The NBA is ending 2025 in style with a stacked schedule, and Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are among the stars of the show.
For some teams, the road ahead is gloomy, with the Denver Nuggets preparing for at least a month without Nikola Jokic, and the Atlanta Hawks stumbling through a seven-game skid. But the outlook is rosier for the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, who’ll both try to extend their win streaks tonight.
Check out my NBA picks and player props for December 31, highlighted by De’Aaron Fox.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 De’Aaron Fox |
Over 19.5 points | -115 |
 Anthony Black |
Over 23.5 points + assists | -120 |
 Jarrett Allen |
Over 7.5 rebounds | -120 |
Prop #1: De’Aaron Fox Over 19.5 points
The buzz around the San Antonio Spurs was deafening after two impressive wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder, but back-to-back losses have quietened that noise a little.
Still, after losing the NBA Cup finale to the Knicks, San Antonio has a chance for payback tonight, and I’m expecting De’Aaron Fox to bring his A-game.
Though Fox is averaging 21.6 PPG and just dropped 29 points against the Thunder on Christmas Day, some more erratic shooting nights have kept this O/U number below 20. But I love the Over here, with the Spurs missing Devin Vassell — and possibly Stephon Castle — for this matchup.
The crafty point guard also gets to attack a New York team that’s missing Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson. That’ll leave more minus defenders on the court, and Fox should feast on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the pick and roll.
Plus, a disappointing effort in the NBA Cup championship game should provide extra motivation for the former Sacramento Kings man.
Fox is shooting 48% from the field, including a career-best 38% from 3-point range, and I see steady volume helping him nail this prop.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBA TV
Prop #2: Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + assists
If you hadn’t watched the Orlando Magic until the past few weeks, you might wonder if Anthony Black was their franchise player.
Black has taken a huge leap in his third season, and he’s now scored 20+ points in six of his last seven contests. But that stat probably undersells his impact, because he’s averaged 29.3 PPG in his past three outings while looking uber-comfortable as a go-to scorer.
So, Black may cash this combo Over in points alone. He’s facing a banged-up Indiana Pacers squad here, and Orlando will again be without Franz Wagner’s offensive spark. That paves the way for another eye-catching effort from Black, who finished with a 38-5-6 line in Saturday’s victory over the Nuggets.
I’ll play it slightly safer by bringing his playmaking into the equation. Black has averaged 4.5 APG in December, and this Over represents a winning ticket in each of his last four games.
Don’t be surprised if the Magic put up a big total, given that the Pacers allowed 142 points at the weekend in Miami after giving up 140 points on Friday.
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FDSN
Prop #3: Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be hoping that 2026 brings better health and better results. A record of 18-16 says it all for a team that won 56 games last season, and there are still questions around how this roster fits together.
Jarrett Allen is part of that particular puzzle, but he showed his value in Monday’s win over the Spurs, finishing with 27 points and 10 rebounds. While that level of scoring jumps out as an anomaly, his impact on the glass feels more reliable, and I see him hauling in 8+ rebounds here for the fourth time in his last five contests.
Evan Mobley’s return to the starting lineup certainly didn’t hurt Allen’s numbers earlier this week, and the Cavs like to stagger the minutes that their two centers spend on the court.
Though Allen is only logging 24.4 MPG this month, he makes the most of that time, and he grabbed 11 rebounds when Cleveland hosted Phoenix last year. With that in mind, this Over jumps off the screen, especially against a Suns squad that gets the second-fewest rebounds per game in the NBA.
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBA TV
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