After the NBA Cup on Wednesday and a full day off on Thursday, normality resumes in the NBA on Friday with a huge slate of games. 26 of the 30 teams will be in action across 13 games, with the first of those getting underway at 11:00am AEDT. As always, we have you covered with our three best bets for the day below!
Also, make sure to head over to our NBA Tips regularly, as we’ll be providing free tips for all the major slates for each and every week of the 2024-25 season!
NBA Betting Tips: Friday, December 20th 2024
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors (11:30am AEDT)
The Nets (10-16) head to Toronto to face the Raptors (7-20), with both teams seeking a much-needed win. Brooklyn boasts an offensive rating of 112.5, placing them in the middle of the league, and they excel from beyond the arc, shooting 37.9% from three, the fourth-best in the NBA. However, their defensive rating of 116.7 highlights their struggles on that end of the floor, as they’ve had difficulty containing opponents. With injuries to key players like Cam Thomas and Ziaire Williams, the Nets will rely on their shooting efficiency to stay competitive.
Toronto enters with an offensive rating of 111.4, showing they can produce offensively but have struggled with consistency. Defensively, their rating of 116.3 ranks among the worst in the league. Despite this, the Raptors excel at defending the three-point line, holding opponents to 34.8% shooting, which is 10th-best in the NBA. RJ Barrett has carried much of the offensive load for Toronto, helping keep them competitive despite injuries to Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley
This matchup features Brooklyn’s strong perimeter shooting against Toronto’s solid three-point defence. The Nets will need to stay efficient offensively and find ways to improve defensively to secure a win, although the recent departure of Dennis Schroder, likely departure of Cam Johnson, and injury to Cam Thomas leaves their scoring options extremely thin. With that in mind, coupled with home court advantage, I have the Raptors getting the job done here.
Raptors -3.5
$1.88 (1.5 Units)
New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves (1:30pm AEDT)
The New York Knicks (16-10) are coming into this game with one of the league's best offences, boasting an offensive rating of 120.5. They've been great at scoring, but their defence needs some work, sitting at a defensive rating of 113.7. To beat the Timberwolves, the Knicks will need to clean up their defence and find a way to slow down Minnesota’s attack.
The Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11) have been solid on both ends, with an offensive rating of 111.5 and a defensive rating of 107.5. They've been good at scoring while also keeping opponents in check with their defence. If they can keep up their defensive play, they’ll be in a strong position to slow down the Knicks and dictate the pace of the game.
It’s likely to be a battle of offence versus defence in this one. The Knicks will need to tighten up their defence to keep Minnesota from taking control, while the Timberwolves will look to use their defensive strength to shut down New York’s high-powered attack. However, the Timberwolves have come into some form in recent weeks and with home court advantage also at play, I like them to come out on top.
Timberwolves -2.5
$1.92 (2 Units)
Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings (2:00pm AEDT)
The Los Angeles Lakers (14-12) enter this matchup with an offensive rating of 111.3, which highlights their ability to score, but their defensive rating of 116.1 suggests they’ve struggled to consistently stop opponents. While their offence can put up big numbers, their defence has been a weak point throughout the season. To have a chance against Sacramento, the Lakers will need to tighten up defensively and prevent the Kings from exploiting their defensive lapses.
The Sacramento Kings (13-14) come into this game with a strong offensive rating of 116.4, reflecting their ability to score efficiently. However, their defensive rating of 113.3 shows they’ve had issues on that end, allowing opponents to score at will at times. If Sacramento can shore up their defence and limit the Lakers’ offensive opportunities, they’ll have the upper hand in this matchup. They’ll need to focus on playing solid team defence while continuing to capitalise on their offensive strength.
Given the struggles on both teams' defences, Sacramento’s higher offensive rating gives them an edge in this game. The Kings are likely to use their offensive efficiency to outpace the Lakers, who have been inconsistent defensively. The Kings have also had the wood over the Lakers in recent years, particularly on their home floor. I expect them to be too strong once again.
