Last-minute shopping can be hectic and frustrating at this time of the year, and so can last-minute shopping for NBA player props with so many lineups decimated by the uptick in health-and-safety protocol across the league. But don't worry we've scoured the health and protocol lists (and checked them twice) for the naughtiest and nicest props on Thursday's NBA betting board.
With a trio of guards in Mike Conley, Stephen Curry, and Josh Giddey leading the way, here are our best NBA player prop picks for Thursday, December 23.
NBA player props for December 23
Picks made on 12/23/2021 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Today’s best NBA player props
Guard of Christmas Past
The Utah Jazz are one of the few teams in the league that haven't been hit hard by COVID-19, with zero rotation players and only one player overall (Elijah Hughes who has logged less than 20 minutes this season) testing positive.
They've been heating up, with nine wins in their last 11 games, and while they look like one of the best teams in the league, they tend to play a team game, which makes backing individual props a tricky wager.
For example, Jazz point guard Mike Conley averages 5.4 assists per game, but his assists total for today is set at 6.5 (albeit priced towards the Under). He's gone below that number in 10 of his last 12 games, including his last three contests.
Tonight the Jazz are hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are decimated by COVID-19. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns entered health and safety protocols late Thursday afternoon. Utah is a 12-point home favorite and clobbered the T-Wolves by 32 points when they previously met up 15 days ago. If the Jazz jump out to a big lead early, Conley will be rested, which almost certainly means he'll go below his assists total, and even if he logs more than 30 minutes, the Under still has a decent chance of hitting.
Pick: Mike Conley Under 6.5 assists (-130 Caesars)
Guard of Christmas Present
As a child, I was always terrified by the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol, and there might not be a more terrifying scorer in the league today than Stephen Curry, who can go off on any given night.
Despite averaging 27.1 points per game, Curry hasn't actually scored more than 30 points in his last six games, dropping exactly 30 points in his last two contests. That said, we like the NBA MVP favorite to go Over 30.5 on his points total today, if for no other reason than somebody has to score for Golden State.
The Warriors already had their second and third-leading scorers in Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole in COVID protocols, and also just added shooting guard Damion Lee, who had averaged 16 ppg in their absence over the last two games.
Curry is shooting just 32.5 percent from deep over his last six games but is still launching up shots, averaging a whopping 14.3 three-point attempts per game over that span. However, considering that the sharp-shooter has a career 3PT% of 43.1 we're inclined to believe that he will get on track sooner rather than later.
Tonight will be the perfect opportunity for Curry to do just that, with the Warriors welcoming the Memphis Grizzlies to town. The Grizz have an impressive 19-13 record but rank just 19th in the NBA in scoring defense and they are allowing opponents to shoot 37.1 percent from beyond the arc, the second-worst number in the league. Expect Curry to carry the Warriors on offense and go Over his points.
Pick: Stephen Curry Over 30.5 points (-110 at DraftKings)
Guard of Christmas Future
It's a Festivus miracle, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns face off tonight without a single player on either team in the league's protocols! The Suns have the league's best record at 25-5 and are massive 15-point home favorites against a young OKC side that has surprisingly won three in a row.
The Thunder have gotten solid contributions from several youngsters, including first-round draft pick Josh Giddey, who leads the team with 6.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game. The 19-year-old dropped just three dimes in last night's 108-94 win against the Nuggets, which is his fewest assists in a game in more than a month.
Prior to that contest, Giddey had racked up double-digits in assists in back-to-back games versus the Grizzlies and Clippers. The Over/Under on Giddey's assists total today is set at 5.5, and he has posted at least seven assists in eight of his last 12 games overall. It's the season of giving, so bet on Giddey to make like Santa Claus tonight.
Pick: Josh Giddey Over 5.5 assists (-120 at bet365)
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