NBA Archives - Page 18 of 146

NBA Christmas Day prop picks: Back Wembanyama, Flagg and Reaves

The NBA’s Christmas Day slate delivers five great games from noon till midnight. I’ve got three prop bets on the action.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: The second game takes place in Oklahoma City, where the reigning champion Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs. I think Victor Wembanyama should feast on the glass. So should fellow No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, against the Golden State Warriors after that.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 25, featuring a best bet on Austin Reaves against the Houston Rockets.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA Christmas Day prop picks

Best bet: Reaves over 26.5 PRA (-125)

Reaves returned from a three-game injury absence on Tuesday, coming off the bench and scoring 17 points while adding a pair of rebounds and assists in a blowout loss.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick stated that Reaves (calf strain) was not on an official minutes restriction, despite only playing him 22 minutes.

This line reflects that Reaves won’t play a ton, though. Just look at his averages this year:

27.3 points
5.4 rebounds
6.5 assists
50.4 FG%

Reaves’ 27.3 scoring average ranks 11th in the NBA and is more than enough to clear this PRA line on its own. He had gone over this mark in 17 of his last 20 games before getting injured.

-> See full props for Rockets vs. Lakers!

I’m sure he won’t play 40 minutes on Christmas, but I’m also skeptical we’ll see drastically reduced minutes, given that L.A. punted Tuesday’s game after a slow start with Luka Doncic sidelined.

Reaves’ 775 minutes entering Tuesday were second-most on the team behind Rui Hachimura.

Houston is a great defensive team, but Reaves has three solid games against them last year while not shooting with a ton of volume.

He should be able to replicate that effort on Thursday.

Key stat: Reaves averaged 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists (30 PRA) against Houston last year. He went 2-1 against this line while taking 13 shots per game.

Best NBA picks

Flagg over 5.5 rebounds (-154): Flagg is having a moment this month, averaging a monster 24.1 PPG while adding 6.2 rebounds a night.

The No. 1 pick has been especially dominant over his last five:

27.6 PPG
7.2 RPG
4-1 vs. this line

I think there’s a good case to back Flagg as a scorer against the Warriors, but I want to hone in on the forward’s rebounding abilities, instead.

Flagg had nine boards against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday and recorded 10 against the rough-rider Detroit Pistons a few days before that.

The undersized Warriors should be easy pickings compared to those squads.

Golden State is 21st in rebounding rate and gives up the sixth-most rebounds per game to power forwards, where Flagg should be playing if P.J. Washington remains sidelined.

-> Don’t miss out — go to full betting markets for the NBA Christmas Day slate

NBA player prop predictions

Wembanyama over 8.5 rebounds (-138): In a perfect world, Wembanyama’s minutes restriction gets pulled on Thursday.

Seeing the French phenom return to 30-plus minutes a night would be the best Christmas present NBA fans could ask for.

But Wemby should be in a good spot to clear this line, even if he plays around his now-typical 23-25 minutes a game.

He has nine rebounds in 21 minutes when he returned to face OKC in the NBA Cup final on Dec. 23, and has two 12-rebound games since then.

-> Bet on Wembanyama against the defending champs!

Wemby did only have five boards in a blowout, 130-110 win over the Thunder on Tuesday, but I’ll view that as an outlier performance.

OKC is 20th in rebounding rate and might be missing big man Chet Holmgren, who exited Tuesday’s game with an injury.

NBA prop picks made at 9:11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

NBA Christmas Day prop picks: Back Wembanyama, Flagg and Reaves

The NBA’s Christmas Day slate delivers five great games from noon till midnight. I’ve got three prop bets on the action.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: The second game takes place in Oklahoma City, where the reigning champion Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs. I think Victor Wembanyama should feast on the glass. So should fellow No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, against the Golden State Warriors after that.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 25, featuring a best bet on Austin Reaves against the Houston Rockets.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA Christmas Day prop picks

Best bet: Reaves over 26.5 PRA (-106)

Reaves returned from a three-game injury absence on Tuesday, coming off the bench and scoring 17 points while adding a pair of rebounds and assists in a blowout loss.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick stated that Reaves (calf strain) was not on an official minutes restriction, despite only playing him 22 minutes.

