Meatloaf is back on the menu for three straight days! It was so close to another Fantasy Alarm NBA best bets sweep, but the Nuggets fell 0.5 points short of covering a teased up -1.5 point spread. We should have taken the original spread.

No big deal because the Bet of the Night was cleared by halftime! James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers absolutely demolished the Utah Jazz with a 37-point victory, safely covering the teased down spread of -4.5.

 

 

 

The Well provided again, and Nikola Vucevic gave us our .67-unit gain. Thus, putting Meatloaf on the menu for the third straight day, and ‘two out of three ain’t bad’.

NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 12/17

Today all eyes are on the Emirates 2024 NBA Cup Finals in a match between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Both teams deserve to be here as teams that have dominated the group stage and knocked out opponents during the elimination stage. Who wins this game? That is the question.

 

 

 

Bucks vs. Thunder Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Cup MVP (+225 on Bet365) *Bet of the Night

Make no mistake about it, the best player in this match is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is the only Finals MVP and only regular season MVP remaining in the NBA Cup. Could he join LeBron James as the only players to complete such a feat.

When looking at the odds for the Milwaukee Bucks to win the NBA Cup is at +165 and the MVP odds are at +225. If the Bucks win, Antetokounmpo will most likely be the MVP of the NBA Cup. In all honesty it’s difficult to imagine the Bucks winning without Antetokounmpo. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the better team and would probably win a seven-game series. However this is a one game scenario, and Milwaukee has a championship pedigree. So instead of placing a unit on Milwaukee’s money line, bet smart, and put a unit on him to win the MVP.

 

 

 

Bucks vs. Thunder Prediction: MIL Team Total Over 105.5 (-115 on DraftKings)

The narrative is for the Bucks to play better than anticipated, and that includes scoring over the suggested line of 105.5. Milwaukee is looking better throughout the tournament and has a chance to put any doubts to rest.

The Bucks average 113.3 points per game, and yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the best defenses in the league, but Khris Middleton has yet to put in offensive contributions. 

Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo will have great offensive nights, that is what they have done throughout the NBA Cup. Bobby Portis, Middleton, Brook Lopez, and others will need to contribute as well. However, this is a championship roster that has played in the big game.

 

 

 

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Both options require a minimum deposit of $10. The first choice allows you to receive $150 in bonus bets after placing a wager of $5 or more, no matter the result. 

Alternatively, if you prefer a safety net for your first bet, you can place a wager of $10 or more, up to $1,000, and if luck isn't on your side, your entire stake will be returned as bonus bets. Whether you want to tail our NBA best bets today or not, use this link to create your Bet365 account now!

 

 

 

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