NBA Preview, Odds & Best Bets for December 3: LeBron Returns for Staples Showdown With Clippers; Suns Seek 19th Straight Win in Rematch With Warriors

On the way to what was supposed to be one of the more unremarkable nights on the NBA calendar, a record was set last night that may not be broken for a little while. Without leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie sensation Josh Giddey, yesterday’s NBA betting odds didn’t look too favorably on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s chances of keeping it close against the Memphis Grizzlies, even though the unpredictable Grizzlies were without Ja Morant. And reader, they did not keep it close.

history. pic.twitter.com/sDt8SNu1zY

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 3, 2021

It’s safe to say that the Grizzlies covered…over six and a half times over. Whichever side you were on, you could have afforded to check out for the night at halftime, as the Grizzlies (72) doubled up the Thunder (36) in the first half.

Now then, what we do have in store for tonight? The Phoenix Suns registered a franchise-record 18th straight win last night by comfortably dispatching the Detroit Pistons, but they will likely have to work a little harder tonight to get #19. Steph Curry’s horrid night in Tuesday’s loss to the Suns didn’t diminish his status as a heavy favorite for NBA MVP, but it might mean trouble for the Suns in tonight’s rematch at the Chase Center.

Elsewhere, LeBron James (health and safety protocols) is back in action tonight for the showdown at Staples between the Lakers and Clippers. The Lakers mounted a big second-half comeback against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, but they will be happy to avoid the extended absence that was initially a possibility.

With Clippers-Lakers and Suns-Warriors going on at the same time–and the Pac-12 Championship Game between Oregon and Utah as well–it will be a great night for betting. And it will be a good night to have as many screens as you can.

NBA Schedule for Friday, December 3, 2021

Miami Heat (13-9) vs Indiana Pacers (9-15), Bally Sports Sun, 7:00 p.m. ET

Cleveland Cavaliers (12-10) vs Washington Wizards (14-8), NBC Sports D.C., 7:00 p.m. ET

Philadelphia 76ers (11-11) vs Atlanta Hawks (12-10), ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET

Minnesota Timberwolves (11-11) vs Brooklyn Nets (15-6), YES, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando Magic (5-18) vs Houston Rockets (5-16), AT&T SportsNet Southwest, 8:00 p.m. ET

New Orleans Pelicans (6-18) vs Dallas Mavericks (11-9), Bally Sports Southwest, 8:30 p.m. ET

Boston Celtics (12-10) vs Utah Jazz (14-7), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, 9:00 p.m. ET

Phoenix Suns (19-3) vs Golden State Warriors (18-3), NBC Sports Bay Area, 10:00 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Clippers (11-11) vs Los Angeles Lakers (12-11), ESPN, 10:00 p.m. ET

NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets for Friday, December 3, 2021

• Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards
• Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs Brooklyn Nets
• Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets
• New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks
• Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz
• Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors
• Los Angeles Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers

NBA betting odds listed below are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Friday, December 3, 2021 at 4:25 p.m. ET. To compare NBA betting odds from several top online sportsbooks, check out our NBA odds.

Betting News offers aggregated NBA betting picks for every NBA matchup every day. Below, we list the top pick(s) for each matchup. In cases where the moneyline is the top pick percentagewise but provides no value, we list the best option among the other options.

NBA Betting Picks: Friday, December 3, 2021

Betting News aggregates our NBA betting picks from trusted sports betting industry sources. Along with NBA picks for every NBA matchup, we also offer MLB picks, NFL picks, and NHL picks.

Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Miami Heat +5.5 (-114), Indiana Pacers -5.5 (-106)
• Total: OVER 206 (-110), UNDER 206 (-110)
• Moneyline: Miami Heat +176, Indiana Pacers -210

How will the Heat fare in their second straight game without both Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler? The outlook isn’t a positive one, even against a struggling Pacers team.

For an in-depth look at tonight’s Heat vs Pacers matchup, check out our preview: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Betting Preview & Best Bets

Top Heat vs Pacers Betting Picks: Heat +5.5 (83 percent) & OVER 206.5 (83%)

Heat vs Pacers Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers +2.5 (-106), Washington Wizards -2.5 (-114)
• Total: OVER 209 (-110), UNDER 209 (-110)
• Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers +126, Washington Wizards -148

This is a matchup of one of the NBA’s best road teams (7-4 SU & 8-3 ATS) against one of the best home teams (8-2 SU & ATS). With Evan Mobley back in action, the Cavs have won three straight and dominated both the Mavs (by 18) and Heat (by 26) on the road this week. Can they keep it going against the Wizards? The Wizards have won three of four after a little blip.

