Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Okoro, Cavs D Will Cause Mitchell Fits

There are only four games on the NBA betting board this Sunday but there are still plenty of NBA player props to wager on. Today we're fading an All-Star against a vastly improved defensive squad, backing a lesser-known Rocket who is thriving with more playing time, and continuing to put our money on the Rookie of the Year favorite. 

Here are our best free NBA player prop picks for Sunday, December 5. 

NBA player props for December 5

• Mitchell Under 24.5 points (+100)
• Barnes Over 24.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-120)
• Matthews Over 12.5 points (-108)

Picks made on 12/5/2021 at 10:40 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best NBA player props

Cleveland's clamps

Mitchell is once again leading the Jazz in scoring, averaging 23.7 points per game, but he's shooting a career-worst 33 percent from beyond the arc and could be in a tough spot tonight. The Jazz head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers who have surprisingly become one of the better defensive teams in the NBA.

The Cavs are second in the league in scoring defense by holding teams to just 101.7 ppg and they have locked down on the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot just 32.8 percent from deep. 

While the injury to Collin Sexton hurts them on the offensive end of the floor it gives more playing time to the defensively superior Isaac Okoro who should match up with Mitchell. Mitchell has dropped at least 30 points in back-to-back games but prior to that, he had been limited to 21 points or fewer in six of his previous seven contests. Take the Under on his points total which has been set at 24.5. 

Pick: Donovan Mitchell Under 24.5 points (+100 at DraftKings)

Back to Barnes

It might seem like we have Scottie Barnes in our player prop article every week but until oddsmakers get wise to how productive (and consistent) he has been, we're going to keep backing him.

The Raptors rookie is averaging 15.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. The do-everything forward is coming off a game against the Bucks where he put up 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

That PRA total of 24 is actually not very impressive for Barnes who had a PRA of at least 28 in each of his previous five games, with an average PRA of 29.0 over that span. With his points, rebounds, and assists total set at 24.5 today, take the Over. 

Pick: Scottie Barnes Over 24.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-120 at Bet365)

Greenlight for Rockets rookie

The Houston Rockets have predictably been one of the worst teams in the league, beginning the year 6-16 SU (10-11-1 ATS). This was expected to be a rebuilding season and at the very least it was supposed to be a learning experience for raw but talented youngsters in Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. 

Green and Porter were getting plenty of playing time for the Rockets and had essentially been given the green light to shoot despite some horrible performances. Both players will be out today with Green nursing a hamstring injury and Porter leaving Saturday's game with a thigh injury. 

That will mean even more shot attempts for unheralded rookie Garrison Matthews who has stepped up since Green went out. The former Atlantic Sun Player of the Year with Lipscomb, Matthews has logged more than 30 minutes in four straight games for Houston, averaging 17.3 ppg on 52.3 percent shooting during that span.

Today, the Rockets will be hosting the Pelicans who have the second-worst defensive efficiency in the league and surrender 109.8 ppg. Expect Matthews to have another solid day and take the Over 12.5 on his points total. 

Pick: Garrison Matthews Over 12.5 points (-108 at FanDuel)

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