NBA Best Bets For Friday, Dec. 27: Jaylen Wells To Shine
The NBA has eight games on the schedule for Friday, Dec. 27. That includes an Eastern Conference Finals rematch between the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
Keep reading for NBA best bets below, and bet with your favorite sportsbook apps.
NBA Best Bets For Friday, Dec. 27
Check out three bets below for Friday’s NBA games.
Jaylen Brown 25+ Points (+110 FanDuel)
Indiana’s defense does a great job of running shooters off the arc and limiting open jumpers. However, slashers have posed huge problems for it, and the Pacers subsequently are allowing the fourth-most points per game at the rim. That’s perfect for Jaylen Brown’s style, as the reigning Finals MVP thrives at attacking the basket.
Meanwhile, opponents are also producing the fifth-most free throw attempts per game against Indiana largely because it surrenders so many shots at the rim. Brown is far from elite at drawing contact, but he’s currently setting a new career high in free throws per game this season. Frequently getting to the charity stripe can help insulate him from a bad shooting night here.
Since the start of last season, Brown has scored 25+ points in eight of 10 matchups and averaged 21.6 field goal attempts per game in those contests. He is simply built to dismantle Indiana’s defense.
Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are questionable to play, too. If they do not suit up, then Brown should see even more usage. The line is worth playing even if Boston is fully healthy, though.
Same-Game Parlay (+120 DraftKings): Jaylen Wells 10+ Points & Zach Edey 1+ Block
Opponents are averaging the fourth-most wide open triples, the fourth-most catch-and-shoot jumpers, and the third-most corner attempts per game against New Orleans. In other words, spot-up shooters are causing trouble for the Pelicans.
Jaylen Wells entered the 2024 draft as an elite 3-point shooter, and the rookie has lived up to his scouting report. Wells is knocking down 40% of his triples on four attempts per game. He’s also a dangerous transition threat, and New Orleans is surrendering the third-most transition points per game.
Overall, 87.4% of Wells’ total points this season have come from spot-up or transition possessions, and he’s reached 10+ points in 61.2% of his games.
For the next leg, Zach Edey has recorded a block in 12 of 13 games when he’s logged 20+ minutes this season. His typical usage is now around 23 to 27 minutes per game. Edey will meet a Pelican offense that is producing the eighth-most paint attempts per game. Look for Memphis’ other rookie to challenge New Orleans and pick up a block.
Jaylen Wells First Points (+1300 DraftKings)
The Grizzlies have secured the first shot in a league-leading 80.6% of their games because Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey are both dominant at winning tipoffs. On the other hand, New Orleans is one of the worst tipoff teams in the NBA. I expect the Grizzlies to snag the first possession here.
Wells has taken Memphis’ first shot in 12% of his starts, which is not great. However, it’s a perfect matchup, and his +1300 odds have an implied probability of just 7.1%. I would play this line at a quarter of a unit.
