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After an incredible Christmas slate, let’s take a look at some of the best NBA Friday prop bets. Out East, we have two bench guards that are in different game scripts, and that could affect their output tonight as almost double-digit favorites.
Out West, the Phoenix Suns should be able to handle the New Orleans Pelicans as the Pels' five-game win streak now looks like an afterthought. Our top three NBA picks for December 26th are below. Good luck!
Jamal Shead is my prime candidate for a breakout bench star during the second half of the season. Jamal has played extended minutes this month for the Raptors, averaging 15.5 PRA in 23 MPG in December.
He has an outstanding matchup tonight against the 5-23 Wizards, who struggle to contain guards, allowing 126 PPG and 37% shooting from beyond the arc.
Shead should get extended minutes again with this spread favoring Toronto by more than 7 points. He has been great against East opponents as well, averaging more PPG and RPG.
While Pritchard has been a consistent contributor this season, he is more of a microwave scorer than a consistent one.
This month, he has two 20+ point games, including a 33-point burst against Toronto a week ago, but has gone under this prop mark in every other game.
This feels more like a Derrick White and Jaylen Brown game as Pritchard could draw a difficult matchup in Nembhard/Quenton Jackson/Ethan Thompson, who have all made some impact as perimeter defenders.
New Orleans finally found some rhythm, winning five in a row before dropping a game away from home against Cleveland before the Christmas break. They are back home and host the Phoenix Suns, who, outside of blowout losses to top-tier West opponents, have controlled their success against bottom-of-the-pack teams.
Phoenix won this matchup by 23 points earlier in the season, but with the emergence of Derik Queen, this matchup will look different.
With that being said, Phoenix is playing on a few nights' rest and with their experienced backcourt and tenacious defense, should stay in the win column moving towards the new year.