BetQL Editors' NBA Picks For Thursday, Dec. 22

Today's NBA Best Bets

Another day of NBA action means another day of tough decisions for bettors. To help you make the best bets today, the BetQL editors have picked a few of their favorite NBA bets below using key trends, data and picks from the BetQL NBA model.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NBA model is on fire, going 325-197 (63%) on all NBA picks rated ⭐⭐ and higher since the season started for a total return of $1,111 on $100 bets! 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!

Dan Karpuc: Spurs-Pelicans Under 228
The Pelicans will be without leading scorers Zion Williamson (25.2 PPG) and Brandon Ingram (20.8 PPG), while the Spurs will be without leading scorer Keldon Johnson (21.1 PPG) in this one. That means that New Orleans will depend on CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valančiūnas to make things happen offensively while San Antonio will rely on Devin Vassell to have a huge game from a point-production standpoint. I don’t expect either team to fill up the scoring column tonight and don't think this game will even sniff 228. Give me the under.

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Lucy Burdge: Pelicans -8.5 vs. Spurs 

The Pelicans are on a four-game losing streak, failing to cover in all four, so they need a win and cover here tonight, and San Antonio presents a great opportunity to get back on track. The Spurs are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games away from home, while the Pelicans are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 home games. The Pelicans have also taken down the Spurs twice this season and covered the spread in both of those wins by double digits, so I like the Pelicans to do that once again tonight.

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Kate Constable: Wizards +6.5 at Jazz

The Wizards snapped their 10-game losing streak on Tuesday with a win over the Phoenix Suns. Bradley Beal recently returned to the lineup after missing most of the month, which gives Washington a much-needed boost offensively. In the two games with him back, the Wizards have shot over 46% from the field and have covered the spread in both games. Their offensive rating has also jumped from 107.7 without him to 115.0 with him.

The Jazz's offense is also very dependent on 3-point shooting, but they haven't been connecting from deep much as of late. Over their last five games, their percentage from beyond the arc ranks 19th, which is a big drop from the top-10 ranking they have on the season.

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Brad Pinkerton: BetMGM NBA OGP Insurance Play of the Day

If you're not playing BetMGM's NBA OGP Insurance promo yet, you're leaving money on the table. Opt in to the promo and place a four-leg (minimum) NBA one-game parlay; if your OGP loses by one leg, you'll get your stake back in a free bet up to $25 -- and you can take advantage of this promo once every day there's an NBA game!

Here is my play for today, using the strategy of "middling" the game total (can only lose a maximum of one leg there), and taking the most points on both teams (can only lose one leg here too); you can apply this strategy to any NBA game, any night:

WAS-UTA Over 220.5
WAS-UTA Under 240.5
Wizards +15.5
Jazz +4.5
OGP odds: +250

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MORE NBA: TODAY’S BETTING GUIDE

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!