-109 home defeat to New York. The Lakers made 42% of their shots with 32% from three. Anthony Davis had 32 points with 14 rebounds. LeBron James contributed 25 points and a Triple Double. Los Angeles allowed 48% shooting to the Knicks with 33% from three. Chicago improved to 11-17 with their 108-104 road win at Philadelphia. The Bulls hit 47% with 41% from three. Coby White scored 24 points with nine rebounds. Nikola Vucevic put up 23 points with eight rebounds. Chicago allowed 43% shooting to the 76ers with 34% from three.
The Pick: Los Angeles on the road sits 23rd in defensive efficiency by allowing 119.1 points per 100 possessions with a -7.6 net rating. Bulls at home sit 10th in defensive efficiency by allowing 110.6 points per 100 possessions and a -0.4 net rating. They hold opponents at home to 46% shooting. Play Chicago +4.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Hawks at Rockets—Bufkin, Griffin, Gueye and Johnson are out for Atlanta with Bogdanovic probable. Oladipo out for Houston with Tate and Thompson questionable. Atlanta sits at 11-15 with their 130-124 home win to Detroit. The Hawks connected on 54% with 44% from three and 17 turnovers. Trae Young scored 31 points with 15 assists. Saddiq Bey contributed 21 points and four rebounds. Atlanta allowed 51% shooting to the Pistons with 41% from three. Houston drops to 13-11 following their 135-130 road overtime defeat to Cleveland. The Rockets hit 46% with 36% from three. Fred VanVleet got 27 points with 17 assists. Alperen Sengun had 24 points with eight rebounds. Houston allowed 48% shooting to the Cavs with 40% from three.
The Pick: Atlanta in their past five games sit 26th in defensive efficiency by allowing 123.8 points per 100 possessions while scoring 124.3 per 100. They are playing at a fast pace. Rockets in this period averaging 111.5 points per 100 possessions. Play Atlanta and Houston over 234.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Clippers at Mavericks—Diabete and Plumlee are out for Los Angeles with George along with Hyland questionable. Green, Irvine, Kleber and Lively are out for Dallas. Los Angeles improved to 16-10 with their 151-127 road win at Indiana. The Clippers shot 57% with 50% from three. James Harden scored 35 points with nine assists. Kawhi Leonard contributed 28 points with two boards. Los Angeles allowed 52% shooting to the Pacers with 36% from three. Dallas fell to 16-10 after their 130-104 road defeat at Denver. The Mavs converted 45% with 34% from three. Luka Doncic produced 38 points with 11 rebounds. Dante Exum posted 11 points and two assists. Dallas allowed 56% shooting to the Nuggets with 54% from three.
The Pick: At home Dallas sits 7th in offensive efficiency by averaging 120.6 points per 100 possessions and a +2.3 net rating. Los Angeles on the road sit 17th in defensive efficiency by allowing 116 points per 100 possessions with a +2.3 net rating. Clippers are 5-7 straight up and to the spread on the road. Play Dallas +3.
Boston Celtics vs. Sacramento Kings NBA Pick Prediction 12/20/2023
Celtics at Kings—Kornet and Porzingis are out for Boston. Len is out for Sacramento. Boston fell to 20-6 after their 132-126 road defeat to Golden St. The Celtics shot 41% with 29% from three. Derrick White scored 30 points with seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown contributed 28 points with eight rebounds. Boston allowed 46% shooting to the Warriors with 40% from three. Sacramento improved to 16-9 after their 143-131 home victory to Washington. The Kings made 53% of their shots with 40% from three. De’Aaron Fox scored 30 points with six assists. Domantas Sabonis had 28 points and a Triple Double. Sacramento allowed 52% shooting to the Wizards with 47% from three.
The Pick: Sacramento sits 19th in home defensive efficiency by allowing 115 points per 100 possessions and a +1 net rating. Boston on the road are limiting opponents to 44.9% shooting. The Kings are giving up 49% shooting at home. Play Boston +2.5.