The NBA regular season resumes with another solid slate of matchups this Saturday, with a total of 7 games on the docket 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 matchups.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 6 NBA picks for today's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, December 7.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks: Saturday, December 7
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 1 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
| 7 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. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Hornets
By Bill Marzano
The Cleveland Cavaliers (20-3) are the top scoring team in the NBA averaging a robust 123 points per contest, while the struggling Charlotte Hornets (6-16) are riding a seven game skid coming into this matchup.
These two teams faced each other November 17, and the Cavaliers came away with a dominant 128-114 victory. The Cavaliers have won three straight games, including wins over Boston and Denver after a season high two-game skid, with back to back losses to a hot Hawks squad.
This game is a mismatch and the score should reflect that, unless the Cavaliers are simply flat on the road here.
The Hornets are one of the worst scoring teams in the NBA, ranked in the bottom-five, averaging just 107 points per game during their recent seven game skid, and while the most points they scored during that stretch was 119, their second-highest tally was 104, and they were held below 100 points in three of those contests.
The Cavaliers will have to avoid a fourth-quarter letdown after building such a big lead, but I think they will do it.
Pick: Cavaliers -13 (-110)
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Nuggets vs. Wizards
By Alex Hinton
Michael Porter Jr. comes into tonight's game averaging 19 points per game, which matches his career high. He can clear this line tonight if he hits his season average. He has done so in 11 of his past 16 games. Additionally, in four of the games that he went under, he finished with 17 points in two games and 18 points in two others.
Porter draws the Wizards tonight, and they enter the matchup ranked last in defensive rating. They are allowing 20.9 points per game to small forwards, which actually aligns with how Porter has done in the last three meetings. In those games, he has scored 21, 19, and 22 points.
Typically, we see Porter bombing away from deep, averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers per game, while shooting 41.1% from long range. However, he has made just five 3s in his last three games while only attempting three of them. That has not stopped him from scoring 20 points in his last two games, as he has continued to attack with floaters in the paint.
Additionally, he has shooting 50% or better from the field in seven of his last eight games. Of course playing with Nikola Jokic helps him get several high percentage looks. Jokic is coming off yet another triple-double and passed Magic Johnson for third-most in NBA history on Thursday night.
I am also interested in Jokic's rebounds + assists line in this game, and if he gets another triple-double, expect a few assists to go to Porter.
Pick: Michael Porter Jr. Over 18.5 Points (-106)
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Knicks vs. Pistons
The Knicks offense is great. The defense is not. And, if you're a guard who can create shots for yourself and others, there will be opportunities to get yours, especially if you get downhill.
Other handlers have routinely attacked Karl-Anthony Towns on switches, which Cade Cunningham should do today. The only reason he fell short of this the last time these two played was because the Knicks won by 30. Cunningham had 22 and 6 in 32 minutes before garbage time.
But lately, Cunningham has gone over this number in five of his last six outings. He's also gone over in six of his last eight and eight of his last 11.
The challenge is just keeping the game close for a long enough period of time, but in other blowouts, Cunningham has still gone over on occasion, with last week's 24-point win over Indiana serving as one example.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 30.5 Points + Assists (-135)
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Grizzlies vs. Celtics
By Joe Dellera
Kristaps Porzingis looks healthy and has slowly seen his minutes ramped up so far, to the point where he's finally nearing his typical first-quarter rotation of 8-9 minutes.
Porzingis has scored totals of 4, 7, 9 and 6 points in the first quarter so far this season, but over his last 30 games when he’s played 8+ 1Q minutes, he has averaged 8.2 1Q points during the regular season.
He has also hit this in 5/6 games against the Grizzlies and he's 3/3 against Jaren Jackson Jr., who is best in a helper role as opposed to taking on that assignment directly.
This is really a minutes play, and with KP looking great and getting fed early, this is a good opportunity to back him as the one rested Celtic tonight.
Pick: Kristaps Porzingis Over 4.5 First Quarter Points (-120)
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Thunder vs. Pelicans
Although Zion Williamson is still sidelined, the Pelicans are probably healthier than they have been all season as five of their top six in the rotation were actually on the floor for their win over the Suns this past Thursday.
That result did break a nine-game losing streak and featured 29 points from Brandon Ingram, but it was also at the expense of a downgraded Phoenix minus-Kevin Durant among others. High-flying Oklahoma City already took down New Orleans once by an easy count of 106-88 back on November 13.
Indeed, the Thunder won't be lacking any confidence after sweeping the Pels in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Note, all four of those OKC wins landed "under" the total, as did the first meeting of the regular season between these on November 13.
Pick: Under 225 (-110)
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Nuggets vs. Wizards
The injury report is key for this game, as the Wizards will be missing Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Corey Kispert, and a few of their younger players.
These floor spacers and veteran players are key to a stable Wizards offense.
The Nuggets have Jamal Murray listed as questionable. I think he plays, but if he does not, this line will drop precipitously, as Russell Westbrook would move into the starting lineup and the Nuggets shooting would take a dip.
It would be good to get ahead of that potential news. Play to Under 231.5
Pick: Under 233.5 (-110)
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