Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Stifle Tower Block Party

Welcome to our daily NBA player props for Monday's modest six-game slate after the Magic-Raptors contest was postponed. Still, there are plenty of options available if you're looking to avoid game lines or simply planning to add to your ticket.

Our menu features a Rudy Gobert blocking appetizer, a Jakob Poeltl combo pick, and a DeMar DeRozan scoring special available for Monday, December 20.

NBA player props for December 20   

• Rudy Gobert Over 2.5 blocks (+100)
• Jakob Poeltl Over 19.5 points + rebounds (-106)
• DeMar DeRozan Over 29.5 points (-102)

Picks made on 12/20/2021 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.    

Today’s best NBA player props

Pardon my Frenchman

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is a block machine. He's averaging 2.3 on the season and draws a Charlotte Hornets team coming off a brutal 31-point loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. DeAndre Ayton registered three blocks in 24 minutes against the Hornets, who typically allow more than five per game. That was a season-high for Ayton.

Gobert, while not a lock to go notch three blocks, consistently stifles opponents in the paint. He's exceeded the set Over in nearly a third of his games this season, and you can get solid odds depending on where you look. While you could absolutely play it safer and tab Gobert for a double-double, there's just no upside. 

He's also coming off a dynamite performance where he gobbled up a season-high six blocks against the Washington Wizards. And while the Hornets certainly attack from long-range with great frequency, they rank fifth in the NBA in points in the paint per game. Charlotte plays at a breakneck pace because they can't stop anybody on the defensive end, which sets Gobert up nicely to have opportunities on the inside. The big Frenchman is worth the risk.

Pick: Rudy Gobert Over 2.5 blocks (+100 at Bet365)

Jakob the flier

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is mired in a bit of a rough patch, especially coming off a dud against the Sacramento Kings, of all teams. On the bright side, his minutes aren't diminishing so the opportunities should remain. And even if he only netted four points against the Kings, he still grabbed eight boards. 

Even after his last three games that followed his most recent double-double, Poeltl is averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds through 22 games, so all he really needs to do tonight is perform at his customary level and we'll hit the Over. Rebounds shouldn't be much of an issue as the Clippers allow the sixth-most per game in the NBA. 

Scoring, generally, is a bit harder to come by against Los Angeles, but the Clippers are without Kawhi Leonard for the year and frontcourt mainstays Paul George and Marcus Morris will also be absent from the lineup. Serge Ibaka is probable, but he may not see his usual minutes as he comes back from an illness. With the defensive core, particularly in the paint, in shambles at the moment, Poeltl could clean up.

Pick: Jakob Poeltl Over 19.5 points + rebounds (-106 at FanDuel)

Strap a rocket to DeMar

It's funny how much difference a single point makes. At various books, the Over for DeMar DeRozan's total is set at 28.5 at either -125 or -130. You can, however, find much more favorable odds if you lean on the guard to reach the 30-point plateau. This may seem like a tall order, as DeRozan has cleared 30 in eight of 25 games. And in his last game against the Houston Rockets, he came away with just 17 - his lowest total on the campaign.

That seems like an anomaly more than something predictive. DeRozan earns his paycheck at the line and is coming off a 16-for-17 performance from the charity stripe on Sunday against the Lakers. Houston commits more personal fouls than any other team in the NBA other than the Timberwolves. DeRozan should get an abundance of opportunities.

He was uncharacteristically inaccurate from the floor in that prior showdown with the Rockets, draining just 31.6% of his field-goal attempts. He's shooting just under 50% on the season. The Bulls will get DeRozan to the line and watch him play his efficient brand of offense from mid-range the rest of the way en route to a 30-point night.

Pick: DeMar DeRozan Over 29.5 points (-102 at FanDuel)

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