NBA Betting Guide: Lines, Trends & Picks For Thursday, Dec. 29

Today's NBA Betting Lines, Odds & Picks

Thursdays in the NBA are typically pretty quiet, but there are six games on the slate tonight and plenty of value to be had. Scroll down to find out which picks our BetQL model likes tonight.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NBA model is on fire, hitting 60% of all ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NBA picks over the last month. Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NBA bets, plus what the model is projecting for this week's NFL, NHL, and NCAA football and basketball games! Start your free trial today!

Thunder at Hornets Prediction

The Oklahoma City Thunder (15-19 SU, 21-13 ATS, 19-14-1 O/U) hit the road after a lengthy homestand while the Charlotte Hornets (9-26 SU, 15-20 ATS, 18-17 O/U) return home after a six-game West Coast trip.

The Thunder are playing some of their best basketball of the season right now. They’ve won four of their last five games with their only loss coming in overtime to the Pelicans. OKC has also covered the spread in four of their last five while the Hornets are just 2-2-1 ATS in their last five. Charlotte also has been awful at home lately with six straight losses and only one ATS cover during that stretch. I would also lean towards the under in this game because of the Hornets' offensive struggles lately. They rank dead last in offensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage this season. Plus, the Thunder are a top 10 defensive team on the year. 

My pick: Thunder ML -105

Knicks at Spurs Prediction

The New York Knicks (18-17 SU, 17-15-3 ATS, 17-17-1 O/U are coming off a loss to the Mavericks in which they blew a huge lead in the final minute. The San Antonio Spurs (11-23 SU, 14-20 ATS, 18-15-1 O/U) enter tonight's match having lost their last game and three of their last five.

I suggest checking the injury report before betting on this game, but if Jalen Brunson is out for the Knicks, I like the Spurs to cover here, especially because it looks like RJ Barrett is also out tonight. After going on a tear and winning eight straight games, the Knicks have cooled off quite a bit, dropping their last four while only covering once in that span. They're the second-worst defensive team over the last five games and have struggled to defend around the rim and in the midrange which is where the Spurs score the majority of their points. This is also just a tough overall spot for the Knicks, going up against a bad team after such a deflating loss on Tuesday.

My pick: Spurs +5

Clippers at Celtics Prediction

The Los Angeles Clippers (21-15 SU, 19-17 ATS, 15-21 O/U) and the Boston Celtics (25-10 SU, 20-14-1 ATS, 17-16-2 O/U) meet for the second and final time this season.

The Clippers took the first meeting between these two teams 113-93 in LA. I don't think we'll see a margin of victory this big tonight as I anticipate a much closer game, but I'll take the Clippers to cover at +6. Since Paul Geroge and Kawhi Leonard have been back in the lineup consistently, LA has been a tough team to stop. With both of their stars available, the Clippers are 9-3 SU and have gone 8-2 ATS over their last 10 games overall. Leonard's minutes have also continued to rise over the last two weeks. For much of December, he averaged around 30 minutes but played 34 and 35 in his last two games. I would expect him to play around 35 minutes again tonight, which is great news for those of us on the Clippers because when he's on the floor, good things happen.

The Celtics just put up 126 points against the Rockets and 139 against the Bucks, but prior to that, their offense had been struggling. And I'm not sure 126 points against the Rockets necessarily means it's totally back on track. The Clippers are a very strong defensive team that's not going to allow opponents to put up these types of numbers against them. Give me the Clippers to cover on the road.

My pick: Clippers +6

Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NBA bets, including player props, plus what the model is projecting for every NFL, NHL and NCAA football and basketball game this week! Start your free trial today!