The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. I’ll be giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Saturday, December 28th. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on December 28th
NBA Best Bets Today – December 28th
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks – 3:00 pm ET
The Hawks have a messy injury report. Onyeka Okongwu is out for the next couple of games, and Trae Young, Dyson Daniels and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all questionable. However, as long as a few of those guys shed those questionable tags and play, I love Atlanta to beat a Jimmy Butler-less Miami team. The Heat just earned a good win over the Magic, but they’re just 42-61-2 against the spread when facing teams that score 116.0 or more points per game under Erik Spoelstra. They’re also 49-63-3 ATS when facing teams that average 9.0 or more steals per game under him. Atlanta is also just a little more talented than Miami — especially without Butler.
Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are both excellent players, but Young will be the best player on the court if he goes today. And Jalen Johnson should really impose his will on this game, as Miami doesn’t have a great match for somebody with his size and athleticism. The only thing I’m a little nervous about here is a nuclear Heat shooting performance. Nobody in the league is giving up more made 3s per game (16.1) than Atlanta, and Spoelstra’s shorthanded gameplans sometimes call for increased 3-point volume. But I’m putting some trust in the Hawks to get the job done here. This is a good basketball team and this is a great opportunity to win a third game in a row.
Bet: Hawks -1.5 (-115 – 1.5 units)
Philadelphia 76ers at Utah Jazz – 9:30 pm ET
I have been buying the dip on the 76ers all year, and I have made it clear on several live VSiN spots that I think this team is going to be fine. So far, the early returns on games with Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid all on the floor together have been great. The team just went into Boston and beat the Celtics on Christmas Day. However, I have some doubts about them comfortably winning this game. Utah has covered in four straight games, and all of them came on the road. But the Jazz are now returning home from a five-game road trip, and this is just their third home game in the month of December. So, this Utah team is playing well and will be playing in front of a fired-up crowd. And it’s a team that has a lot of energy, so Philadelphia might have trouble matching it in a game the team probably feels will be easy. The Jazz cover a lot of games that way. Under Will Hardy, Utah is 31-22-1 ATS as a home underdog. The Jazz are also 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS versus Eastern Conference opponents this year. That said, I’m playing Utah to cover this game to win two units. I’m also sprinkling the moneyline. This feels like a dangerous spot for the Sixers.
Bet: Jazz +7 (-112 – 2 units) & Jazz ML (+250 – 0.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – December 28th
New York Knicks at Washington Wizards – 7:00 pm ET
The Knicks are really starting to play better defensively, so this isn’t as good of a 3-point matchup as it was earlier in the year. However, Jordan Poole has made at least five 3s in each of his last four games, and I tend to think the “Poole Party” will continue. The reality is that Poole has taken at least 10 triples in each of the last five games, and getting up that many shots makes it difficult not to make at least four 3s. And he has taken at least 12 shots from deep in the last three games, which is a volume in which he really should cash in on every time. He’s a 40.7% 3-point shooter. That said, at plus-money odds, this recent stretch feels like it’s worth riding. Poole only made one 3 the last time these teams played, but his role and spot in the rotation weren’t as solidified as they are now. He’s playing with confidence and playing at least 35 minutes a night. He has the green light, so let’s just hope he plays. Poole is questionable with a hip contusion.
Bet: Poole Over 3.5 Made 3s (+102)
Parlays/Teasers/Late Added Plays/In-Season Futures
5PT TEASER: Nuggets -0.5 vs. Pistons & Blazers +9.5 vs. Mavericks (+100 – 1.5 units)
Bradley Beal Over 3.5 Assists (-132) vs. Warriors
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2024-25 NBA Record: 136-128-1 (+7.35 units)
