Expert NBA Picks and Player Props: Best NBA Bets Today Dec. 5
With a packed Friday schedule on tap, we’re back digging into the NBA board to find the best NBA bets today across game lines and player props. This slate gives us several underdogs catching meaningful points, plus a handful of stars and rising young players posting big numbers in expanded roles.
As always, be sure to price shop across multiple sports betting apps before locking anything in. Lines can move quickly on popular NBA player props and NBA parlay picks today, and grabbing the best number is often the difference between a win and a push. The same can be said for leveraging high-value promo codes.
With that in mind, here are the best bets for tonight’s card, including game lines, our favorite props and one same game parlay that leans into assist volume.
Game Lines
Los Angeles Lakers +7 vs Boston Celtics (-110)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
On paper, the Lakers are the more talented roster, but injuries and minutes management have kept them from operating at full strength for most of the season. Boston, meanwhile, is getting hot at the right time and has the advantage of playing this rivalry matchup at home. In a game where emotions run high and swings are common, I like the idea of backing the healthier-but-less-talented home favorite to win while the banged-up but deeper Lakers sneak in the cover with a +7 cushion.
San Antonio Spurs +5.5 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (-115)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
San Antonio has become much more competitive since putting the ball fully in De’Aaron Fox’s hands upon his return from injury and simplifying the rotation around a proven point guard. Cleveland’s offense can get bogged down when the threes are not falling, and if the Spurs can coax this into a grind-it-out game, the +5.5 gives plenty of room for a cover even in a narrow Cavs win.
Portland Trail Blazers +7.5 vs Detroit Pistons (-110)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Portland’s length on the wings, headlined by Deni Avdija and their young forwards, gives them multiple bodies to throw at Detroit’s primary creators. The Pistons are still inconsistent late in games, so the Blazers catching more than two possessions feels generous if this turns into another fourth-quarter coin flip.
Player Props
Franz Wagner over 23.5 points (-124)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Franz Wagner continues to be Orlando’s most versatile scorer, comfortable attacking mismatches in the post and operating as a pick-and-roll ball handler. Against a Heat defense that tends to load up on the primary guard, Wagner should see plenty of single coverage and mid-20s usage, which gives him a strong path to clear 24 points.
Kel’el Ware over 8.5 rebounds (-122)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Kel’el Ware’s length and activity on the glass have been huge for Miami’s frontcourt, especially when they go smaller around him. Orlando is an inconsistent shooting team, which should generate extra rebounding opportunities, and Ware’s minutes trend suggests he’ll be on the floor enough to threaten double-digit boards again.
Nikola Jokic over 10.5 assists (-115)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Nikola Jokic routinely picks apart defenses that try to take away his scoring by sending extra bodies, and Atlanta's pace only creates more possessions for him to rack up dimes. With Denver’s shooters spacing the floor and cutters constantly diving to the rim, an 11-assist night is well within reach if this game stays competitive.
Jaylon Tyson over 1.5 made threes (-179)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Jaylon Tyson has settled in as a floor-spacing wing for the Cavaliers, and his volume from deep has climbed as his minutes have stabilized. San Antonio’s defense is still prone to overhelping in the paint, so Tyson should find clean catch-and-shoot looks on the perimeter, making two triples a realistic baseline rather than a ceiling.
Immanuel Quickley over 2.5 made threes (-115)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Immanuel Quickley’s green light in Toronto’s offense makes him a constant threat to go on scoring runs, especially from beyond the arc. Charlotte’s defense struggles to chase shooters through actions, and if Quickley gets to his usual 7 to 9 attempts from deep, three makes feels like a fair expectation.
Lauri Markkanen over 25.5 points (-115)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Lauri Markkanen remains Utah’s first option offensively, with sets designed to free him for pick-and-pop threes and off-screen jumpers. The Knicks’ defense will be busy dealing with Utah’s guards at the point of attack, and Markkanen’s combination of size and shooting should force mismatches that lead to another high-20s scoring outing.
Matas Buzelis over 5.5 rebounds (-115)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Matas Buzelis’ length on the wing has translated into steady rebounding numbers, particularly on the defensive glass, where his instincts shine. Indiana likes to play fast and put pressure on the rim, which creates plenty of rebounding chances, and Buzelis’ minutes load for Chicago makes six boards a reachable mark.
Amen Thompson over 5.5 assists (+110)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Amen Thompson’s combination of downhill burst and passing vision fits perfectly in Houston’s spaced-out attack. Phoenix tends to send extra help toward drivers to protect the rim, and that should open up kick-out and dump-off opportunities that allow Thompson to stack assists if his teammates knock down shots.
Today’s Best Parlay
🏀 Combined Parlay Odds: +530 (via BetMGM) 📈
- Leg 1: De’Aaron Fox over 6.5 assists
- Leg 2: Deni Avdija over 7.5 assists
- Leg 3: Austin Reaves over 8.5 assists
Fox has the ball in his hands constantly for the Spurs, and his ability to collapse defenses out of the pick-and-roll should generate plenty of clean looks for teammates against Cleveland. Deni Avdija has grown into a point-forward role in Portland, with the Blazers running more offense through his decision-making on the perimeter. Austin Reaves is essentially a lead guard for the Lakers now, and his usage as a primary creator in pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs against Boston sets up a high-assist ceiling. If all three teams keep these games close into the fourth, the volume of touches for this trio gives the parlay real upside at plus-money and makes it one of our best parlay bets today, NBA-wise.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win If you’re tailing any of these NBA picks today, make sure you’re hunting for value on every leg, especially with NBA player props and NBA parlay picks that can swing quickly with news. Between underdogs against the spread, star-heavy props and our assist-focused same game parlay, this card has several ways to attack the board and build out your own slate.
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All Odds as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 5
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