This line reflects that Reaves won’t play a ton, though. Just look at his averages this year:

27.3 points
5.4 rebounds
6.5 assists
50.4 FG%

Reaves’ 27.3 scoring average ranks 11th in the NBA and is more than enough to clear this PRA line on its own. He had gone over this mark in 17 of his last 20 games before getting injured.

-> See full props for Rockets vs. Lakers!

I’m sure he won’t play 40 minutes on Christmas, but I’m also skeptical we’ll see drastically reduced minutes, given that L.A. punted Tuesday’s game after a slow start with Luka Doncic sidelined.

Reaves’ 775 minutes entering Tuesday were second-most on the team behind Rui Hachimura.

Houston is a great defensive team, but Reaves has three solid games against them last year while not shooting with a ton of volume.

He should be able to replicate that effort on Thursday.

Key stat: Reaves averaged 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists (30 PRA) against Houston last year. He went 2-1 against this line while taking 13 shots per game.

Embed: #122385

Best NBA picks

Flagg over 5.5 rebounds (-148): Flagg is having a moment this month, averaging a monster 24.1 PPG while adding 6.2 rebounds a night.

The No. 1 pick has been especially dominant over his last five:

27.6 PPG
7.2 RPG
4-1 vs. this line

I think there’s a good case to back Flagg as a scorer against the Warriors, but I want to hone in on the forward’s rebounding abilities, instead.

Flagg had nine boards against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday and recorded 10 against the rough-rider Detroit Pistons a few days before that.

The undersized Warriors should be easy pickings compared to those squads.

Golden State is 21st in rebounding rate and gives up the sixth-most rebounds per game to power forwards, where Flagg should be playing if P.J. Washington remains sidelined.

-> Don’t miss out — go to full betting markets for the NBA Christmas Day slate

NBA player prop predictions

Wembanyama over 8.5 rebounds (-139): In a perfect world, Wembanyama’s minutes restriction gets pulled on Thursday.

Seeing the French phenom return to 30-plus minutes a night would be the best Christmas present NBA fans could ask for.

But Wemby should be in a good spot to clear this line, even if he plays around his now-typical 23-25 minutes a game.

He has nine rebounds in 21 minutes when he returned to face OKC in the NBA Cup final on Dec. 23, and has two 12-rebound games since then.

-> Bet on Wembanyama against the defending champs!

Wemby did only have five boards in a blowout, 130-110 win over the Thunder on Tuesday, but I’ll view that as an outlier performance.

OKC is 20th in rebounding rate and might be missing big man Chet Holmgren, who exited Tuesday’s game with an injury.

NBA prop picks made at 9:11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets Dec. 23: Fade Scottie Barnes amid scoring slump

The Toronto Raptors look to end a recent slide on the road in South Beach against the Miami Heat.

The latest: Just last week, the Raptors beat the Heat in Miami as 5-point underdogs. Still, Toronto is just 2-6 in its past eight and has slid into the mediocre middle of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. On Tuesday night, the Raps are 5.5-point dogs.

Check out my Raptors vs. Heat prop bets for Dec. 23, featuring predictions on Kel’el Ware and Scottie Barnes.

-> Join NorthStar Bets and start betting on the NBA today!

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets Dec. 23

Best bet: Ware over 12.5 rebounds (-118)

I don’t understand the Heat’s lineup decisions for Ware, who has bounced in and out of the starting rotation throughout the season. But I think he’s earned an extended run as a starter moving forward.

The second-year centre has started in 19 of 29 games, including each of the past three. And the results were excellent:

Dec. 18: 30 min, 22 pts, 12 reb
Dec. 19: 28 min, 24 pts, 14 reb
Dec. 21: 34 min, 28 pts, 19 reb

It’s worth noting that Bam Adebayo played in all three of those games, so it’s not as if Ware is just benefiting from a fellow big man’s absence.

-> Full Raptors vs. Heat prop markets at NorthStar Bets

But speaking of absences, Ware should prosper from the fact that Jakob Poeltl (back) is out tonight for Toronto.

Poeltl is the only Raptor who’s taller than 6-foot-9 and heavier than 240 pounds, and his lack of size will leave more rebounding opportunities for Ware.

As mentioned, Ware has had some inconsistencies this year moving in and out of Miami’s starting lineup. But the last time he received an extended look as a starter, the results spoke for themselves.

From Nov. 7-24, Ware started in nine of 10 games for the Heat. He went 7-3 vs. this prop while averaging 13.9 RPG.

