The NBA returns to a sense of normalcy tonight, with a loaded slate following in-season tournament action the past two nights. Be it coming off rest or trying to avoid a slump, there’s plenty to base a narrative or two around some action. There’s always some value popping off with larger slates, even if it’s going to a bad team, or game. Here are the best NBA bets for Wednesday, Dec. 6, choosing a total and a side for today’s slate.
Best NBA Bets Today: +EV NBA Side and Total for Dec. 6
Best NBA Side: 76ers (-9.5) at Wizards
The Philadelphia 76ers expect Joel Embiid to be healthy and active tonight against the Wizards. Tyrese Maxey was also cleared to return. Philadelphia has dropped two straight but hasn’t played since Friday. There’s no major concern of being off rhythm, mainly because the team gets its star players back in unison. It also gets Kelly Oubre back from a traffic incident where he suffered multiple injuries in a crash. He’s been missed, as Philadelphia relied on him as a third option to score and stretch from three.
The Wizards are junk and pose no true threat to the majority of the NBA. If it were not a return from injury game for Embiid, it would be much easier to say the 76ers may experience some sense of letdown and possibly lose the cover. Washington is atrocious on defense and won’t be able to do anything in front of Embiid. If anything, the 76ers will try to establish such domination that Embiid sits the entire fourth quarter. That’s motivation enough to lay the points.
OddsShopper found Philadelphia -9.5 at BetMGM despite every other sportsbook being at -10 or -10.5.
Best NBA Total: Nuggets-Clippers O/U 227.5
The Denver Nuggets split their last 10 games, dropping their most recent game in Sacramento. Their mini three-game road trip ends tonight in Los Angeles against the Clippers. The big injury news ahead of this game on Denver’s side is Jamal Murray upgraded to questionable. Aaron Gordon is already expected to play through a probable tag. That’s major for Denver getting back to its defensive ways, making it tougher for the Clippers to get buckets from any offensive sets. As totals continue to rise, Denver is still keeping teams to an average of 110 points per game.
That’s the same range as the Clippers, who have established a defensive presence to win six of their last 10. They present a difficult matchup for most everyone on the floor outside of Nikola Jokic. While a triple-double monster night always has some potential, Jokic may have a big night while everyone else stays relatively quiet. This game has plenty of stars down to former stars, from drama to DRAMA. One thing we can count on is defense.
OddsShopper identified some value in going under 228.5 on Caesars versus 228 or 227.5 elsewhere. Bet the UNDER 228.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.
