We’re breaking down everything you need to know before you make any NBA bets or set your DFS lineups. We’re talking the best game environments where points will be flying, the hottest NBA injury news that’s moving lines and opening up value, and the best expert player prop picks for tonight’s action. All that and more in our NBA Betting Cheat Sheet today – Thursday, December 18th, featuring the best free player prop bets and pick’em plays.
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NBA Betting Cheat Sheet Today – Thursday, December 18th
Our NBA betting cheat sheet is your one-stop snapshot to cut through the noise and zero in on where the edges actually are. Our team is here to break it down. Let’s get into it.
Check out some popular NBA player props on Underdog:
TOP NBA DFS GAMES
Which games are shaping up to be DFS and sports betting goldmines?
Jazz vs Lakers
- Slate-high 244 game total
- Lauri Markkanen is questionable for Utah–could open the door for a huge Keyonte George game
- If the game stays close, Luka Doncic could feast against a porous defense
Hawks vs Hornets
- 239 Game Total, 5.5-point spread
- Trae Young back (possibly limited), LaMelo Ball questionable
- Like Brandon Miller > 19.5 points regardless, close spread, high total.
Check out more of our NBA player props content for the 2025 season. As always, it’s 100% FREE:
- First Basket Predictions
- NBA Betting Hub (Game Predictions & More)
- Key Stats To Know: NBA Betting
- Daily Promo Roundup
NBA Injuries For Thursday, December 18th
Injuries are a big part of any NBA betting cheat sheet. Today’s slate is littered with them.
Check out some NBA injuries today via Underdog (as of Thursday morning):
There are a ton of other injury situations we’ll need to monitor. Here are some big ones:
- Knicks: If any combination of KAT, OG, or Josh Hart sit, Brunson, Bridges, and Clarkson could get huge boosts.
- Hornets: Sexton and Mann are out, which makes Brandon Miller very interesting. if LaMelo (Q) sits, wheels up for Miller.
- Heat: Tyler Herro is out, and Norman Powell is questionable. Miami is very thin, without Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson as well. Powell could be called upon to take on a huge scoring output, but if he’s out, keep an eye on Andrew Wiggins and Jaimie Jaquez, who were unreal earlier this year. The matchup is fantastic against the lowly Nets, which is why this is a very significant situation to keep tabs on. UPDATE: Norman Powell has been upgraded to probable!
- Clippers: No James Harden tonight. Massive bump to Kawhi Leonard and company.
- Bucks: Kyle Kuzma, Cole Anthony, AJ Green are all questionable; Giannis remains OUT. Bobby Portis could be a big winner if Kuzma sits, while Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins continue to be a big part of the MIL rotation.
- Mavericks: AD, Brandon Williams, and D’Angelo Russell are all questionable. If both guards sit, it’s Ryan Nembhard to the moon. If AD (and others) are out, P.J. Washington and Cooper Flagg continue to be the offense. UPDATE (11:50 a.m. EST): Anthony Davis NOT seen at shootaround.
- Jazz: Lauri Markkanen has been ruled out.
NBA Live Player Prop Odds
| Player |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Wiggins
MIA
SF MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Anfernee Simons
BOS
SG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Bam Adebayo
MIA
C MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Davion Mitchell
MIA
PG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Derrick White
BOS
SG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Dominick Barlow
PHI
PF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Jalen Brunson
NY
PG PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaylen Brown
BOS
SG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Joel Embiid
PHI
C PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Jordan Walsh
BOS
SF MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Josh Hart
NY
SF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Karl-Anthony Towns
NY
PF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Mikal Bridges
NY
SF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Neemias Queta
BOS
C MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Norman Powell
MIA
SG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
OG Anunoby
NY
SF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Paul George
PHI
SF PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Payton Pritchard
BOS
PG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Quentin Grimes
PHI
SG PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Sam Hauser
BOS
SF MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Tyler Herro
MIA
SG MIA @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Tyrese Maxey
PHI
PG PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
VJ Edgecombe
PHI
SG PHI @ NY
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Coby White
CHI
SG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Darius Garland
CLE
PG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
De'Aaron Fox
SA
PG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
De'Andre Hunter
CLE
SF CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Dean Wade
CLE
PF CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Devin Vassell
SA
SG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Donovan Mitchell
CLE
SG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dylan Harper
SA
PG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Dyson Daniels
ATL
PG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Harrison Barnes
SA
SF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Isaac Okoro
CHI
SF CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Johnson
ATL
PF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Jarrett Allen
CLE
C CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaylon Tyson
CLE
SF CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Josh Giddey
CHI
SG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Julian Champagnie
SA
SF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Keldon Johnson
SA
SF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Kevin Huerter
CHI
SG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Lonzo Ball
CLE
PG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Luke Kornet
SA
C SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Matas Buzelis
CHI
SF CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
ATL
SG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Nikola Vučević
CHI
C CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Onyeka Okongwu
ATL
C SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Stephon Castle
SA
SG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Trae Young
ATL
PG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tre Jones
CHI
PG CHI @ CLE
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Victor Wembanyama
SA
PF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Vít Krejčí
ATL
SG SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | |||||||
Zaccharie Risacher
ATL
SF SA @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ajay Mitchell
OKC
PG OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Anthony Edwards
MIN
SG OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Cason Wallace
OKC
PG OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Chet Holmgren
OKC
C OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Donte DiVincenzo
MIN
SG OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Isaiah Hartenstein
OKC
C OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jaden McDaniels
MIN
PF OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jalen Williams
OKC
SF OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Julius Randle
MIN
PF OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Luguentz Dort
OKC
SF OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Naz Reid
MIN
C OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Rudy Gobert
MIN
C OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
OKC
PG OKC @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Free NBA DFS Picks Cheat Sheet For 12/18
Our NBA betting cheat sheet today is ready to roll!
BEST POINTS PROP
- NBA Player Prop: Michael Porter Jr. > 25.5 Points
Justin Carlucci wrote about MPJ for our best NBA player props page. Check it out. Porter has a monster usage rate this year. He’ coming off one bad game (blowout), but the Heat could be VERY thin tonight due to injuries.
- NBA Player Prop: P.J. Washington > 14.5 Points
Late add here, with AD not seen at shootaround, Washington should be a focal point of the offense tonight, assuming Davis sits. Without Davis, Washington averaged 0.53 points per minute. Tough matchup, but a possible huge usage game incoming.
BEST REBOUNDS PROP
- NBA Player Prop: Chet Holmgren > 8.5 Rebounds
A blowout is my biggest fear. However, Isaiah Hartenstein is out for tonight, and Holmgren will surely be needed to play some more minutes at center. Holmgren might not play 36 minutes, but he averages another 1.43 rebounds per 36 without Hartenstein on the floor this year. That’s .32 rebounds per minute; if he plays 30 minutes, he should clear 8.5 boards.
BEST ASSISTS PROP
- NBA Player Prop: Kevin Porter Jr. > 6.5 Assists
Porter is averaging a tick over 17 potential assists per game across his last five contests, which is up from his season average. Porter averages over 8 assists per 36 minutes without Giannis Antetokounmp on the floor this season.
UNDERDOG FANTASY POINTS PICK
Underdog Fantasy Pick: Luka Doncic > 62.65 Fantasy Points
Tough to ignore Luka with Austin Reaves out. This game has a strong chance of staying competitive and features a high 242.5 point total, and we expect another monster showing from Doncic.
Featured Image Credit: Imagn
