Each week, Props.com selects five intriguing player and/or team NBA betting props from a busy night of action. Then, we do what we do best: Provide in-depth analysis that you can choose to use (or not use!) for wagering purposes.
Here are our five favorite NBA betting props from Monday’s slate of six games.
Odds via DraftKings and updated as of 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 20.
Philadelphia 76ers At Boston Celtics
The Prop: 54.5 combined points, first quarter
The Odds: Over -115/Under -105
The last eight non-playoff meetings between the Sixers and Celtics produced an average of 53 combined first-quarter points — just below Monday’s total. Of those eight clashes, half went Over this prop number (combined 57, 58, 61 and 62 points), and half stayed Under (41, 45, 49, 51).
That 41-point effort occurred in the team’s first head-to-head battle this season on Dec. 1 in Boston, a game the Celtics led 21-20 after one quarter on the way to a 1995-like 88-87 win.
Philadelphia is averaging 27.2 first-quarter points per game, which ranks 15th in the league, while Boston is pouring in just 25.7 points in the opening 12 minutes (ranking 25th). So combined, the Sixers and Celtics are averaging 52.9 first-quarter points this season — just a tick below what they’ve averaged in those last eight meetings.
Boston has stayed Under 55 first-quarter points in three of its last four home outings. Conversely, Philadelphia has soared over 55 opening-stanza points in three of its last four roadies (64, 67 and 57) — the lone exception being a game that featured 52 combined first-quarter points.
There are several notable injuries to watch as tip-off approaches. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Danny Green are questionable for the Sixers tonight. Al Horford and Josh Richardson are out for Boston, while Jayson Tatum and Dennis Schroder are questionable.
Related: New to NBA betting props? Check out our complete NBA Prop Betting Guide.
Houston Rockets At Chicago Bulls
The Prop: Bulls -6.5, first half
The Odds: Rockets -110/Bulls -110
How will the Bulls approach the 10-20 Rockets after last night’s spirited 115-110 home victory over the Lakers?
Tonight will be Chicago’s third back-to-back effort of the season. In their previous two back-to-backs, the Bulls led the Pistons just 54-43 at halftime on the second night and trailed Miami 49-46 at the break (home).
Regardless of the rest situation, Chicago has gone into the locker room with a lead of seven-plus points just once in its last five home games (an 11-point edge over Charlotte on Nov. 29). In the other four contests, the Bulls had a two-point halftime lead and trailed by margins of three, three and 21 points in the other three.
So the Rockets absolutely are the way to go here, right? Not necessarily. In five December road games to date, Houston has enjoyed just one halftime lead (62-49 at Detroit on Saturday). The point differentials for the Rockets in the four other games: -31, -11, -16, and -7.
Chicago is 5-8 ATS at home in first-half action, while Houston is 7-9 ATS on the road.
Take note that All-Star SG Zach LaVine will miss his second-straight game, but the Bulls handled their business without him last night. That includes taking a 61-59 halftime advantage.
Oklahoma City Thunder: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Prop: 21.5 points (at Memphis)
The Odds: Over -120/Under -105
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a boom-or-bust scorer the last five weeks. In 13 games dating to Nov. 15, the Thunder’s playmaker — who is averaging 21.6 points for the season — has scored in the 20s just twice.
The other 11 contests either yielded low tallies (10, 15, 17, 14, 11, 18 and 18 points) or prolific 30-plus point performances (30, 33 and 39 points).
Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring output against the Grizzlies also has been erratic. He dropped 30 on Memphis last March (going 8 of 17 from the field). However, in the previous seven head-to-head encounters, he eclipsed this prop number just twice — and barely, scoring 21 and 22 points. In the other five contests, Memphis held Gilgeous-Alexander to 6, 6, 10, 10, 12 and 20 points.
While recent performance and head-to-head history suggest a lean to the Under here, it’s worth nothing that in the Grizzlies’ last four games, the opposing team’s primary play maker — Damian Lillard twice, Tyrese Haliburton, and Tyrese Maxey — rolled for 32, 21, 21, and 23 points, respectively.
Another reason to like the Over: Gilgeous-Alexander will have fresh legs for this one, as he’s played just twice since last Monday.
Utah Jazz: SG Donovan Mitchell
The Prop: 3.5 made three-pointers (vs. Charlotte)
The Odds: Over -125/Under +100
Mitchell has connected on four-plus triples in six of his last eight games, while cumulatively shooting 39.8 percent from long distance. The per-game makes: 6, 4, 5, 5, 4, 2, 3, and 4 treys.
Plus, Mitchell is averaging 20.4 field-goal attempts and 9.4 three-point tries in his last eight home games.
On Monday, Mitchell runs up against a Hornets squad that ranks last in scoring defense (117.3 points per game), 28th in three-pointers allowed (14.2 per game), and 22nd in opponents’ three-point shooting (36.1 percent).
Mitchell and the Jazz were idle Sunday. They’re in the middle of a six-game homestand that runs through Christmas Day.
Golden State Warriors: PG/SG Stephen Curry
The Prop: 43.5 points/rebounds/assists (vs. Sacramento)
The Odds: Over -120/Under -110
Calling Admiral Ackbar to the NBA betting stage … as this number screams It’s a Trap! for those leaning to the Under. Here’s why:
— Curry has logged fewer than 37 minutes in 10 straight games.
— The future Hall of Famer has fallen short of Monday’s 43.5 points/rebounds/assists total in nine straight outings. The per-game breakdown: 39, 28, 38, 32, 26, 42, 40, 33, and 17 .
— Since Nov. 21, spanning 13 games, Curry is averaging only 24.1 points per contest, and his high-water mark was 33.
— For the season, Curry’s scoring tally (27.0) accounts for 69.9 percent of his points/rebounds/assists output. In other words, if Curry’s not flirting with 30 points, he likely hits the Under on this prop.
Now, that’s not to say you can’t make a case for taking the Over here — because you can. For starters, Curry has buried five-plus triples seven times in his last eight games. Also, in his last six matchups against the generous Kings (who have the NBA’s second-worst scoring defense at 114.4 points per game), Curry has toppled this prop number five times, going for, 48, 47, 49, 49, and 48. And he hit 40 in the other contest.
Curry last played Friday in Boston, so he’s well-rested. Also, with Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole out for the Warriors, Curry figures to have the ball in his hands even more than usual — and that could be shooting, passing, and rebounding.
