NBA Player Props: Best Bets For Thursday, Dec. 5
The NBA has an eight-game slate on Thursday, Dec. 5, including a matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Keep reading for NBA best bets below, and bet with your favorite sportsbook apps.
NBA Best Bets For Thursday, Dec. 5
Check out three bets below for the NBA on Thursday.
Nikola Jokic Under 27.5 Points (-106 DraftKings)
Taking the under on a player of Nikola Jokic’s caliber is never a comfortable feeling, but it’s the right move here.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley form one of the top interior defensive duos across the league. Due to their brilliance, Cleveland’s opponents are shooting just 53.7% inside the paint, which ranks fifth-best in the NBA. It’s not surprising that centers are averaging the second-fewest points per game versus the Cavaliers.
Overall, they have the length and strength to consistently force tough looks and nudge Jokic to pass instead of shoot. Mobley can also aggressively help on Jokic because Aaron Gordon is not an elite floor-spacer.
Jokic has played four games against Cleveland since the Donovan Mitchell trade. He notched 18, 24, 26, and 28 points in those matchups, with an average of 15.2 field goal attempts per game. Look for this trend to continue.
TURNIN’ DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE. @KendaTire | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/jEpZ3YDz9I
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 4, 2024
Keegan Murray 2+ Made Threes (-160 DraftKings)
Memphis allows the fourth-most catch-and-shoot attempts per game in the league, as well as the most wide-open triples per game. Power forwards also produce the second-most triples against the Grizzlies because Jaren Jackson Jr. operates best as a roamer on defense.
Enter Keegan Murray, who leads the Kings in catch-and-shoot attempts and wide-open triples per game. He has struggled with efficiency so far this season, but I expect enough volume to override this concern.
It’s worth noting that Murray has knocked down a pair of threes in five of seven career matchups versus the Grizzlies.
Rockets -3.5 (-110 FanDuel)
With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both out, the Warriors lack their engines on both sides of the ball.
Golden State is producing a mere 103.8 points per 100 possessions when Curry rests, according to Cleaning the Glass, because it doesn’t have another elite scorer who creates advantages off the dribble. To make matters worse, Green’s passing isn’t available to at least add a semblance of juice to the offense.
Houston ranks second in defensive rating and features a revolving door of disruptive, lengthy defenders. It will be a steep uphill climb for Golden State’s offense.
Meanwhile, who is guarding Alperen Sengun? He’s too crafty for Trayce Jackson-Davis or Kevon Looney and subsequently should rack up points and assists. Amen Thompson’s rim pressure will be a problem for the Warriors, too. If the Rockets receive a quality Jalen Green game, then that would be the final nail in the coffin.
Back Houston to bounce back from a tough loss and comfortably win here.
