Best NBA Betting Lines December 16: COVID Outbreaks and the Spread

Tonight’s slate of NBA action only includes four games after Chicago’s trip to Toronto was postponed due to a COVID outbreak in the Bulls’ locker room. Other teams across the league are dealing with similar situations, which makes the NBA odds betting market more fluid than usual. 

Washington @ Phoenix 

The Bet: Suns -9

Our best bet of the night is the Suns laying nine. Both teams have struggled to cover of late with Phoenix going 2-4 and Washington going 0-6 over their last six games ATS. 

As an underdog of at least six points this year, Washington is just 1-3-1 ATS, and in away games against Western Conference teams, the Wizards are just 1-4 ATS. 

After missing a game, Deandre Ayton returned to the Suns’ lineup Tuesday in an overtime win at Portland and looked like his dominant self, scoring 28 and grabbing 13 boards. While Devin Booker remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, the offense should run smoothing through Ayton and Chris Paul. Phoenix is 12-9 against the spread after a win and 4-3 ATS in games against Eastern Conference teams. 

This game is also Washington’s third in four nights. Take the better team with the rest advantage playing in front of their typically raucous home crowd. 

Detroit @ Indiana

The Bet: Pistons +10.5

It’s awfully hard to look at this Detroit Pistons team and see a team worth backing, but this spot against the Pacers is intriguing. 

The Pistons have lost 12 straight games straight up, but they covered in half those contests and went a very impressive 4-1 ATS in games in which they were more than 10-point underdogs. They also haven’t played basketball since Sunday because their game against Chicago scheduled for Tuesday was postponed.

Indiana, meanwhile, is playing their third game in four nights with their previous two contests coming against tough opponents in Golden State and Milwaukee. The Pacers are just 6-9-1 as favorites ATS and 1-3 ATS in division games. 

They lost straight up to the Pistons by eight when these two teams played on November 17. That might not happen again tonight, but the Pistons with the points is the play.

N.Y. Knicks @ Houston

The Bet: Knicks -4.5

If recent trends continued, the Rockets would cover this spread and possibly win outright. They’re 9-1 against the spread in their last ten games prior to last night’s contest at Cleveland, and they’re one basket in their win against Orlando on Dec. 3 away from being perfect ATS over that stretch.

The Knicks, on the other hand, are 1-6 both straight up and ATS in their last seven, but they’ll enter this contest both healthier and better rested. 

Christian Wood, the Rockets’ leading scorer and rebounder, is listed as day-to-day, and also out is number two overall pick in last year’s draft Jalen Green. The statuses of Eric Gordon, Kevin Porter, and Danuel House Jr. are also up in the air as of now.

The Knicks come in with an extra day of rest and better health overall. RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin both entered the league’s health and safety protocols, but they still have their season leaders in points, rebounds, assists (all Julius Randle), steals (Alec Burks), and blocks (Mitchell Robinson). 

On the road this year, the Knicks are 7-6 ATS (much better than their 4-11 mark at home), and as a road favorite, they’re 3-2 ATS. Lay the points. Take the Knicks.