The Sunday hoops slate features teams and players with points to prove, from the suddenly mortal Oklahoma City Thunder to the wobbling Los Angeles Lakers.
We’ll also get a closer look at the Toronto Raptors, who’ve hit a rough patch, and check in on Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.
That means a platter of tasty NBA player props to dig through, and I’ve selected my favorite NBA picks for the December 28 action.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Sandro Mamukelashvili |
Over 21.5 points + rebounds | -105 |
 Kawhi Leonard |
Over 27.5 points | -120 |
 Luka Doncic |
Over 35.5 points | -115 |
Prop #1: Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 21.5 points + rebounds
Even before Jakob Poeltl’s nagging back issue, Sandro Mamukelashvili stood out as one of the bargains of the offseason — and he hasn’t looked out of place in a starting role for the Toronto Raptors lately.
Mamukelashvili has finished with double-digit points in five of his last six outings, and he’s knocked down 18 of his 35 3-pointers in that span. With Poeltl ruled out again for today’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors, I expect Mamu to give Darko Rajakovic quality minutes with the starting group.
He’s gone past this combo O/U line in three of his past five contests, and he’ll be a handful here for Golden State’s creaky frontcourt. Plus, Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes have both shown a willingness to make the extra pass to open shooters.
Mamukelashvili is averaging 6.1 RPG this year, but there’s room for a further uptick with a bigger minutes load. Friday was a perfect example as he grabbed 11 boards in the disappointing loss to the Washington Wizards, and there should be some urgency for the Raptors in this one after dropping seven of their last 10 games.
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBCSBA, SN
Prop #2: Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
Very little has gone to plan for Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers this season, so a three-game win streak represents progress. But if they’re going to continue that momentum against the impressive Detroit Pistons, it’ll take some peak Kawhi magic.
Leonard has found another gear over the past week, playing big minutes and averaging 33.7 PPG across his last three outings.
It may not be a coincidence that Kawhi has enjoyed more room to operate in the mid-range since Brook Lopez stepped into the starting lineup to replace the injured Ivica Zubac. Lopez’s spacing makes it tougher to crowd Leonard, and the results have been eye-catching.
Kawhi shredded a feisty Houston defense for 41 points on 16-for-23 shooting on Tuesday. His overall efficiency has been up and down this month, but he’s averaging 20.6 FGA per outing, so that kind of volume is a great fit for this Over.
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FDSN-DTX, FDSN-SC
Prop #3: Luka Doncic Over 35.5 points
Whatever was discussed at the Los Angeles Lakers’ team meeting yesterday, it’s hard to imagine any major changes to the game plan that would take the ball out of Luka Doncic’s hands.
No doubt JJ Redick had some blunt messages for his players after three ugly losses in a row, but a matchup against the Sacramento Kings tonight is the ideal medicine, and I expect Luka to fill his boots.
Doncic still leads the NBA with 33.7 PPG this year, and he’s got a path to even more shot volume as L.A. deals with Austin Reaves’ absence. After missing last week’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, Luka eased his way back on Christmas Day, but he should be able to hit the gas in this favorable matchup.
He’s also on pace for a career-high in free throw attempts per game — currently 11.9 — and the Kings have no shot at keeping him out of the paint here.
Due to injuries, Doncic hasn’t actually faced Sacramento since the end of the 2023/24 season, but he should make up for those missed opportunities in tonight’s showdown.
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: ONBCSCA, SPECSN
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