NBA Best Bets Today: Picks, Predictions for Thursday

The NBA regular season resumes with an excellent slate of Thursday matchups. There are 8 games on the docket, so our staff of basketball experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board.

Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 6 NBA picks for Thursday’s contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Thursday, December 5.

NBA Best Bets, Picks, Predictions

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Nuggets vs. Cavaliers Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Michael Porter Jr. Over 15.5 Points (-120)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/725847_nba_den_150x150.png” awayname=”Denver Nuggets” awayslug=”denver-nuggets” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/nba-updated-logo-cleveland-cavaliers.png” homename=”Cleveland Cavaliers” homeslug=”cleveland-cavaliers” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”7 p.m. ET” network=”NBA TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Joe Dellera

The Nuggets take on the Cavaliers on Thursday night, and the player I’m targeting to keep up his strong performances this season is Michael Porter Jr.

MPJ has averaged 18.7 points per game this year and has exceeded this line (15.5 points) in 79% of his outings this year. He has seen a very consistent floor in terms of his output.

This has also been a strong head-to-head matchup for MPJ, as he has exceeded this line in all four games against Cleveland the last three seasons.

While Cleveland’s defense is strong, MPJ presents a unique matchup due to his positional size. Cleveland has struggled against larger wings such as Tatum, De’Andre Hunter, and Cam Johnson of late.

I’ll grab MPJ to exceed 15.5 points in this spot.

Pick: Michael Porter Jr. Over 15.5 Points (-120)

[expertpickswidget league=”nba” gameid=”232953″ date=”20241205″ week=”” seasontype=””][/expertpickswidget]

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Nuggets vs. Cavaliers Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Michael Porter Jr. Over 15.5 Points, Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/725847_nba_den_150x150.png” awayname=”Denver Nuggets” awayslug=”denver-nuggets” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/nba-updated-logo-cleveland-cavaliers.png” homename=”Cleveland Cavaliers” homeslug=”cleveland-cavaliers” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”7 p.m. ET” network=”NBA TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]

By Michael Fiddle

I am splitting my exposure up between two different Michael Porter Jr. props by taking the over on points alone, as well as over points + rebounds.

MPJ has been playing fantastic in his last four games, while playing a high volume of minutes, and the schedule spot it good as well, considering the Nuggets just played a series of home games before this being the first road game in a while.

This game should be high-scoring and high-paced, and to beat the Cavs you attack the wings. Expect Porter Jr. to have a big game. Play these props up to -125.

Best Bets: Michael Porter Jr. Over 15.5 Points (-120), Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds (-125)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Thunder vs. Raptors Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 227 (-110)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/okc.png” awayname=”Oklahoma City Thunder” awayslug=”oklahoma-city-thunder” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/tor.png” homename=”Toronto Raptors” homeslug=”toronto-raptors” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”7:30 p.m. ET” network=”NBA League Pass” bookname=”Caesars Sportsbook” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/256064_caesars_800x200.png” bookreviewslug=”caesars-sportsbook”][/gameheader]

By Ray Monohan

Toronto and Oklahoma City both have value here to the under.

This will be a game where both teams step up the intensity on the defensive end. Both of these teams have been playing exceptionally well, and they’re getting key stops on the defensive end when they need them most.

The Thunder are giving up just 104 points per game, and they’re really slowing the game down. That will also be their plan of attack here, as they will likely have the Raptors out of their rhythm from the opening tip.

I expect this to be a slow developing, grind-it-out kind of game where both teams work the ball around. Grab the under.

Pick: Under 227 (-110)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Kings vs. Grizzlies Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Domantas Sabonis Over 12.5 Rebounds (-127)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/348219_kings.png” awayname=”Sacramento Kings” awayslug=”sacramento-kings” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/mem.png” homename=”Memphis Grizzlies” homeslug=”memphis-grizzlies” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”NBA League Pass” bookname=”BetRivers” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/698811_BetRiver@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betrivers”][/gameheader]

By Andrew Norton

The Memphis Grizzlies are still without 7-foot-4 big man Zach Edey, meaning that Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke will likely be the 4 and 5 positions deployed in this matchup.

Jackson is at his best as a weak side roamer, so I expect 6-foot-8 Clarke to match up against Domantas Sabonis.

While Memphis has made great strides on the glass since its first few games, this is a huge advantage for Sabonis, who is much more physical than the Grizzlies’ frontcourt (21st in defensive rebounding percentage).

In fact, in his last three games against Memphis, Sabonis has reeled in 18, 26, and 21 rebounds.

It would not surprise me at all if Sabonis came close to clearing this line by the end of the first half, as the Grizzlies have given up the seventh-most rebounds to opposing centers on the season. Plus, there’s a lengthy history of Sabonis crushing Memphis on the glass, regardless of venue.

Pick: Domantas Sabonis Over 12.5 Rebounds (-127)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bulls vs. Spurs Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Spurs -2 (-110)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/chi.png” awayname=”Chicago Bulls” awayslug=”chicago-bulls” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/sas.png” homename=”San Antonio Spurs” homeslug=”san-antonio-spurs” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”NBA League Pass” bookname=”ESPN BET” bookprimarylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/11/ESPNBET-rect-2colorway-e1700601975338.png” bookreviewslug=”espn-bet”][/gameheader]

By Zack Cimini

Victor Wembanyama will not play in Thursday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls. This has already showcased as being a big value angle before, as the Spurs defeated the Thunder as 10-point underdogs in a similar spot.

This is also a reduced spread, as the Bulls have played just one game since last Friday’s loss to the Boston Celtics.

Take the value here on the Spurs finding that one second-half run to pull away from the Bulls on the short number tonight.

Pick: Spurs -2 (-110)

[expertpickswidget league=”nba” gameid=”232957″ date=”20241205″ week=”” seasontype=””][/expertpickswidget]

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Kings vs. Grizzlies Best Bet”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”DeMar DeRozan Over 24.5 Points + Assists (-120)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/348219_kings.png” awayname=”Sacramento Kings” awayslug=”sacramento-kings” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/mem.png” homename=”Memphis Grizzlies” homeslug=”memphis-grizzlies” date=”Thursday, Dec. 5″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”NBA League Pass” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Joe Dellera

The Kings face off against the Grizzlies in what is a clear Pace-up spot for Sacramento. The Grizzlies play at the second-fastest Pace in the NBA, which should lead to more opportunities for everyone on the Kings.

I’m targeting DeRozan in the spot. DeRozan is averaging 22.5 points and 4.4 assists per game, and that is despite playing on the Kings, who play at the 21st-ranked pace in the NBA. I like his combo prop here of 24.5 points + assists.

When DeRozan has played his normal rotation of minutes, he’s exceeded this mark in 75% of games this season. And while all of his previous head-to-head matchups were for a different team, he is also 5/5 on this line since 2022 against Sacramento.

Pick: DeMar DeRozan Over 24.5 Points + Assists (-120)