Key stat: Ware had 13 rebounds against the Raptors in just 19:20 off the bench on Dec. 15.

-> Wager on Tuesday’s 14-game NBA slate

Raptors picks and predictions

Barnes under 19.5 points (-118): This under is 19-11 this season for Barnes, who’s averaging 19.1 PPG.

In other words, he’s generally a strong fade candidate at this number. And he’s slumping right now, which bolsters my case.

Barnes has gone under 19.5 points in six of his past seven games. He’s averaging 14.7 PPG and shooting 44.0% from the field in that span.

One notable aspect is Barnes’ 3-point shooting. He’s only 6-for-27 (22.2%) from deep in his past seven games.

Prior to that, he’d shot 41.5% from 3-point range over his first 23 games.

-> Check out Barnes’ full prop markets vs. the Heat!

Miami has really locked things up defensively in recent weeks, ranking fifth in the NBA in defensive rating over its past 15 games.

This isn’t a team Barnes is going to enjoy running into amid a slump.

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets made at 11:33 a.m. ET on Dec. 23, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Rockets vs. Clippers SGP predictions Dec. 23: Back Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard on Tuesday

The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers close out Tuesday’s 14-game NBA slate at Intuit Dome.

The pregame narrative: Houston has cooled off following a red-hot November, but the visitor is still a sizeable road favourite tonight against the downtrodden Clippers. Los Angeles has lost 14 of its past 16 games and is 4-8 at home this season.

Check out my Rockets vs. Clippers SGP predictions for Dec. 23, featuring Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

-> Join NorthStar Bets to start betting on the NBA

Rockets vs. Clippers predictions

Parlay: Rockets -3.5 | Durant 2+ threes | Leonard 6+ rebounds (+270)

Rockets -3.5 (-240): The Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday by toppling their cross-town rival Lakers, 103-88.

But let’s not throw a party for them. Austin Reaves was sidelined, Luka Doncic got hurt mid-game, and the Clippers still barely managed to crack 100 points.

L.A. has the eighth-worst offensive rating and sixth-worst net rating in the NBA. The team is pretty much worth fading on a nightly basis.

-> Bet on NBA futures at NorthStar Bets

Houston is 5-5 in its last 10 games, but that includes a win over the Clippers.

Overall, the Rockets are third in net rating and sport a solid 7-6 ATS record as road favourites. I’m happy to back the better team on a teased-down margin.

Embed: #122368

NBA SGP legs

Durant 2+ threes (-210): Durant isn’t putting up 30 points a night anymore … but he’s not far off.

KD is averaging 25.3 PPG on 50.9/43.5/89.3 shooting splits, and he’s been red-hot from beyond the arc over his last 10 games:

2.6 threes/game
53.1% shooting
2+ threes eight times

-> Back Durant and Leonard on Tuesday night

He went 3-of-5 from deep against the Clippers earlier this month, and he shouldn’t have a difficult time replicating that stat line.

Los Angeles allows the third-highest opponent 3-point percentage in the NBA (38.1%).

Leonard 6+ rebounds (-159): This is a tough matchup for Leonard. The Rockets have the best rebounding rate in the NBA, thanks in part to a breadth of capable bigs coming off the bench.

But that didn’t matter to Leonard on Dec. 11, when he had nine rebounds in 41 minutes.

Kawhi has been crashing the glass this month and playing a ton of minutes. That makes me confident he can reach this milestone against any team.

He’s averaging 35.4 minutes in December and has six-plus rebounds in seven of his last nine games.

Additionally, Clippers big man — and the NBA’s No. 3 rebounder — Ivica Zubac is out with an ankle sprain. That means Leonard should have an even bigger role on the glass.

Rockets vs. Clippers predictions made at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Looking to get started? Sign up here.

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets Dec. 23: Fade Scottie Barnes amid scoring slump

The Toronto Raptors look to end a recent slide on the road in South Beach against the Miami Heat.

The latest: Just last week, the Raptors beat the Heat in Miami as 5-point underdogs. Still, Toronto is just 2-6 in its past eight and has slid into the mediocre middle of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. On Tuesday night, the Raps are 5.5-point dogs.

Check out my Raptors vs. Heat prop bets for Dec. 23, featuring predictions on Kel’el Ware and Scottie Barnes.

-> Join NorthStar Bets and start betting on the NBA today!