Top Cavs vs Wizards Betting Pick: OVER 208.5 (83 percent)

Cavs vs Wizards Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Philadelphia 76ers +2 (-108), Atlanta Hawks -2 (-112)
• Total: OVER 216 (-110), UNDER 216 (-110)
• Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers +110, Atlanta Hawks -130

Joel Embiid and the Sixers are both still trying to find their form after COVID threw off their early hot start. It’s the other way around for the Hawks, who are 8-1 in their last nine games since starting 4-9.

Top Sixers vs Hawks Betting Pick: Hawks ML (83 percent)

Sixers vs Hawks Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Brooklyn Nets NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves +7.5 (-110), Brooklyn Nets -7.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 222.5 (-108), UNDER 222.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves +260, Brooklyn Nets -320

The Timberwolves are 7-2 in their last nine games and own road wins over the Bucks, Lakers, and Sixers. The Nets have the Eastern Conference’s best record but have had to work to put away a number of teams.

Top Timberwolves vs Nets Betting Picks: Timberwolves +7.5 (83 percent) and UNDER 222.5 (83 percent)

Timberwolves vs Nets Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Orlando Magic +3 (-110), Houston Rockets -3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 216.5 (-108), UNDER 216.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Orlando Magic +126, Houston Rockets -148

The Rockets have come to life after winning only one of their first 17 games. They go into tonight’s game against the Magic with four straight wins and are favored to make it five in a row. The Magic mounted a big comeback to beat the Nuggets last time out, but can they win a second straight game without Jalen Suggs?

Top Magic vs Rockets Betting Picks: Rockets ML (83 percent) & UNDER 216 (83 percent)

Magic vs Rockets Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: New Orleans Pelicans +6.5 (-110), Dallas Mavericks -6.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 215.5 (-110), UNDER 215.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: New Orleans Pelicans +215, Dallas Mavericks -260

The Pelicans allowed 139 points and lost by 32 to the Mavs just two nights ago. Should we expect a different result in tonight’s rematch in Dallas?

Top Pelicans vs Mavs Betting Pick: OVER 216 (83 percent)

Pelicans vs Mavs Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Boston Celtics +8.5 (-110), Utah Jazz -8.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 210 (-110), UNDER 210 (-112)
• Moneyline: Boston Celtics +300, Utah Jazz -375

The Celtics and Jazz both head into tonight’s game with wins in their last two games. The Celtics don’t strike a lot of fear into me when it comes to playing one of the NBA’s top teams on the road, so we’ll see which version of this team we get tonight at Utah.

Top Celtics vs Jazz Betting Pick: OVER 210 (83 percent)

Celtics vs Jazz Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Phoenix Suns +7.5 (-114), Golden State Warriors -7.5 (-106)
• Total: OVER 215.5 (-110), UNDER 215.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Phoenix Suns +240, Golden State Warriors -295

The Suns were able to salt away a win over the Warriors on Tuesday despite losing Devin Booker to a hamstring injury. Steph had his worst game of the season percentagewise, making only four of 21 shots as he scored only 12 points. That was the fifth time this season that Steph has shot under 35 percent from the field. Each of the previous four times, he made over 50 percent the next game, and the Warriors are a perfect 4-0 in those games.

Will he and the Warriors keep that pattern going tonight to end the Suns’ win streak?

Top Suns vs Warriors Betting Pick: Suns +7 (67 percent)

Suns vs Warriors Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Los Angeles Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Los Angeles Clippers +2 (-106), Los Angeles Lakers -2 (-114)
• Total: OVER 218.5 (-110), UNDER 218.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers +118, Los Angeles Lakers -138

LeBron is back for the first head-to-head matchup between the Staples sharers after missing only one game. This season, the Lakers are 7-4 with him and 5-7 without him, so it’s safe to say that his return is a timely boost. The Lakers are catching the Clippers at a good time, as the Clips have lost three straight and six of eight.

Top Clippers vs Lakers Betting Picks: Lakers ML (67 percent) and UNDER 218.5 (67 percent)

Clippers vs Lakers Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More