With a 12-game NBA slate tonight, get ready for compelling matchups in both conferences, particularly in the East, where the top six teams are in action.
The NBA player props market is diluted by the absence of Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid, but there’s still potential for magic moments from in-form teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
Here are my top three NBA picks for a busy December 21 schedule, with a focus on two scorers well placed to cook due to absent co-stars.
Best NBA player props today
Jackson Jr. o22.5 points (-115 at bet365) 
Irving o24.5 points (-115 at bet365) 
Allen o10.5 rebounds (-105 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-21 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for December 21
Prop bet #1: Jaren Jackson Jr. Over 22.5 points
Injury woes derailed the Memphis Grizzlies last season, but the extra reps for Jaren Jackson Jr. in a bigger offensive role are paying dividends this year for Taylor Jenkins’ men, who’ve won eight of their last 10 games.
And with a back injury ruling out Ja Morant, it’s going to be The JJJ Show for Memphis against the Atlanta Hawks tonight — so I’m jumping on the Over on his points prop.
Though he’s only gone past this 22.5-point mark in two of his last five games, Jackson Jr. caught the eye in last week’s loss to the Lakers, finishing with 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting.
He’s making a career-best 52% from the field this year and, perhaps most encouragingly, he’s knocking down his 3-pointers at a 37% clip.
Only three teams are allowing more points per game than the Atlanta Hawks (119.3), so I expect the Grizzlies — who lead the league in scoring with 122.9 ppg — to play their part in an end-to-end thriller here, led by big production from Jackson Jr.
Prop bet #2: Kyrie Irving Over 24.5 points
Luka Doncic’s heel injury means another night in street clothes for the Dallas Mavericks’ MVP contender, but they should get a timely boost with Kyrie Irving’s return to the starting line-up.
With that duo sidelined, the Mavs were held to 95 points on 40% shooting against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, but they should have more offensive punch here ahead of another crack at LAC.
Irving is averaging 23.9 ppg this season and has notched 25+ points in five of his last nine contests, even while sharing the floor with Doncic. Kyrie is going to be the No.1 option tonight, and that should mean enough volume to eclipse his O/U of 24.5 points.
He’s making 48% of his 3-pointers in December and remains money at the free-throw line (88%). The trade that brought Irving to Dallas was designed to give the Mavs more top-level talent to ease the burden on Doncic, and we’ve seen more than enough evidence this season that Kyrie can still cook.
Prop bet #3: Jarrett Allen Over 10.5 rebounds
The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-1 at home this year, and the smart money says they’ll outlast a Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers team tonight.
Without Embiid, the stage is set for Jarrett Allen to be the dominant big man on the court, and I like the Over on his rebounds prop. Allen pulled down 10 boards in just 25 minutes against the Bucks last night, but he’s in line for a heavier workload here against the desperate 76ers. Allen may not always make a big splash as a scorer, but his work on the glass has been consistent.
While it can be tricky to predict Evan Mobley’s share of the available rebounds, Allen racked up 15 boards against the Nuggets earlier this month and 11 rebounds last weekend against the Wizards.
Allen went past this 10.5 O/U number in his prior clash with Philadelphia this season, finishing with 12 rebounds, and he’s going to be a major paint presence on Saturday as the Cavs try to limit Tyrese Maxey’s impact.
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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