The NBA regular season continues with another solid slate this Saturday, with a total of 9 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board for tonight's contests.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 4 NBA picks for today's matchups. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, December 28.
NBA Best Bets Today, Predictions, Picks: Saturday, December 28
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Heat vs. Hawks
Jalen Johnson has recorded a double double in seven of his last eight games, and the Heat allow the fourth-most rebounds per 100 possessions.
Johnson's only miss during that stretch was a game where he had nine boards.
There's juice here at -170, but I'm okay with taking it given Johnson's form leading into today, given the recent string of performances plus the matchup tilt in his favor.
Pick: Jalen Johnson Double Double (-170)
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Knicks vs. Wizards
Jordan Poole has been on a massive heater recently, hitting 46% of his 3-point tries over his past four outings. And that number has come on a substantial volume too, as he has shot just shy of 13 three-pointers per game in that four-game stretch.
Now, Poole and the Wizards host the Knicks today, who should be a tough matchup on paper, but have underwhelmed overall on the defensive end of the floor so far during their 2024-25 campaign.
In fact, New York has allowed opponents to shoot at the fourth-highest percentage from deep on the road (38.6%) this season.
Poole will draw a lot of attention from the Knicks' defense, but I expect that Washington's neck-breaking pace could allow him to get open for some clean looks in transition.
Pick: Jordan Poole 4+ Three-Pointers (+100)
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Pistons vs. Nuggets
By Joe Dellera
Nikola Jokic had some interesting postgame comments yesterday talking about the Nuggets’ rocky start saying he needs to do more to help his teammates rather than what they need to do to help him.
I think that’s notable and somewhat inferring what else he can do, which is score more and dime more often.
Jokic has crushed on back-to-back sets this year. On no rest, he’s averaging 34 points, 9.6 assists, and 12.6 rebounds.
This matchup is a bit tougher on the glass against Detroit, but he certainly can still score and dish.
He has recorded over 36.5 points + assists in 77% of games this season, and while Detroit has done a decent job of limiting opposing centers this year, none of them are Jokic.
Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 36.5 Points + Assists (-113)
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76ers vs. Jazz
The Sixers haven't had an easy time on the road this season, and there's no reason to believe this will be a cakewalk tonight in Salt Lake City.
Although they are just 7-22 SU, Utah has put forth several decent efforts lately, and has actually won two of its last four games. And of those last four, they were all wins against the spread (and on the road, no less!).
Their recent efforts include hang-in-there outings against the Cavs, Suns, and Lakers, with a healthy Lauri Markkanen (25 PPG, last four games) in especially good form lately.
The Sixers are coming off a rousing Christmas Day win in Boston, but there's some questions tonight about the availability of Joel Embiid (left foot sprain and sinus fracture), and Philly has posted losses in the past two weeks against some underwhelming opponents such as the Pacers, Hornets, and Spurs.
I'll take the points with Utah.
Pick: Jazz +7 (-115)
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