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets Dec. 23

Best bet: Ware over 11.5 rebounds (-134)

I don’t understand the Heat’s lineup decisions for Ware, who has bounced in and out of the starting rotation throughout the season. But I think he’s earned an extended run as a starter moving forward.

The second-year centre has started in 19 of 29 games, including each of the past three. And the results were excellent:

Dec. 18: 30 min, 22 pts, 12 reb
Dec. 19: 28 min, 24 pts, 14 reb
Dec. 21: 34 min, 28 pts, 19 reb

It’s worth noting that Bam Adebayo played in all three of those games, so it’s not as if Ware is just benefiting from a fellow big man’s absence.

-> Full Raptors vs. Heat prop markets at NorthStar Bets

But speaking of absences, Ware should prosper from the fact that Jakob Poeltl (back) is out tonight for Toronto.

Poeltl is the only Raptor who’s taller than 6-foot-9 and heavier than 240 pounds, and his lack of size will leave more rebounding opportunities for Ware.

As mentioned, Ware has had some inconsistencies this year moving in and out of Miami’s starting lineup. But the last time he received an extended look as a starter, the results spoke for themselves.

From Nov. 7-24, Ware started in nine of 10 games for the Heat. He went 8-2 vs. this prop while averaging 13.9 RPG.

Key stat: Ware had 13 rebounds against the Raptors in just 19:20 off the bench on Dec. 15.

Embed: #122365

-> Wager on Tuesday’s 14-game NBA slate

Raptors picks and predictions

Barnes under 19.5 points (-112): This under is 19-11 this season for Barnes, who’s averaging 19.1 PPG.

In other words, he’s generally a strong fade candidate at this number. And he’s slumping right now, which bolsters my case.

Barnes has gone under 19.5 points in six of his past seven games. He’s averaging 14.7 PPG and shooting 44.0% from the field in that span.

One notable aspect is Barnes’ 3-point shooting. He’s only 6-for-27 (22.2%) from deep in his past seven games.

Prior to that, he’d shot 41.5% from 3-point range over his first 23 games.

-> Check out Barnes’ full prop markets vs. the Heat!

Miami has really locked things up defensively in recent weeks, ranking fifth in the NBA in defensive rating over its past 15 games.

This isn’t a team Barnes is going to enjoy running into amid a slump.

Raptors vs. Heat prop bets made at 11:33 a.m. ET on Dec. 23, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Best NBA prop picks Dec. 23: Look for Reaves and Young to shine on offence

Two nights before Christmas, the NBA is stocked with a 14-game slate.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: On Tuesday, Trae Young should have a field day against the Chicago Bulls in a matchup between two teams ranked in the top five in pace. Later on, Devin Vassell has even-money value from 3-point land against the defending champs.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 23, featuring a prediction on Austin Reaves.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA prop picks Dec. 23

Best bet: Reaves over 27.5 points (-125)

Reaves has missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ past three games with a calf strain, and he’s questionable to play tonight. Obviously, that’s a situation to monitor.

But if Reaves does return tonight, he’s well worth a play at this number because his backcourt mate, Luka Doncic, is sidelined with an injury of his own.

So far, Reaves has played five games without Doncic this season. And his scoring numbers are off the charts:

40.0 PPG
52.3 FG%
41.7 3PT%
28+ points in 5 of 5

On the season, Reaves’ 27.8 PPG scoring average ranks 11th in the NBA. Doncic (34.1 PPG) is the league’s top scorer).

Only one other team has multiple players averaging 25-plus points each, but no one has a tandem that’s putting up more than 60 combined.

-> See full props for Lakers vs. Suns!

The point is, Reaves and Doncic score in bunches together … and Reaves should be even more emboldened to get buckets without the NBA’s top scorer.

On Tuesday, Reaves will face the Phoenix Suns for the second time this month. He had a quiet showing in their Dec. 1 matchup (16 points on 6-of-12 shooting), but that was a Doncic takeover game (38 points on 15-of-26 shooting).

Hopefully, Reaves is the one taking over tonight.

Key stat: Reaves is 5-0 vs. this points prop without Doncic this season.

Best NBA picks

Vassell over 2.5 threes (+100): Vassell is in a groove from beyond the arc, cashing this bet in nine of his past 14 games while shooting 44.9% from deep. This is an excellent time to buy in.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has the No. 1 defence in the NBA, so tonight’s matchup might not seem like a good one for Vassell. But OKC’s 3-point defence isn’t as daunting.

