NBA Betting Picks for Wednesday 12/6/23: Will the Nuggets Strike Gold On the Road?

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

Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers

Magic +4 (-106)

The Orlando Magic's nine-game winning streak came to an end in their previous game with a 129-101 loss against the Brooklyn Nets. The Magic are looking to get back on track on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 3-3 over their previous six contests.

Orlando has been one of the most reliable point-spread picks in the NBA with a 15-5 record against the spread (ATS), and they are 6-3 ATS on the road. Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in the last six games. As four-point underdogs, the Magic look like a favorable cover. Here's why you should back Orlando.

First off, the Cavs' identity plays right into the Magic's hands. Cleveland is still a defensive team with the NBA's eighth-best rating and attempts only 87.4 field goals per game (seventh-fewest). Orlando boasts the third-best defensive rating while shooting only 86.6 shots per game (fifth-fewest). This could be a slow-paced, defensive contest.

This could give the Magic an advantage, as they shine in the possession battle. They have the top mark in defensive rebounding percentage and have the 10th-best mark in offensive rebound percentage. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have the 10th-worst mark in defensive rebound percentage and the 14th-worst mark in offensive rebound percentage.

Orlando will be without their top rebounder Wendell Carter Jr. (8.6 rebounds per game (RPG)), but he has not played in a game since November 2nd. The Magic have still managed to dominate the boards mostly thanks to Paolo Banchero's 6.9 RPG and Goga Bitadze's 6.0 RPG.

The defense also forces turnovers in bulk with 8.8 steals per game (fourth-most) and 16.4 forced turnovers per game (second-most). Jalen Suggs has been an excellent defender with a team-best 1.9 steals per game and a 111.2 defensive rating. Rookie Anthony Black has also seen his role increase while carrying a 108.5 defensive rating.

The Magic could have the defensive backcourt to slow Cleveland's top scorers -- Donovan Mitchell (27.1 PPG) and Darius Garland (19.3 PPG). Of course, the Cavs have an undersized backcourt with the 6-foot-1 Garland and 6-foot-3 Mitchell. Orlando's lengthy backcourt, featuring the 6-foot-7 Black and 6-foot-5 Suggs, could frustrate Garland and Mitchell. Plus, Cleveland totals 14.6 turnovers per game (10th-worst).

I like Orlando's ability to win the possession battle due to rebounding and forcing turnovers. Plus, Black and Suggs' size advantage could slow the Cavaliers' most lethal scorers. Give me the Magic to cover on the road.

Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks

Over 242 (-110)

Two of the Association's most electric offenses collide in the Brooklyn Nets against the Atlanta Hawks. The Nets feature the sixth-best offensive rating while the Hawks have the fourth-best. Scoring is in both teams' DNA with Brooklyn totaling 116.7 PPG (eighth-most) and Atlanta averaging 123.2 PPG (second-most). The Nets come off back-to-back games with at least 128 points, and the Hawks are averaging 129.0 PPG over their last two games.

The 242 total feels a little low. Frankly, I'm surprised the number isn't pushing 250. Atlanta is no stranger to high totals, as they have had at least a 245 total in three of their previous five games. In those games, the over went 2-1.

Both defenses are among the bottom half in the NBA. Brooklyn has the 12th-worst defensive rating while the Hawks have the 5th-worst. The perimeter defenses could especially struggle, as both squads like to hoist threes.

The Nets average 39.1 three-point attempts per game (6th-most), and Atlanta launches 37.4 shots from deep per game (10th-most). The Hawks give up 36.7 three-point shots per game (ninth-most) while Brooklyn allows 38.4 attempts per contest (third-most). This game could look like a three-point contest. These teams knock down open three-point looks with both squads among the top nine in three-point percentage.

For Atlanta, Trae Young (8.7 three-point attempts per game (3PA)) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (7.8 3PA) could feast from beyond the arc. The Nets also have their fair share of high-volume shooters with Cameron Thomas (6.7 3PA), Spencer Dinwiddie (6.6 3PA), and Cameron Johnson (6.4 3PA).

Both teams also like to run with Brooklyn totaling the sixth-most fastbreak points per game while the Hawks average the fourth-most. This is reflected in Atlanta's pace of play, which is the league's third-quickest tempo.

With two gifted offenses going against below-average defenses, the over looks like a promising pick.

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers

Nuggets Moneyline (-104)

Despite carrying the Western Conference's No. 3 seed with a 14-7 record, the Denver Nuggets are underdogs on the road against the 9-10 Los Angeles Clippers. Per FanDuel's NBA Finals odds, the Nuggets have the second-shortest line (+400) to win the championship, while the Clippers are at +3000.

Denver is clearly regarded as the much better team. This is stating the obvious, though, with the Nuggets as the reigning champs while LA has not won a playoff round since 2020-21. So why are the Clippers favored?

Jamal Murray (16.3 PPG; 25.1% usage rate) is questionable with an ankle sprain. He's played in only eight games this season and in one of the previous 14 contests. Having Murray's scoring would certainly be a big boost against the Clippers, who have the league's sixth-best defensive rating.

However, Denver has proven they can win with or without Murray. As we know, the show runs through Nikola Jokic, who is once again in the MVP conversation with 29.0 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 9.8 assists per game (APG). Jokic is currently the favorite to win MVP at +150, according to FanDuel's NBA MVP odds.

Los Angeles has a rather thin frontcourt with Ivica Zubac and Daniel Theis. Zubac has an impressive 107.7 defensive rating compared to Theis' 111.4 rating, but Zubac averages only 25.8 minutes per game compared to Jokic's 34.1. The Joker will have his chance to wreak havoc without the Clippers' best paint defender on the court.

Without their two-time MVP winner, the Nuggets took down the Clippers 113-104 on November 27th. Reggie Jackson erupted for 35 points in the win against his former team. He has continued to play well in Murray's absence, averaging 21.8 PPG over his previous five outings.

Denver averages the third-most points in the paint per game while shooting 56.7% on two-point looks (fourth-best). LA has an exceptional defense, but the interior is susceptible as it holds the 10th-best mark in points in the paint allowed per game and the 11th-best mark in opponent two-point percentage.

With Jokic back in the fold, I like the Nuggets to win outright on the road. They managed to win the paint battle in the previous head-to-head matchup, and adding Jokic could only increase this advantage. According to numberFire's daily basketball projections, Jokic has the most projected fantasy points for today's slate (62.7).

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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.