December 17th NBA Player Props – Friday’s Best Bets Including Hawks vs Nuggets & Spurs vs Jazz

• Even as postponements hit the NBA schedule hard, we’ve got plenty of action on Friday night
• Title contenders and MVP candidates are taking to the hardwood, though several rosters are dealing with Covid-19 absentees
• Read below for Friday night’s player prop odds and best bets

Friday night’s NBA slate is loaded with interesting games. Some of the intrigue has decreased given the absences, and postponements are possible, but given the Covid-19 situation around the league, we are fortunate to have a strong selection of games.

There’s a Florida matchup to get the night started with the Magic hosting the depleted Heat. Golden State’s lengthy road trip continues in Boston, while MVP contender Nikola Jokic takes on the inconsistent Atlanta Hawks. Fresh off Devonte’ Graham’s historic game-winner, the Pelicans host the reigning champion Bucks before the Jazz and Spurs matchup in Utah.

Uncertainty surrounds the Lakers’ game against the Timberwolves with Russell Westbrook and Avery Bradley becoming two of the latest players to test positive. Charlotte is getting back to full strength ahead of their game with Portland – LaMelo Ball is listed as questionable. Charlotte is 1.5-point underdogs for the game in Oregon.

NBA Player Props – December 17th

Odds as of Dec 17 at FanDuel

Capela Gets to Dunking

Denver is a middling team at preventing opponents getting to the rim. They are dead-last in opponent field goal percentage in the restricted area.

While Nikola Jokic’s defense has improved immeasurably, the Serbian is not a rim protector in the traditional sense. The Joker is matching up with a paint-dominant center on Friday night in Clint Capela. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert have more dunks than Capela this season, who feeds off putbacks and lobs from Trae Young.

Clint Capela on the Hawks' 4th quarter struggles:

"The intensity's got to be there. I don't think it's mistakes, scheme-wise, it's just energy. Do you want more than than the team in front of you? … It's just, do you want it more than the guy in front of you, or not?"

— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) December 14, 2021

Capela takes 80% of his shots at the rim. Only five players take a higher percentage of their field goals from within three feet.

Although averaging just 10 points per game over the last eight, the points line is low for Capela against Denver. He scored 14 when these teams last met, despite missing all of his three free throw attempts. He put up 32 points across two games against Jokic and the Nuggets last season.

Take the over. Capela should add a few more to his dunk tally on Friday night.

• Pick: Clint Capela over 11.5 points (-112)

Murray Locks Up Mitchell

Only five players have more defensive win shares than Dejounte Murray. The Spurs might be bottom-10 in defense over the last five, but extend that period to 10 games, and they are 10th. Their backcourt of Murray and Derrick White is a special defensive pairing, the sort of tandem that can give even the league’s best scorers a tough night.

“I think Dejounte Murray and Derrick White are very quietly one of the more dangerous backcourts.” – Nuggets Coach Mike Malone

Malone talked about how the Spurs’ defense turns teams over.

— Paul Garcia (@PaulGarciaNBA) December 10, 2021

Donovan Mitchell will be getting most of Murray and White’s attention on Friday. Mitchell has gone over this line in six of seven, but his season average is still languishing at 24.8 points per game.

Mitchell mustered only 22 in his lone matchup with San Antonio last season. That was in slightly fewer minutes than usual, yet a similar situation is possible this time round. Utah is miles better than the Spurs, and could win in a blowout, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be an easy night for Mitchell. The egalitarian nature of Utah’s offense could lead to a drop-off in Mitchell’s shot attempts against such good defenders.

Three players in the NBA this season with 350+ points, 100+ assists and 20+ blocks:

Derrick White
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant

— Jordan Howenstine (@AirlessJordan) December 13, 2021

San Antonio won’t give away points to Mitchell at the free throw line. The length of Murray and White can make it difficult on the perimeter, while Jakob Poeltl lurks at the rim. The under is our pick here.

• Pick: Donovan Mitchell under 25.5 points (-108)