Expert NBA Picks and Player Props: Best NBA Bets Today Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve brings a fun twist to the NBA schedule, with afternoon tip-offs rolling straight into evening action as fans get ready to ring in the new year. It’s a solid slate between great teams as well, meaning there ar plenty of angles to find the best NBA bets today using sports betting apps.
Below are three game lines, four player props and one three-leg parlay that stand out on Tuesday’s card, along with ways to line shop with current sportsbook promotions.
Game Lines
Orlando Magic -3.5 (-115) at Indiana Pacers
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Orlando’s length and physicality on defense have made life difficult for teams that rely heavily on guard play, and Indiana’s attack is at its best when it can get out in transition and play fast. The Magic are comfortable grinding games into the halfcourt and pounding the paint, and if they control the glass and win the free-throw battle, this number is short enough for their physical style to carry them to a multi-possession win.
Minnesota Timberwolves -4.5 (-110) at Atlanta Hawks
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Minnesota brings one of the most versatile defensive units in the league, with multiple bigs who can protect the rim and enough size on the perimeter to bother Atlanta’s shooters. With Trae Young orchestrating the Wolves’ offense and forcing the Hawks into tough pick-and-roll coverages, Minnesota has a clear edge late in games where execution in the halfcourt matters most, making this road favorite worth backing against a Hawks team that struggles with Young in the rotation.
Denver Nuggets ML (+250) at Toronto Raptors
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Even as a sizable underdog on the road, Denver can still win this game on the back of Jamal Murray as the four other original Nuggets starters face injury. Toronto’s improved two-way wings can bother opposing guards, but they still struggle to deal with dominant interior playmakers who force help and open up cutting lanes, giving the Nuggets a realistic path to stealing this one outright at a generous plus-number as a team that wants to prove it can win without Nikola Jokic.
Player Props
Trae Young over 2.5 made threes (+100)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Trae Young’s volume from deep remains elite, and he tends to ramp up his three-point attempts in big games. With Atlanta relying on high ball screens to free Young and Minnesota's defense often going under or getting stuck on picks, he should see plenty of clean looks from beyond the arc, making three makes a fair target at even money.
Matas Buzelis over 15.5 points (-112)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Matas Buzelis gives Chicago a long scoring forward who can attack mismatches off the dribble and shoot over smaller defenders. New Orleans' defense has struggled to contain versatile wings that can score at all three levels, and with Josh Giddey sidelined with an injury, Buzelis should have room to operate in space and get enough volume to threaten the high teens in points in a more primary role.
Zion Williamson over 5.5 rebounds (-122)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Zion Williamson’s combination of strength and explosiveness continues to make him a force on the glass whenever his minutes are stable. Against a Bulls team that often plays smaller lineups and can be vulnerable on the defensive boards, his ability to carve out space in the paint should translate to a steady diet of rebounds, giving him multiple paths to clearing six boards.
Deni Avdija over 6.5 assists (-148)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Deni Avdija has taken on a jumbo playmaking role for Portland, frequently initiating offense from the top of the floor and pushing in transition after defensive rebounds. With Oklahoma City’s defense loading up on drivers and collapsing into the paint, Avdija should have shooters spotted up around him and plenty of kick-out opportunities, making seven or more assists very attainable if this game stays competitive.
Today’s Best Parlay
🏀 Combined Parlay Odds: +571 (via BetMGM) 📈
- Leg 1: Anthony Black over 19.5 points (-121)
- Leg 2: Desmond Bane over 20.5 points (-108)
- Leg 3: Paolo Banchero over 23 points (-111)
Orlando’s entire perimeter attack runs through this trio, and a fast-paced matchup against a bottom-tier Indiana sets up perfectly for a points-heavy parlay. Anthony Black’s drives and secondary playmaking should generate plenty of trips to the rim and the foul line, while Desmond Bane’s shooting gravity punishes any help that comes off him on the perimeter. Paolo Banchero remains the Magic’s primary closer and mismatch hunter, particularly in late-clock situations, so stacking all three of their scoring overs in a game that projects to feature plenty of possessions creates one of the best NBA parlay picks today for plus-money upside.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win As the calendar flips to a new year, this New Year’s Eve slate offers a nice mix of early afternoon action and evening showcases for bettors to attack. Be sure to monitor injury reports, shop for the best numbers across multiple sports betting apps to close out the year on a high note.
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All Odds as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 31
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