There’s no better way to start your weekend than by watching some NBA hoops with some slam dunk NBA player prop bets.
With seven games on the schedule, there are no shortage of options and I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite three.
Those include a play on Pascal Siakam who is trying to do it all for the Pacers these days, as well as projecting a big night for Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert.
Check out those and more NBA picks for Friday, December 12 below.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Pascal Siakam |
Over 3.5 assists | +100 |
 Santi Aldama |
Over 3.5 assists | +135 |
 Rudy Gobert |
To record double-double | +180 |
Prop #1: Pascal Siakam Over 3.5 assists
It’s a tough season for the Indiana Pacers. Coming oh so close to an NBA championship, and then injuries and free agency basically put the brakes on any sort of repeat performance.
But Pascal Siakam is still out there grinding for the Pacers. The three-time All-Star is averaging 24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season, and he’ll keep grinding when the Pacers visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
The 76ers enter this Eastern Conference matchup at 13-10 and they very much feel like a middling team this season. Some days they look great. Others not so much.
They rank 14th in the NBA when it comes to defensive rating, but one way to really burn them is by passing the ball. The Sixers rank 21st in opponent assists per possession.
Siakam has an assists prop of 3.5 with the Over at even money. He’s topped that number in three of his last five games. And you can expect that the Sixers will do their best to get the ball out of the hands of the Pacers best all-around player as much as possible. But here's hoping Siakam uses that to his advantage by finding open teammates.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana, NBCSP
Prop #2: Santi Aldama Over 3.5 assists
The Utah Jazz defense is bad. Like non-existent bad. So much so, there’s even value to be found in a struggling offense like the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Jazz enter this game surrendering more than 125 points per game this season while ranking next-to-last in defensive rating. Only the Washington Wizards are worse in both categories. So, it’s no surprise that making the extra pass can be extremely effective against them.
Utah enters this Western Conference clash allowing the fourth-highest opponent assists per possession in the NBA and now face a Grizzlies team with the third-highest assist rate in the NBA.
That has me looking at the assists prop for Santi Aldama. His number is set at 3.5 for this matchup with the Over at enticing plus money.
The playmaking power forward is averaging 3.0 assists per game this season and has upped that number to 4.1 over his last eight games, dishing out four or more dimes seven times during that stretch.
I’ll happily back Aldama to do it again at +135 with this juicy matchup.
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: KJZZ, FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis
Prop #3: Rudy Gobert double-double
The nightcap of Friday’s NBA schedule is a good one with the Minnesota Timberwolves traveling to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors.
Both teams are a little banged up heading into this game. Anthony Edwards is questionable for T-Wolves, while Draymond Green and Al Horford have been listed as out for the Dubs.
Green and Horford being out might not be great when having to go against T-wolves big man Rudy Gobert. The seven-foot Frenchman is averaging 11.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season and could face little resistance with those guys sidelined.
The Warriors already ranked 22nd in rebounding rate, and 24th in opponent rebounds per game, while also ranking 17th in opponent points in the paint.
Gobert has nine double-doubles this season and four in his last nine games and at +180, I love the value for him to get his 10th against the Warriors tonight.
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBA TV
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