The Thunder allow the ninth-most 3s on the seventh-most attempts per game. Vassell went 4-for-9 from deep against OKC just 10 days ago.

-> Full betting markets for Tuesday’s NBA slate

Victor Wembanyama has been coming off the bench for the Spurs since returning from injury, and his 3-point volume has taken a hit during that time. He has only attempted 11 threes in four games as a reserve.

The runway is clear for Vassell to put up a bunch of 3s and cash a few of them.

NBA player prop predictions

Young over 33.5 points/rebounds/assists (-110): Tonight’s projected total for the Bulls vs. Hawks matchup is a league-high 253 points.

This should be a track meet, with Young running wild.

The Bulls and Hawks just played two nights ago in Atlanta, and the visitors came away with a 152-150 win. In only 26 minutes, Young had 35 points, nine assists and a rebound.

Back in October, Young also cashed this bet in a 128-123 loss to Chicago (21 points, 17 assists, three rebounds).

-> Bet on Trae Young in a fast-paced Bulls vs. Hawks matchup!

In five matchups against Chicago since the start of last season, Young is averaging 40.0 PRA. This is a smash play as far as I’m concerned.

NBA prop picks made at 9:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 23, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Best NBA prop picks Dec. 23: Look for Reaves and Young to shine on offence

Two nights before Christmas, the NBA is stocked with a 14-game slate.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: On Tuesday, Trae Young should have a field day against the Chicago Bulls in a matchup between two teams ranked in the top five in pace. Later on, Devin Vassell has plus-money value from 3-point land against the defending champs.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 23, featuring a prediction on Austin Reaves.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA prop picks Dec. 23

Best bet: Reaves over 28.5 points (-106)

Reaves has missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ past three games with a calf strain, and he’s questionable to play tonight. Obviously, that’s a situation to monitor.

But if Reaves does return tonight, he’s well worth a play at this number because his backcourt mate, Luka Doncic, is sidelined with an injury of his own.

So far, Reaves has played five games without Doncic this season. And his scoring numbers are off the charts:

40.0 PPG
52.3 FG%
41.7 3PT%
28+ points in 5 of 5

On the season, Reaves’ 27.8 PPG scoring average ranks 11th in the NBA. Doncic (34.1 PPG) is the league’s top scorer).

Only one other team has multiple players averaging 25-plus points each, but no one has a tandem that’s putting up more than 60 combined.

-> See full props for Lakers vs. Suns!

The point is, Reaves and Doncic score in bunches together … and Reaves should be even more emboldened to get buckets without the NBA’s top scorer.

On Tuesday, Reaves will face the Phoenix Suns for the second time this month. He had a quiet showing in their Dec. 1 matchup (16 points on 6-of-12 shooting), but that was a Doncic takeover game (38 points on 15-of-26 shooting).

Hopefully, Reaves is the one taking over tonight.

Key stat: Reaves is 4-1 vs. this points prop without Doncic this season, landing on exactly 28 points in the outlier.

Embed: #122361

Best NBA picks

Vassell over 2.5 threes (+125): Vassell is in a groove from beyond the arc, cashing this bet in nine of his past 14 games while shooting 44.9% from deep. This is an excellent time to buy in.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has the No. 1 defence in the NBA, so tonight’s matchup might not seem like a good one for Vassell. But OKC’s 3-point defence isn’t as daunting.

The Thunder allow the ninth-most 3s on the seventh-most attempts per game. Vassell went 4-for-9 from deep against OKC just 10 days ago.

-> Full betting markets for Tuesday’s NBA slate

Victor Wembanyama has been coming off the bench for the Spurs since returning from injury, and his 3-point volume has taken a hit during that time. He has only attempted 11 threes in four games as a reserve.

The runway is clear for Vassell to put up a bunch of 3s and cash a few of them.

NBA player prop predictions

Young over 33.5 points/rebounds/assists (-120): Tonight’s projected total for the Bulls vs. Hawks matchup is a league-high 252 points.

This should be a track meet, with Young running wild.

The Bulls and Hawks just played two nights ago in Atlanta, and the visitors came away with a 152-150 win. In only 26 minutes, Young had 35 points, nine assists and a rebound.

