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

Sam Cox

by Sam Cox in NBA Basketball

Updated Dec 17, 2021 · 6:18 AM PST

Capela rebounding
Dec 13, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) gets a rebound against the Houston Rockets during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
  • 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

MIA @ ORL Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Kyle Lowry (MIA) 17.5 (O +100 | U -122) 4.5 (O +106 | U -130) 9.5 (O +104 | U -128) 2.5 (O -115 | U -113)
Duncan Robinson (MIA) 14.5 (O -110 | U -110) 3.5 (O -118 | U -104) OFF 3.5 (O +114 | U -146)
Gabe Vincent (MIA) 13.5 (O -106 | U -116) 3.5 (O +118 | U -144) 4.5 (O -108 | U -112) 2.5 (O +126 | U -162)
GSW @ BOS Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Jayson Tatum (BOS) 27.5 (O -118 | U -104) 8.5 (O +104 | U -128) 3.5 (O -128 | U +104) 2.5 (O -146 | U +114)
Al Horford (BOS) 11.5 (O -110 | U -110) 7.5 (O +104 | U -128) 3.5 (O +114 | U -140) 1.5 (O +126 | U -162)
Marcus Smart (BOS) 11.5 (O -110 | U -110) 3.5 (O -120 | U -102) 5.5 (O +108 | U -132) 1.5 (O +142 | U -184)
DEN @ ATL Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Nikola Jokic (DEN) 26.5 (O +100 | U -122) 11.5 (O -128 | U +104) 8.5 (O +104 | U -128) 1.5 (O -113 | U -113)
Will Barton (DEN) 15.5 (O -116 | U -106) 4.5 (O +100 | U -122) 3.5 (O +108 | U -132) 2.5 (O +100 | U -128)
Trae Young (ATL) 26.5 (O -110 | U -110) 3.5 (O -150 | U +122) 10.5 (O +116 | U -142) 2.5 (O -136 | U +106)
Clint Capela (ATL) 11.5 (O -112 | U -110) 12.5 (O +110 | U -134) OFF OFF
MIL @ NOP Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Khris Middleton (MIL) 21.5 (O -112 | U -108) 7.5 (O +112 | U -138) 5.5 (O +108 | U -132) 2.5 (O +102 | U -130)
Jrue Holiday (MIL) 18.5 (O -110 | U -110) 5.5 (O +104 | U -128) 7.5 (O -115 | U -105) 1.5 (O -115 | U -111)
Brandon Ingram (NOP) 23.5 (O -110 | U -110) 5.5 (O -110 | U -110) 4.5 (O -138 | U +112) 2.5 (O +134 | U -172)
Jonas Valanciunas (NOP) 19.5 (O -106 | U -116) 13.5 (O +110 | U -134) 2.5 (O +110 | U -134) 0.5 (O -172 | U +134)
SAS @ UTA Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Dejounte Murray (SAS) 18.5 (O -104 | U -118) 7.5 (O +102 | U -124) 7.5 (O +114 | U -140) 1.5 (O +176 | U -230)
Derrick White (SAS) 16.5 (O -102 | U -120) 3.5 (O -124 | U +102) 4.5 (O +118 | U -144) 1.5 (O -128 | U +100)
Donovan Mitchell (UTA) 25.5 (O -114 | U -108) 3.5 (O -104 | U -118) 5.5 (O +110 | U -134) 3.5 (O +112 | U -142)
Rudy Gobert (UTA) 14.5 (O -110 | U -110) 14.5 (O +104 | U -128) OFF OFF
CHA @ POR Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Damian Lillard (POR) 24.5 (O -108 | U -114) 3.5 (O -128 | U +104) 8.5 (O -114 | U -106) 3.5 (O -106 | U -120)
Jusuf Nurkic (POR) 16.5 (O -108 | U -114) 12.5 (O +110 | U -134) 3.5 (O +106 | U -130) OFF
LAL @ MIN Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 25.5 (O -104 | U -114) 9.5 (O -105 | U -115) 3.5 (O +114 | U -140) 2.5 (O +134 | U -172)
Anthony Edwards (MIN) 22.5 (O -104 | U -118) 5.5 (O +106 | U -130) 3.5 (O +116 | U -142) 3.5 (O +134 | U -172)
D’Angelo Russell (MIN) 20.5 (O -110 | U -110) 3.5 (O -144 | U +118) 5.5 (O -122 | U +100) 3.5 (O +138 | U -172)

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.

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.

YouTube video

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.

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.

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)
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