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2023 NBA Top Midweek Betting Games for December 20
Damian Lillard passed an important milestone on Tuesday night, dropping 40 points, a season high, on the San Antonio Spurs in a 132-119 win – and passing the 20,000-point mark for his career. He becomes the 51st player ever to hit that plateau in NBA history, joining just seven other active players. He hit the mark in his 794th career contest and is now the 17th-fastest player to get to 20K. The other active players are Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. Lillard also joins James, Harden and Curry as the only NBA players ever to reach 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, and 2,000 three-pointers. Let’s check out Top Midweek Betting Games and some promising NBA betting picks from the Association as the calendar turns to Wednesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Odds: Timberwolves (+3.5) at 76ers (O/U 225.5)
Hour: 7:00 pm ET
Streaming:NBA TV
Minnesota (20-5) leads the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West by three games, and their defensive rating (107.1) and scoring defense (105.9 points permitted per game) both rank first in the league. Their offense puts up 113.5 points per game, which ranks 18th. They came back from a 66-54 deficit in Miami on Monday, but they came back to get that key road win, 112-108. Anthony Edwards led the way with 32 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18. Naz Reid came off the bench to score 13, and Jaden McDaniels scored 10. The Timberwolves won’t have Jaylen Clark on Wednesday.
The 76ers (18-8) are in third place in the East and second place in the Atlantic Division. Their last game was a disappointing 108-104 home loss to Chicago, a game in which the Sixers were 10 ½-point favorites. Philly did mount a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the team wasted a 40-14 night from Joel Embiid and 29 points from Tyrese Maxey. Their offense is fourth in the league, scoring 122.2 points per night, and their defense allows 110.9 points per game, good for seventh. Nicolas Batum will miss the game, and Marcus Morris Sr and Robert Covington are listed as questionable. 76ers to win and cover.
Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors
NBA Odds: Nuggets (-4.5) at Raptors (O/U 228.5)
Hour: 7:30 pm ET
The Nuggets (18-10) crushed the Dallas Mavericks in a 130-104 home victory in their last game, behind 22 points from Jamal Murray and 21 from Aaron Gordon. Nikola Jokic had an eight-point, nine-board, seven-assist night but got to sit on the bench for the fourth quarter with the rest of the Denver starters. Four different bench players had double figures for the Nuggets, who had a 32-11 edge in fast-break points.
The Raptors (11-15) took down Charlotte at home, 114-99, in their last game, turning a two-point deficit at the end of three quarters into a runaway. Pascal Siakam had eight of his 27 points in the fourth, and Gary Trent Jr put up 22 points and 10 boards to get the first double-double of his career. The Hornets didn’t have Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, or Mark Williams. The Raptors turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter – a quarter in which they only made seven baskets. They will need a better start against the Nuggets. Nuggets to win and cover.
L.A. Clippers at Dallas Mavericks
NBA Odds: Clippers (-3.5) at Mavericks (O/U 236.5)
Hour: 8:30 pm ET
Both of these teams come in with 16-10 records; however, the Clippers have won eight in a row and 13 of 16, while the Mavericks have cooled off significantly since a hot start to the season. The Clippers routed Indiana, 151-127, on Monday, shooting 57.1% overall from the floor and 50% from downtown. They also had 60 points in the lane and 14 offensive boards. James Harden went 12 of 16 to lead the Clippers with 35 points, and Ivica Zubac pulled down 16 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard (24.2 points per game) leads the team in scoring on the season, and the team’s offense ranks ninth (117 ppg) and sixth in shooting (48.4%). Their three-point shooting (38.3%) ranks third.
Dallas only has a 7-5 straight up record at home this season, despite terrific output from Luka Doncic. He went 13 of 24 for 38 points and also had 11 boards and eight assists in the loss. Doncic leads the Mavericks in points (32.9), rebounds (8.4), and assists (9.1). Kyrie Irving, who took a max deal to come back and join Doncic, remains on the shelf with an extended injury, along with Maxi Kleber, Josh Green, and Dereck Lively II. Clippers to win and cover.
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