Open Extended Reactions
Tonight, we're going to party like its 2024... because tomorrow,
it won't be. The NBA has six games🧾 on tap for New Year's Eve, with one afternoon game
and five evening games that will carry us to within🧾 an hour of the ball dropping on the
East Coast. Let's explore some interesting angles and matchups from today's games🧾 to
help you finish off your year on a high note.
Snellings' favorite bets for Sunday
Magic
+5.5 over Suns (+190): The🧾 Suns have lost nine of their last 14 games outright. Of
their five wins in that span, they only covered🧾 once. Meanwhile, the Magic have the
better record and scoring margin than the Suns for both the season and over🧾 the last
month. They have also won three of their last four games. The Magic are one game under
.500🧾 on the road (7-8), almost matching the Suns' home record (8-9). The ESPN Analytics
game predictor has the Suns favored🧾 to win the game, but by fewer than five points,
supporting my stance to take the Magic with the points.
Trae🧾 Young over 12.5 assists
(+105): Young has been on a distribution tear over the second half of December. His
streak🧾 of eight straight points-assists double-doubles ended on Friday with a 9-assist
effort, but he is still averaging 12.8 APG over🧾 his last nine outings. Young had dished
at least 13 assists in five straight games prior to Friday, and has🧾 a good chance to
bounce back to that level on Sunday against a Wizards defense that has allowed the
second-most🧾 assists to opposing point guards this season. You can also get this bet at
plus money. If you want to🧾 be a bit more conservative, you could get Young over 11.5
assists at -150.
Thunder and Nets over 234.5 points (-105):🧾 The Thunder have one of the
most prolific offenses in the NBA, averaging 121.2 PPG with the sixth-best offensive
rating.🧾 They also play at a fast pace, which allows opponents to also put points on the
board (112.9 PPG allowed).🧾 The Nets are a relatively efficient offense (117.5 points
per 100 possessions, 11th in NBA) and an inefficient defense (117.8🧾 points allowed per
100 possessions, 23rd in NBA) that would have higher scoring games if they played at a
faster🧾 pace. I expect the Thunder, as the better team playing at home, to control the
pace. If they do, this🧾 game has a good chance to go over. The ESPN Analytics game
predictor projects 237.5 points in this matchup.
Ja Morant🧾 over 7.5 assists (-140):
Morant has had ups-and-downs as a scorer since his return, depending on whether his
jumper is🧾 working on a given day, but he has been consistent as a distributor. He has
averaged 8.8 APG in his🧾 five games this season, with at least eight assists in four out
of the five and double-digit assists in two🧾 of his last three outings. His Sunday
opponents, the Kings, allow the fifth-most assists per game (9.8 average) to opposing
🧾 point guards.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics
Injury aggregation by Rotowire.
Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards
3 p.m. Capital🧾 One
Arena, Washington, D.C.
Records (Against the Spread)
Hawks: 12-19 (7-24-0)
Wizards:
6-25 (15-16-0)
Line: Hawks (-6.5) Total: 252.5
Money Line: Hawks (-275), Wizards
(+225)
BPI🧾 Projection: Hawks by 3, straight up 60%, 240.7 total points.
Injury
Report:
Hawks: Seth Lundy, (OUT - Ankle); De'Andre Hunter, (OUT -🧾 Knee); Mouhamed
Gueye, (OUT - Back); Onyeka Okongwu, (GTD - Illness); Trae Young, (GTD - Knee)
Wizards:
Danilo Gallinari, (OUT -🧾 Back); Tyus Jones, (GTD - Foot)
Los Angeles Lakers at New
Orleans Pelicans
7 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Records (Against the
🧾 Spread)
Lakers: 17-16 (15-18-0)
Pelicans: 18-14 (17-14-1)
Line: Pelicans (-5.5) Total:
230.5
Money Line: Lakers (+190), Pelicans (-220)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 5.3,
straight up🧾 68%, 235.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Knee);
D'Angelo Russell, (GTD - Lower Body)
Pelicans: Matt Ryan, (OUT -🧾 Elbow); Trey Murphy
III, (GTD - Knee)
Brooklyn Nets at Oklahoma City Thunder
7 p.m. Paycom Center, Oklahoma
City
Records (Against the Spread)
Nets:🧾 15-17 (18-13-1)
Thunder: 21-9 (21-8-1)
Line:
Thunder (-8.5) Total: 237.5
Money Line: Nets (+270), Thunder (-340)
BPI Projection:
Thunder by 6.1, straight up 71%,🧾 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Lonnie Walker
IV, (OUT - Hamstring); Ben Simmons, (OUT - Back); Nic Claxton, (GTD - Illness)
Thunder:
🧾 None reported
Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs
7 p.m. Frost Bank Center, San
Antonio
Records (Against the Spread)
Celtics: 25-6 (15-14-2)
Spurs: 5-26
(11-19-1)
Line:🧾 Celtics (-13.5) Total: 240.5
Money Line: Celtics (-1000), Spurs
(+625)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 16.2, straight up 92%, 236.6 total points.
Injury
Report:
Celtics:🧾 Jrue Holiday, (GTD - Elbow)
Spurs: Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee);
Devonte' Graham, (GTD - Illness); Zach Collins, (GTD - Ankle)
Sacramento🧾 Kings at
Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
Records (Against the Spread)
Kings: 18-12
(16-14-0)
Grizzlies: 10-21 (13-18-0)
Line: Grizzlies (-1.5) Total: 235.5
Money Line:
Kings🧾 (+105), Grizzlies (-125)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 0.3, straight up 51%, 235.3
total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Kevin Huerter, (GTD - Hand)
Grizzlies: Brandon
🧾 Clarke, (OUT - Achilles); Steven Adams, (OUT - Knee); Derrick Rose, (GTD - Hamstring);
John Konchar, (GTD - Illness); Luke🧾 Kennard, (GTD - Knee)
Orlando Magic at Phoenix
Suns
8 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix
Records (Against the Spread)
Magic: 19-12
(21-10-0)
Suns: 16-15 (11-19-1)
Line: Suns🧾 (-5.5) Total: 230.5
Money Line: Magic
(+190), Suns (-220)
BPI Projection: Suns by 4.7, straight up 66%, 231.0 total
points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Joe🧾 Ingles, (OUT - Ankle); Gary Harris, (GTD - Calf);
Jonathan Isaac, (GTD - Hamstring); Markelle Fultz, (GTD - Knee); Wendell🧾 Carter Jr.,
(GTD - Knee)
Suns: Nassir Little, (OUT - Knee); Damion Lee, (GTD - Knee); Josh Okogie,
(GTD - Ankle)
