NBA Best Bets for December 23: The Spurs Are on the Rise
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Spread Astaire
- December 23, 2024
Top NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs +5.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The NBA has a packed schedule to start the week off right. Let’s find the two best games to target in order to make winning NBA picks at the top-rated sportsbooks.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, December 23, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Wells Fargo Center
The San Antonio Spurs are a franchise that’s headed in the right direction. The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that is on the decline. The San Antonio Spurs will look to take their winning streak to Philadelphia and get another win.
Young Talent Shines
The San Antonio Spurs have won two games in a row and 4 of their last five.
Their most recent game was a 114-94 win at home over the Portland Trail Blazers. In the game, Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama had 30 points and 10 blocked shots. He was the first player to have 30 points and 10 block shots in a game since 2008 and only the sixth player of all time to achieve that.
The San Antonio Spurs have a young center who plays the game the right way. The Philadelphia 76ers have an aging center who cannot keep himself healthy and is not dedicated to the sport of basketball.
From Promise to Problem
Philadelphia 76ers fans were happy when the process brought them Joel Embiid. Unfortunately for the 76ers, Embiid is a self-proclaimed internet troll who does not put in the necessary work to be prepared to play basketball.
Embiid’s conditioning is suspect as he is often times carrying extra weight, which is not good for a player who is suffering from knee issues. Now Joel Embiid is stuck in the cycle of rushing himself back to play while trying to rehab and stay in shape with injured knees.
It appears that the 76ers have already missed the peak of Embiid’s career, and now they will be stuck paying for a brittle player who is past his prime.
High Costs, Low Returns
The 76ers were hoping to have a little more time in this championship window with Joel Embiid and to make a push for an elusive title team now. The 76ers acquired Paul George for a max contract. However, at age 32, it appears that George’s best days are already behind him.
His skills and athleticism are starting to decline. George is more concerned with podcasting than he is playing winning basketball. So now the 76ers are stuck with their two best players eating up a ton of salary cap and neither of which are dedicated to the sport of basketball when it comes to preparation, fitness, and training.
The Pick
When these two teams take the floor I will take the franchise that is building right around hard-working young players over the franchise who has pushed all in with two players who aren’t completely dedicated to the sport of basketball.
The Spurs are a team on the rise and will be threatening to win the West within a couple seasons. The Sixers are mired in mediocrity and tonight’s game will show just that.
Take the team on the rise, take the team that does things right, take the San Antonio Spurs +5.5.
NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs +5.5 (-110) at BetOnline
Indiana Pacers vs. Golden State Warriors
Monday, December 23, 2024 – 10:00 PM ET at Chase Center
Four-Game Win Streak
Even though the Indiana Pacers are only 14-15 this season, they have won 4 straight games. Their most recent victory was yesterday when they defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-95 in Sacramento.
While beating the Kings doesn’t mean much (the Kings are an absolutely terrible franchise that nobody in the league respects), it was important for the Pacers to notch another win. In the win, the Pacers played team basketball and recorded 35 assists on 50 field goals.
Finding Momentum
The Golden State Warriors’ most recent game was a 113-103 win in Minnesota where the Timberwolves were favored by four points. Stephen Curry scored 31 points and dropped seven three-pointers in the win. This win helped Golden State get back on track after a terrible 144-93 loss to Memphis on Thursday night.
I expect the Warriors to keep their good play going after their losing streak. The Warriors got things back on track against Minnesota and they will face a tired Indiana team who had to play yesterday. The Warriors are better at most positions and can beat the Pacers at their own game. Both teams like to play up-tempo and have smaller lineups.
The Pick
This will play right into the Warriors’ hands as the Pacers do not have the firepower to keep up with the Warriors. The fatigue will be too much for the Pacers to overcome.
Take the Golden State Warriors -5.5
NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors -5.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
