NBA Best Bets Today, 12/11: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Wednesday

The Milwaukee Bucks squeezed out a victory against the Orlando Magic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo scored well over the teased down line. In fact, we could have teased it up the amount we teased it down. However, The Magic were better than Mr. Clean on the glass, not allowing Antetokounmpo to cover the teased down rebounding line.
For the Dallas Mavericks, Naji Marshall ended up playing and P.J. Washington sat out with an illness that is spreading throughout the team. Luka Doncic only scored 2 points in the first half, which made covering over 28.5 points difficult.
NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 12/11
There are two more 2024 Emirates NBA Cup games today, and these two are predicted to be good games.
The New York Knicks are favored by -7.0 points but that game could come down to the last seconds, and the spread could go either way. The Western Conference game is predicted to be much closer, and it is the NBA best bets ‘bet of the night’.
Warriors vs. Rockets Prediction: Houston -2 (-110 on Bet365)
The Golden State Warriors have vocally said that winning the NBA Cup is a goal for them. They have a chance to get one step closer tonight, but the Houston Rockets have other ideas. The Warriors recently were victorious against the Rockets in a 99-93 win, earlier this month.
That game was at the Chase Center in California, this knockout game is at Toyota Center in Texas. The Rockets have a much better home record than away record. Houston has won 9 of their 12 games at the Toyota Center, and this is the biggest match since the Rockets had James Harden and Chris Paul… It will be the most important game for this collective group of Rockets.
Can they answer the call though? Do they have the offense to defeat the Warriors? Fantasy Alarm believes so, and they should cover the very low spread as well. 2 points in basketball is literally one made basket, sometimes less than one field goal.
The Rockets need to make a statement win, and with Alperen Sengun have an opportunity to exploit the Warriors front court. Look for a close game with the Rockets pulling away late in the fourth quarter.
Warriors vs. Rockets Prediction: Andrew Wiggins Over 17.5 Points (-105 on DraftKings)
Andrew Wiggins has been an unsung hero for his entire stretch with the Golden State Warriors. The 2014 first overall pick has arguably been the Warriors best player this decade. He often gives Golden State the surge it needs, when they need it. Including the most recent game against the Rockets.
Despite there being less than 100 points scored by either team, Wiggins scored 23 points and played 34 minutes. He is not a consistent scorer but doesn’t have to be for a team that has Stephen Curry. His athleticism can be utilized against the Rockets who will be focused on stopping Stephen Curry.
This line is juiced on other sportsbooks and taking it near even odds feels like stealing. Put a unit on Wiggins to score over 17.5 points in a pivotal NBA Cup match.
NBA Player Props & Other Picks Today, 12/11
Trae Young proudly plays the villain at Madison Square Garden. He has replaced Reggie Miller as the fans most hated player, and he has dominated the New York Knicks this decade.
This is a relatively unknown rivalry, but Trae Young and the Knicks know what this game is about.
Hawks vs. Knicks Prediction: Trey Young Over 19.5 Points (-120 on BetMGM) *2.0 Unit
For one it is to advance in the NBA Cup with a match against the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas. Second it is a chance for revenge for New York, or to drive the dagger deeper into the heart of Knicks nation. In his 20 games against the Knicks he is averaging 25.6 points per game.
The fact that this line is at 19.5 is criminal, it is 21.5 on several other sportsbooks. Those lines are at or near the odds of -120 provided by Bet365 as well. Hunting for the best odds/lines pays off when you are betting as much as this column suggests. Put two units on Young to deliver with another great performance at Madison Square Garden.
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Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy
*All odds accurate at time of writing and NBA best bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise
Player News
Mavericks have won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
With just a 1.8 percent chance of success, Dallas leaped up in the lottery to nab the top pick in the 2025 draft. A little over three months after GM Nico Harrison traded away Luka Doncic, the Mavs will have a new young superstar to build around. Cooper Flagg is the expected top pick, and he will flawlessly fit Harrison’s mantra “defensive wins championships” that he has echoed tirelessly in every interview since trading Doncic. Assuming nothing changes, Flagg will join a loaded Dallas team that should be a contending team in the stacked Western Conference next season. San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte round out the top four picks in a talented draft class.
Brandin Podziemski had 11 points (3-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist and four steals in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Podziemski was 3-of-14 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. His 22.5 field goal percentage in this series is the worst for any player (min. 35 attempts) since Pero Antic shot 16.7 percent in the Hawks vs. Pacers series in 2014, according to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. Down 3-1 in the series now, the Warriors need Stephen Curry to return from his hamstring injury for Game 5, a miracle or both to get back in this series.
Jimmy Butler had 14 points (5-of-9 FGs), six rebounds, three assists and one block in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Despite the Warriors win in Game 1, Butler warned in postgame interviews that Stephen Curry is the team’s best player and it was going to be difficult to win games without him. After what’s transpired over the last three games, which the Warriors have all lost, he might’ve been underselling it. Butler wasn’t able to fill Curry’s shoes in Game 4. In fact, he was a team-worst -30 in 34 minutes in the seven-point loss. The Warriors will have their backs against the wall facing elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Julius Randle had 31 points (11-of-21 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Anthony Edwards had 30 points (11-of-21 FGs), four rebounds, five assists, two steals and six three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory over the Warriors in Game 4 on Monday.
Derrick White had 23 points (6-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, two assists and six three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.
White was the Celtics second leading scorer in Game 4, but he was the only consistent scorer for Boston outside of Jayson Tatum. The 30-year-old point guard got all of his points on six three-pointers and five free throws. Unfortunately for the Celtics it wasn’t enough as Boston was trailing when Tatum went down with a lower leg injury in the final minutes, essentially taking a comeback off the table. The Celtics will look to stave off elimination with their backs against the wall at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.