NBA Best Bets & Player Props December 20: Joel Embiid Takes on Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves
The NBA has a loaded slate today with ten games in action or two-thirds of the league. There are two nationally televised games today, the first being the Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers with a 7:00 PM ET tip-off on NBATV. There are two bets on this game, one is surprisingly at plus odds, and one is a proposition bet on the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. There is also a bet on the international game featuring two NBA champion teams over the past five seasons.
The Denver Nuggets travel to the Toronto Raptors with a 7:30 PM ET tip-off. There is a proposition bet on Aaron Gordon who has been playing well since recovering from his heel injury. Two intraconference games take center stage tonight, and if you prefer late live betting, the Boston Celtics play the Sacramento Kings after an overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. The match is televised on NBATV, and there could be some good angles for the Kings in that match.
NBA Bet of the Night
Aaron Gordon OVER 13.5 Points (-115 at DraftKings)
Aaron Gordon has been playing on a roll lately. He has gone over this prop in four of his last five games, including the most recent against the Dallas Mavericks which he sat for the entire fourth quarter. In the game he didn’t have thirteen points he played only three quarters as well, against the Brooklyn Nets. The Denver Nuggets begin an Atlantic road trip with three games against Eastern Conference opponents which they have a better record than.
The Toronto Raptors give up the 20th most points to opposing forwards, and they do not have a defender that can withstand the ‘Bully Ball’ of Aaron Gordon. Gordon along with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are in a fantastic rhythm with each other, and Gordon receives the least defensive attention out of three. This allows Murray and Jokic to find Aaron Gordon near the rim for easy slam dunks and easy shots. Aaron Gordon is also improving his three-point making, he made two of three in his last game, and if left as open as he has been, will continue to shoot more.
NBA Straight Bet of the Night
Minnesota Timberwolves Money Line (+135 at BetMGM)
Truthfully, the straight bets have been taking it hard in this column. Last night two moneyline bets over -200, one at -300, were combined to make a favorable parlay near even odds… both teams lost. The player props are Fantasy Alarm Best Bets, bread and butter, but the disrespect to Minnesota has allowed an opportunity for a favorable plus odds bet. The Timberwolves have spent more time as the number one team this year than they have in the past thirty-four years COMBINED! Really let that statistic marinate in your mind.
The Timberwolves are playing excellent defense and have scorers that can keep pace with the best-scoring teams if needed. Minnesota is on the road against a good Philadelphia 76ers team, but they aren’t great. These two teams receive the opposite treatment, The Minnesota Timberwolves are shunned, and people are saying about them what they said about the Nuggets last year. ‘Oh it’s fun to see them do well now, but they will collapse later in the season’.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been praised with a new coach and the play of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but they have predominantly played horrible teams in the Eastern Conference. Tonight they have a true test against a Minnesota team that has won nine of their last ten, on a three-game winning streak, and have one of the best defending centers in the NBA, Rudy Gobert. Expect Minnesota to beat the 76ers.
NBA Prop Bet of the Night
Joel Embiid UNDER 12.5 Rebounds (-140 at DraftKings)
The supportive reasoning for the Minnesota Timberwolves to win is in part due to the fact that Joel Embiid is going to play the best defensive center he has seen this season, Rudy Gobert.. Embiid ‘ducked’ the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first matchup and the 76ers lost by thirteen points. Embiid has recorded double-digit rebounds in eleven straight games, but also ducked against Jonas Valanciunas and a tough Boston Celtics defense.
Embiid has played one worthy center this season, Anthony Davis, and in that match, he did not get thirteen rebounds. Gobert is not intimidated by J. Embiid’s scoring ability and he will have Embiid working for every shot and every rebound. Trust the under in a tough center-versus-center match for the MVP.
Remember to check out Fantasy Alarm for all your NBA fantasy needs. Basketball stats, rankings, DFS picks, tools to help your lineups, and the NBA DFS show with Jon and James.
Thank you for reading.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy
*All Bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan have agreed to a multi-year contract extension.
Despite Chicago’s recent lack of on-court success, Charania reports that Donovan — who’s gone 195–205 over the last five seasons — is still viewed as a respected leader within the organization. He’ll remain in the Windy City for the foreseeable future as the Bulls embark on a long-term rebuild following the departures of cornerstones DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
NBA insider Chris B. Haynes reports that free agent guard JD Davison has signed a deal with the Houston Rockets.
Davison appeared in just 36 games for the Celtics across his first three NBA seasons, but he most recently won G League MVP. Houston’s rotation is one of the deepest in the Association, so Davison shouldn’t be expected to see meaningful minutes right away.
Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic signed Jamal Cain to a two-way contract.
Cain appeared in 37 games for the Pelicans last season after spending his first two seasons with the Heat organization. On a two-way deal, the 6-foot-6 wing appeared in 37 NBA games in 2024-25, averaging 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes. Outside of the occasional solid performance as the Pelicans were playing out the string, Cain did not impact fantasy basketball. That’s likely to be the case in Orlando next season.
Adama Sanogo agreed to a deal with Italian club Trapani Shark.
After appearing in 13 games over two seasons with the Bulls, Sanogo was waived in February, one month after suffering a knee injury. Not selected after a standout college career at UConn, the 6-foot-9 center most recently played for the Jazz in summer league competition. He’s headed to Italy for the next chapter of his professional career. Sanogo’s departure from the NBA will not impact fantasy basketball.
Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 76ers waived Ricky Council IV.
Council’s contract for the 2025-26 season was non-guaranteed, which put him at risk of being let go. In his second season with the team, the former Arkansas wing appeared in 73 games, averaging 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 three-pointers in 17.1 minutes. While a highly athletic player, Council struggled with his shot, shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from the foul line. Given the veterans the 76ers re-signed during the offseason, the return of Jared McCain from a knee injury and the selection of VJ Edgecombe in the draft, Council was unlikely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball in 2025-26.
NBA Insider Chris Haynes reports Heat signed G Myron Gardner to a two-way contract.
Gardner, who went undrafted in 2023, spent summer league with Miami, averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.8 steals and two triples in 22.2 minutes per game across four appearances. He’ll likely spend most of next season in the G League, but his summer league performance was enough to earn him a two-way deal.