Back in October, Young also cashed this bet in a 128-123 loss to Chicago (21 points, 17 assists, three rebounds).

-> Bet on Trae Young in a fast-paced Bulls vs. Hawks matchup!

In five matchups against Chicago since the start of last season, Young is averaging 40.0 PRA. This is a smash play as far as I’m concerned.

NBA prop picks made at 9:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 23, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Magic vs. Warriors SGP predictions Dec. 22: Bet on Jimmy Butler to continue hot streak

The Golden State Warriors are failing to meet expectations so far this season.

The pregame narrative: The Warriors are currently on the outside looking in on the Western Conference playoffs. They beat the Phoenix Suns last time out and can start to build a win streak against the Orlando Magic.

Check out my Magic vs. Warriors SGP predictions for Dec. 22, featuring Jimmy Butler and Anthony Black.

-> Join NorthStar Bets to start betting on the NBA

Magic vs. Warriors predictions

Parlay: Warriors ML | Butler over 20.5 points | Black over 16.5 points (+360)

Warriors moneyline (-215): Golden State is a much better team playing at home.

The problem is, the team has been a victim of a road-heavy schedule.

In December, the Warriors have played just three home games. Overall, they are 8-4 at Chase Center this season, which looks better than their actual record of 14-15.

-> Bet on NBA futures at NorthStar Bets

Orlando is below .500 on the road (6-7) and is currently dealing with a loaded injury report.

Franz Wagner remains sidelined, while Jalen Suggs is doubtful to play while he recovers from a hip injury.

Missing two starters is going to be hard to overcome against the Warriors in Golden State.

Embed: #122347

NBA SGP legs

Butler over 20.5 points (-118): This pick relies heavily on Butler’s volume, but he’s decided to be more aggressive recently, which is a good sign.

He’s taken 17 or more shots in back-to-back games while easily clearing this total twice and averaging 28.0 points.

Butler has been incredibly efficient this year. He shoots 51.5% from the field and over 40% from 3.

The issue is that he averages just over 12 shots a night. The Warriors need him to be more selfish if they want to make a playoff push.

He’s only taken more than 17 shots in one other game this season, so I have to assume the recent uptick is because of a focused effort to get Butler more involved.

For that reason, I see another high-scoring effort from the Warriors veteran on Monday.

-> Back Butler and Black on Monday night

Black over 16.5 points (-125): The young point guard should continue to see increased opportunity with Suggs doubtful to return for this contest.

Black starts in place of Suggs and averages 34.2 minutes per game as a starter. When playing 30+ minutes, he averages 16.1 points.

On top of that, the second-year pro is red hot right now, playing arguably the best basketball of his young career.

Black has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games and in four of his last 10.

Finally, the Warriors struggle to guard his position. They allow the seventh most points per game to opposing point guards (26.94).

Magic vs. Warriors predictions made at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Looking to get started? Sign up here.

Best NBA prop picks Dec. 22: Fade Cunningham, back White and Queen on Monday

I’m tapping into three different NBA games for my best prop bets on Monday.

Today’s NBA props narrative: Derrick White has been torching teams from range, and I like the over on his 3-point prop against the Indiana Pacers. Later on, fade Cade Cunningham as a passer when the Detroit Pistons take on the Portland Trail Blazers.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 22, featuring New Orleans Pelicans’ rookie Derik Queen.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA prop picks Dec. 22

Best bet: White over 3.5 threes (-130)

I’m surprised to see Whites’ 3-pointers set at 3.5 with how he’s been lighting it up recently.

The sharpshooting guard has a rare mix of high volume and elite efficiency. Look at some of his recent performances.

Dec. 20 @ Toronto: 15 points, 4-for-12 3PT

Dec. 19 vs. Miami: 33 points, 9-for-14 3PT

Dec. 15 vs. Detroit: 31 points, 5-for-12 3PT

The interesting part about all three of those teams is that they each rank inside the top 10 for defensive rating.

-> See full props for Pacers vs. Celtics!

That’s not the case with the Pacers, who have a bottom-half defence.

But it doesn’t matter all that much with how White lets it fly. For the season, he has taken 267 threes compared to only 169 two-point attempts.

He truly is one of a kind when it comes to his three-point volume and efficiency.

Key stat: Overall, White has hit 4+ threes in seven of his past eight games, while shooting 41.7% from deep.

