NBA Best Bet 'Starting 5' For Friday, December 16

The NBA has a stacked 10-game card for Friday, December 16th. The order of games is random and based on feel.

Atlanta Hawks are 14-15 and Charlotte Hornets are 7-21. LaMelo Ball returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing 10 games. The Hornets have won 5-5 straight up and 5 -4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Hawks. More than 70% of bets placed at DraftKings are on the Hornets. Professional bettors wager a lot more money than casual NBA fans. Charlotte is 7 -2 ATCS as short home favorites since the beginning of last season.

NBA Best Bet 'Starting 5' for Friday, December 16 is Hornets (-140) moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bet 'Starting 5' for Friday, December 16 is Hornets vs. Warriors.

Denver Nuggets are 17-10 and Los Angeles Lakers are 11-16. The teams are split 1-1 SU and ATS in the 2022-23 regular-season series. LAL has the best shot quality and the Lakers attempt the highest volume of field goals at the rim. Denver has a poor defensive record and is the third-worst team in adjusted defensive rating. DraftKings is reporting that 85% of bets placed are on Denver.

NBA Best Bet #2 is Lakers +1 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Portland Trail Blazers (16-12) at Dallas Mavericks (14-14) is on Friday, December 16th. Damian Lillard plays for the Trail Blazers against Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic. The Mavs beat the Blazers 117-112. Portland covered as a 6.5-point underdog. Lard scored 29 points.

NBA Best Bet 'Starting 5' for Friday, December 16 is Trail Blazers +3.5 (-105) at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Brooklyn Nets are 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS in the past two weeks. Toronto is 2-5 SU, 2.5 Ats with a -7.0 ATC margin. Both teams play at a bottom-10 pace and run a lot of half-court offense with isolation sets. Brooklyn is third in points per 100 half court plays run, fourth in isolation offensive efficiency and third against iso-ball. The Nets have a +4.4% effective field goal rate and Toronto has a -5.1% eFG%. Brooklyn attempts the fifth-most mid-range jumpers in NBA and the Raptors are sixth in mid range field goals.

NBA Best Bet #4 is Nets (-120 ML) ML at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Minnesota Timberwolves are 13-15 and Oklahoma City Thunder are 11-17. OKC is exceeding expectations and Minnesota is falling short. Minnesota has lost three straight as underdogs. Timberwolves PG D’Angelo Russell and C Rudy Gobert are “questionable” to play. If they don't play, Minnesota will be without three starters including All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

NBA Best Bet #5 is Thunder (-135 ML) vs. OKC (-3 ML at DraftKings Sportsbook. Draft Kings Sports Book offers a $1,000 deposit bonus and 20% first deposit match.