There are 12 games on tap in the Association today, including an early-afternoon matinee and six games before the usual 7:00 pm ET tip-off. As usual, there is no shortage of great player props to target here.
My favorite NBA picks for December 8 feature the Lakers’ big man dominating in an elite matchup, Atlanta’s star point guard staying hot against a reeling Nuggets squad and Ja Morant cashing a monster, plus-money combo prop in the nation’s capital.
Best NBA player props today
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Anthony Davis Over 45.5 pts+reb+ast (-115 at bet365) -
Ja Morant triple-double (+1700 at bet365) -
Trae Young Over 36.5 pts + ast (-115 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-8 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for December 8
Prop bet #1: Anthony Davis Over 45.5 pts+reb+ast
The Los Angeles Lakers are on a three-game skid, and a matchup with the lowly Portland Trail Blazers offers a perfect opportunity for Anthony Davis and Co. to bounce back and earn a much-needed win.
Portland’s defense hasn’t been great against opposing big men this season, and the team’s frontcourt depth is thinned out considerably ahead of Sunday’s matchup. Duop Reath and Toumani Camara are doubtful, and Robert Williams is out, leaving Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant to hold things down at the four and five without much help.
Portland sports the seventh-worst defensive rating on the season and the second-worst over the last 10 games. The Blazers have surrendered the 10th-most points and sixth-most rebounds, making this a favorable matchup.
Since missing a pair of clutch free throws in a devastating loss to the Magic, Davis struggled mightily in his next seven games, averaging only 18 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He went off for 38/10/8 in the Lakers’ narrow OT loss to the Hawks, and he’ll look to keep that momentum going tonight.
I’m taking the Over here, particularly with LeBron James banged up. The Lakers will need AD to be at his best to get back in the win column, and I expect an elite performance.
Prop bet #2: Ja Morant triple-double
I took the Over on Ja Morant’s pitifully low 20.5 points line on Saturday, and he went off to the tune of 32/9/9 against the Celtics in an upset victory at TD Garden. Morant’s points line has gone up by only a single basket to 22.5. At -115 odds, I love that prop and will happily take it. As always, we can do better.
Morant has been highly productive this season, averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and a career-best 8.5 assists. He’s posted one triple-double and come within two rebounds or assists in two more.
On the season, the Washington Wizards have allowed the most rebounds, second-most points, and seventh-most assists to opponents. They’ve allowed the fifth-most rebounds to opposing point guards, making this an even better matchup for Morant.
In three career games played in the nation’s capital, Morant averaged 24.3 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists and posted one triple-double. He’s been hot on the road this season, and I expect him to stay on that heater in an excellent matchup tonight. I’ll sprinkle a little bit on this prop with home run odds.
Prop bet #3: Trae Young Over 36.5 pts + ast
Trae Young went off for a monstrous 31 points and 20 assists in Friday’s OT win over the Lakers, but I’m not simply chasing that line with the Over against the Denver Nuggets tonight. The Nuggets are fresh off a crushing loss to the Wizards that snapped Washington’s 16-game skid. Nikola Jokic’s career-high 56 points weren’t enough for Denver.
Will the Nuggets respond with a motivated performance or slink dejectedly into Atlanta eager to end the current road trip and get back home with four days of scheduled rest? Either scenario provides Young with a favorable game script, so I’m taking the Over here.
The Nuggets have allowed the ninth-most points and fourth-most assists to opposing point guards this season. They’ve allowed the most assists and seventh-most points to opposing teams overall, setting Young up to hit the Over for a second straight game.
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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