Best NBA picks

Cunningham under 9.5 assists (-106): There’s no arguing that Cunningham is one of the best playmakers in the NBA.

But he hasn’t been reaching this total all that often.

Over his past 17 games, Cunningham is 4-13 on the over, averaging 8.4 assists per game.

That includes a game against the Blazers, where he played a full workload (36 minutes) and finished with nine assists.

He barely went under this total, but it feels like that is closer to his ceiling right now rather than his floor.

The star point guard puts up over 20 shots a night, so he often takes on more of a scoring role.

Of course, he can still put up double-digit assists on any given night, but I’m willing to side with his recent results and fade Cunningham against the Blazers.

-> F ull betting markets for Monday’s NBA slate

NBA player prop predictions

Queen over 12.5 points (-112): Queen is quietly making a case for Rookie of the Year.

He’s averaging 13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. However, as he gets more comfortable at the NBA level, he’s put together some monstrous performances.

Queen is 9-6 on this wager over his past 15 games, averaging 15.4 points on 54.5% shooting.

-> Bet on rookie sensation Derik Queen!

On Dec. 8, he recorded a 33-point triple-double, showcasing the high ceiling of his offensive abilities.

With players like Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole working their way back into the lineup, you’d assume Queen has lost his starting spot, but he remains an integral part of the lineup.

He’s 2-1 on this wager since Williamson returned to the rotation.

NBA prop picks made at 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 22, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!

Best NBA prop picks Dec. 22: Fade Cunningham, back White and Queen on Monday

I’m tapping into three different NBA games for my best prop bets on Monday.

Today’s NBA props narrative: Derrick White has been torching teams from range, and I like the over on his 3-point prop against the Indiana Pacers. Later on, fade Cade Cunningham as a passer when the Detroit Pistons take on the Portland Trail Blazers.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 22, featuring New Orleans Pelicans’ rookie Derik Queen.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA prop picks Dec. 22

Best bet: White over 3.5 threes (-115)

I’m surprised to see Whites’ 3-pointers set at 3.5 with how he’s been lighting it up recently.

The sharpshooting guard has a rare mix of high volume and elite efficiency. Look at some of his recent performances.

Dec. 20 @ Toronto: 15 points, 4-for-12 3PT

Dec. 19 vs. Miami: 33 points, 9-for-14 3PT

Dec. 15 vs. Detroit: 31 points, 5-for-12 3PT

The interesting part about all three of those teams is that they each rank inside the top 10 for defensive rating.

-> See full props for Pacers vs. Celtics!

That’s not the case with the Pacers, who have a bottom-half defence.

But it doesn’t matter all that much with how White lets it fly. For the season, he has taken 267 threes compared to only 169 two-point attempts.

He truly is one of a kind when it comes to his three-point volume and efficiency.

Key stat: Overall, White has hit 4+ threes in seven of his past eight games, while shooting 41.7% from deep.

Embed: #122339

Best NBA picks

Cunningham under 9.5 assists (-104): There’s no arguing that Cunningham is one of the best playmakers in the NBA.

But he hasn’t been reaching this total all that often.

Over his past 17 games, Cunningham is 4-13 on the over, averaging 8.4 assists per game.

That includes a game against the Blazers, where he played a full workload (36 minutes) and finished with nine assists.

He barely went under this total, but it feels like that is closer to his ceiling right now rather than his floor.

The star point guard puts up over 20 shots a night, so he often takes on more of a scoring role.

Of course, he can still put up double-digit assists on any given night, but I’m willing to side with his recent results and fade Cunningham against the Blazers.

-> Full betting markets for Monday’s NBA slate

NBA player prop predictions

Queen over 12.5 points (-130): Queen is quietly making a case for Rookie of the Year.

He’s averaging 13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. However, as he gets more comfortable at the NBA level, he’s put together some monstrous performances.

Queen is 9-6 on this wager over his past 15 games, averaging 15.4 points on 54.5% shooting.

-> Bet on rookie sensation Derik Queen!

On Dec. 8, he recorded a 33-point triple-double, showcasing the high ceiling of his offensive abilities.

With players like Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole working their way back into the lineup, you’d assume Queen has lost his starting spot, but he remains an integral part of the lineup.

He’s 2-1 on this wager since Williamson returned to the rotation.

NBA prop picks made at 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 22, 2025.

-> Sign up to NorthStar Bets today!