Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 18th

With the 2017-18 NBA season set to turn the calendar to the new year in just a couple of weeks, it’s time for another round of expert NBA picks of the week. Whether you’re looking to give your annual NBA betting bankroll a big-time boost or you’re hoping to get back in the black after a rough start, you’re going to have a great opportunity to do just that thanks to the latest NBA lines and the trio of picks that you’re about to get.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 18th

Check out the Top 10 Plays from Week 9 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/0i0xugFbez

— NBA.com (@NBAcom) 18 de diciembre de 2017

Memphis (9-21) at Golden State (23-6)

• When: Wednesday, December 20 at 10:30 PM ET
• Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

The Grizzlies have gone 2-8 over their last 10 games and enter the new week coming off a 102-93 home loss to Boston on Saturday night while falling to 1-6 over their last seven games. After coming back from 21 points down to take a 73-71 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Memphis fell apart and gave up 16 straight points to start the final period. “When you play a team like this with guys that can shoot and create the way that they can, they make you pay for mistakes,” Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “And you’ve got to give them credit, they created a lot of those mistakes.” Golden State has won eight straight and got 36 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Kevin Durant in their 112-97 win over Dallas on Thursday – all with starters, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia sidelined. For this Wednesday night matchup, Golden State is the easy pick to win, making the spread the only thing you’ve really got to worry about. I’m going to say that if the Dubs are less than 12 point favorites, take them to cover. If they’re somewhere around 15 faves, you might want to use some caution. Score Prediction: Golden State Warriors 115 – Memphis  Grizzlies 103

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Memphis is 4-13-1 ATS in its last 18 games
• Memphis is 2-16 SU in its last 18 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Memphis’s last 15 games
• Golden State is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
• Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State’s last 6 games

Toronto (20-8) at Philadelphia (14-14)

• When: Thursday, December 21 at 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Toronto is on fire, having won three straight and nine of the last ten including their 108-93 win over Sacramento on Sunday night in Vince Carter’s return. DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 21 points and veteran center Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points and 16 rebounds in the win. Philly has dropped seven of its last 10 games and hit the new week coming off a thrilling 119-117 triple-overtime against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in which there was so much trash talking I was transported back to the 1980s. Joel Embiid had 34 points and Ben Simmons added 12 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Toronto will be favored in this contest despite being on the road, but I’m going with Philly to get the home upset simply because they’re young and hungry and equally good at home (7-7) and on the road (7-7). Score Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers 108 – Toronto Raptors 105

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Philadelphia is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
• Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
• Toronto is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
• Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games

San Antonio (20-10) at Sacramento (9-20)

• When: Saturday, December 23 at 10:00 PM ET
• Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA

The Spurs have won seven of the last ten and hit the new week coming off a thrilling 98-96 win over Dallas in which they finished off the Mavs with a 13-0 game-ending run that was concluded by Manu Ginobili’s game-winning layup with 3.5 seconds remaining. “Man, with Manu, when it’s crunch time, I think he’s going to make everything,” said point guard Dejounte Murray. “That’s just Manu. Manu’s gonna Manu.” Sacramento has lost six of 10 and hits the new week riding a two-game losing streak that includes a humbling 108-93 loss to Toronto o Sunday. The Kings, who lost for the fifth time in seven games, were without leading scorer and rebounder Zach Randolph (rest) and point guard De’Aaron Fox, who missed his first game of the season because of a bruised right thigh. For this contest, it really won’t matter who’s on the court for the Kings, San Antonio is better, smarter and hungrier despite their handful of almost geriatric veterans. I like the Spurs to get it done in ‘Bye Felicia’ style to win by double digits. Score Prediction: San Antonio Spurs 106 – Sacramento Kings 96

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Sacramento is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
• Sacramento is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games
• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Sacramento’s last 9 games
• San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
• San Antonio is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio’s last 9 games