Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 26th Edition

With the holidays at hand and the start of the new year just around the corner, we’re going ‘beyond the arc’ with this week’s top NBA betting picks in an effort to help you cash in early and often. Three games this week featuring a bunch of NBA Championship odds hopefuls, including the defending champion Golden State Warriors are in the spotlight. Now, let’s get started.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 26th Edition

Russell Westbrook (31p/11a/6r/W) and James Harden (29p/14a/8r) duel in OKC! #NBAXmas pic.twitter.com/ALorcVqdO4

— NBA (@NBA) 26 de diciembre de 2017

Houston Rockets at Washington Wizards

• When: Friday, December 29, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
• TV: NBA TV

The Houston Rockets have lost three straight at the time of this writing, including their 112-107 Christmas Day loss to Oklahoma City that came on the heels of consecutive losses against the lowly Lakers and Clippers. On the flip side of the coin, Washington has won seven of 10 including their impressive 111-103 win over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. For this late week, Friday night matchup, I’m going to urge you to back the Rockets to get the win despite being on the road in something of a shootout, simply because they have more offensive firepower than the Wizards. I wouldn’t go around expecting a whole lot of defense in this one either, so if the Over/Under total looks manageable, take the Over!

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Washington is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
• Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 19 of Washington’s last 25 games
• Houston is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games
• Houston is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston’s last 5 games

Pick: Houston Rockets 117 – Washington Wizards 111

Milwaukee Bucks at Oklahoma City Thunder

• When: Friday, December 29, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• TV: FSWI, FSOK
• Live Streaming: NBA League Pass

Milwaukee headed into the new week coming off a 111-106 loss to Charlotte on Saturday that dropped them to a modest 5-5 over their last 10 games while Oklahoma City has gone 8-3 over their last 11 games. The Thunder have won four straight at the time of this writing including their 112-107 win over Houston on Christmas Day. More importantly, right now, it looks like Oklahoma City is starting to figure out how to pay together as evidenced by the fact that each of their Big Three topped the 20-point plateau on Christmas, led by Russell Westbrook’s team-high 31 points. While Giannis Antetokounmpo is a definite superstar of the highest order, I’m feeling like Milwaukee needs to spread the ball around a bit more this season. This game will be all about Oklahoma’s Big three versus the ‘Greek Freak’. The Thunder win to hold it down at home.

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Milwaukee is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games
• Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee’s last 5 games
• Oklahoma City is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games
• Oklahoma City is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder 104 – Milwaukee Bucks 100

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors

• When: Saturday, December 30, 2017, 8:30 PM ET
• Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
• TV: CSNB
• Live Streaming: NBA League Pass

While Memphis managed to get past the Los Angeles Clippers 115-112 on Saturday night, the Grizzlies aren’t exactly playing what I’d call inspiring basketball, having lost eight of their last 10 games overall. After seeing the Golden State warriors turn it up a notch against Cleveland in their 99-92 Christmas day win over the Cavaliers, I suspect this game could get out of hand in a hurry, seeing as how Memphis is no longer the defensive team they have been for the last several years. I’ve been really impressed with veteran Tyreke Evans for Memphis this season, but he, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley simply aren’t good enough to help Memphis overcome a Golden State team whose second unit could probably beat them nine out of 10 times. The Dubs average almost 18 points per game more than the Grizzlies and I think they’ll win this one by 15 points at the minimum.

Latest NBA Betting Trends

• Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
• Golden State is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Golden State’s last 8 games
• Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
• Memphis is 3-19 SU in its last 22 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis’s last 7 games

Pick: Memphis Grizzlies 102 – Golden State Warriors 118