NBA Betting Picks for Wednesday 12/20/23: Looking to Strike Gold With Point Spreads

The 82-game NBA regular season offers us a wide variety of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals. The Association features 1,230 regular season games, which can make sifting through the odds an overwhelming task.

However, various advanced statistics can help narrow the choices. numberFire's NBA power rankings and daily projections paired with advanced stats from the NBA can help give the inside track to winning big.

While utilizing some of the mentioned tools, which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook look like the best bets today?

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Best Bets

Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers

Timberwolves +3 (-108)

The matchup of the day looks to be the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Philadelphia 76ers. Minnesota holds the best record in the NBA at 20-5 and has the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Philadelphia had their six-game winning streak snapped in their last game, but they still sit at 18-8 with the No. 3 seed in the East.

The Timberwolves are 5-1 outright and against the spread (ATS) in their last six road games, and the Sixers are 4-1 outright and ATS in their previous five home contests. Something has to give in Wednesday's clash. Which team looks like the best pick?

Minnesota's defense against Philly's offense is about as good as it gets. The T-Wolves have the best defensive rating in the league while the 76ers have the second-best offensive rating.

Free throws have been a major factor in Philadelphia's scoring success; they average the most free throws attempted and made per game. Joel Embiid averages 34.4 points per game (PPG) and continues to live at the charity stripe with a league-high 11.4 free throws attempted per game. The Timberwolves give up the fifth-fewest free throw shots per game, though.

Minnesota could slow the pace of this game, as well. Philly totals the fourth-most fastbreak points per game, while the Wolves allow the seventh-fewest fastbreak points per game.

Additionally, the T-Wolves have exceptional defenders in Mike Conley (107.4 defensive rating) and Rudy Gobert (107.5 defensive rating) who could help slow the Sixers' Embiid and Tyrese Maxey (25.8 PPG).

Anthony Edwards (24.6 PPG), who is averaging 34.5 PPG over his previous two contests, could also have a favorable matchup against De'Anthony Melton. He has the worst defensive rating in Philadelphia's starting lineup at 113.7.

I like the Wolves' elite defense to lead to a point spread cover by limiting the 76ers' fastbreak points and free throws. Plus, Edwards seems poised for another big-time performance.

Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors

Nuggets -4 (-108)

The Denver Nuggets -- who are 4-1 over their last five contests -- hit the road to face the Toronto Raptors. Denver seems like a sound pick after covering back-to-back away games.

The paint battle will likely decide this matchup as both teams rank within the top six in points in the paint per game. The Nuggets' interior defense seems to have the edge, allowing 49.9 points in the paint per game (16th-best) while opponents shoot 51.9% on two-pointers (8th-best). Meanwhile, the Raptors give up 51.5 points in the paint per game (13th-worst) with opponents shooting 54.0% on two-pointers (15th-worst).

Denver's defense could give them the edge, as the unit has the 10th-best rating, while Toronto has the 12th-worst offensive rating. The Raptors have the 10th-worst mark in effective field goal percentage (eFG%), and opponents have an eFG% of only 52.5% against the Nuggets (7th-best).

Aaron Gordon (112.7 defensive rating) is also an exceptional defender who could slow Toronto's top scorer -- Pascal Siakam (21.2 PPG).

Despite having the 15th-best rating, the Raptors' defense could be vulnerable against the Nuggets' efficient offense. Toronto gives up a 47.9% field goal percentage (FG%), which is the 12th-worst mark. Denver has the third-best FG% in the Association at 49.0%.

Ultimately, the Nuggets' advantage in shooting efficiency could lead to the win and cover in Toronto.

Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets

Rockets -3 (-112)

Taking the Houston Rockets to cover at home has been my bread and butter. I'm backing Houston in the Toyota Center once again with the Atlanta Hawks paying a visit.

The Hawks have been like a flightless bird over their last 10 games, going 3-7 outright and 1-9 ATS. The Rockets have been one of the league's best home teams at 11-1, which is tied with the Timberwolves as the second-best winning percentage. They also hold a league-best 10-1-1 ATS record in home games. Atlanta is only 5-9 ATS on the road, tied for the eighth-worst mark.

The home and away trends may already be enough to back the Rockets, but let's take it a step further.

Houston has one of the NBA's best defenses with the second-best rating. The Hawks feature a formidable offense with the fourth-best rating, but the Rockets excel at slowing Atlanta's strengths. For example, the Hawks play at a fast pace with the second-most field goal attempts per game; Houston gives up the sixth-fewest field goal attempts per game.

The Rockets have a strong perimeter defense, allowing the fifth-fewest made threes per game, and Atlanta averages the seventh-most converted three-pointers per contest.

The pace of play should be a major factor. The Hawks play at the fifth-quickest tempo, while Houston has the second-slowest pace. The Rockets could control the possession game, as they total the 6th-most rebounds per game, and Atlanta averages the 11th-fewest rebounds per game.

The Hawks' paint defense has been a major weakness with opponents totaling 55.6 points in the paint per game (fourth-most). Plus, starting center Clint Capela has a 119.6 defensive rating. Houston's top scorer Alperen Sengun (19.9 PPG), who shoots 65.3% of his field goal attempts within nine feet of the basket, could be in store for a big game.

With their ability to control the pace of play and a potential advantage in the paint, the Rockets' hot streak at home could continue.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.