Our free NBA picks are out for Saturday, December 11th, 2021! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the best five games on today’s schedule!
Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Clippers – 3.30pm ET
The mammoth road trip for the Orlando Magic continues on, and this game they take on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Magic are struggling slightly in December, and they are currently on a three game losing streak, with losses to the Rockets, Warriors and Kings. The Clippers are currently on a two game winning streak, with narrow wins against the Trail Blazers and Celtics.
Denis Kirilov
The Los Angeles Clippers will have at first sight an easy task over the weekend. They take on the Orlando Magic in their Staples Center, looking to get their third win in a row. The Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics in their last two matches in the NBA. They previously were in a tight spot, losing 4 out of 5 games, but it seems that they are out of this mini-crisis. The Clippers are still ahead of their rivals from LA and I think this will be one of their main goals for this campaign. They will try to win the NBA Championship, but they perfectly know that there are plenty of great teams not only in the West, but this time also in the East. The team from the “City of Angels” is 5th in the current standings and they need the victory in order to pull away from the mix in the bottom half of the top 10.
The Magic, on the other hand, have surely crossed out the season already. They are one of the weakest teams in the NBA and they will try to gain as much experience as possible in order to be a better version of themselves for the upcoming seasons. The 21-year-old, Cole Anthony, leads the way for Orlando so far. He dropped a season-high 33 points in their last match against the Sacramento Kings and it seems that he is once again on top of his level after suffering an ankle injury against the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season. The upcoming fixture feels like a predetermined one and I will go with two picks here. The first one will be in favor of the Clippers to cover their spread, while the bonus one will be for “over points” in the match.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -8 (-110)
Denis’ NBA Bonus Pick: Over TBA (TBA)
Michael Lantz
In today’s afternoon game, the 5-21 Orlando Magic continue their western road trip, as they take on a 14-12 Los Angeles Clippers team that sits near the middle of the Western Conference standings. With only five wins on the year, it should come as almost no surprise that the Magic have lost 10 of their last 11. Second year guard Cole Anthony has been a bright spot, as he’s averaging over 20 points per game and has matured immensely as a player. The Magic have also seen improvements out of high picks like Mo Bamba and this year’s first rounder Franz Wagner. While things may continue to be a bit rough for the Magic, this young team should be one to watch in the future.
Josh Hart came up big tonight with a tough double double 😤#WBD | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/m3ksTH0D8h
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 11, 2021
The Clippers are coming off back-to-back wins against the Blazers and Celtics, as they continue to hang on to a high playoff spot despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence. Of course Paul George has continued to play great, but they’ve had a lot of help from bench guys stepping up. At first it was Reggie Jackson, who continued his momentum from last season’s playoffs. Recently, the team has been thrilled to have second round rookie, Brandon Boston Jr. breakout, as he’s scored in double figures three of the last five games. The Clippers unit continues to find ways to win, and while the Magic are an energetic bunch with a lot of potential, I expect a more established Clippers team to cover the spread.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers spread
Noah Dunlap
The LA Clippers have been a little shaky so far this year, as they still try to get by without Kawhi Leonard, who is still recovering from an ACL tear from last season. Paul George has been excellent in Kawhi’s absence, but the key for this Clippers team is the supporting cast. When they’ve struggled, the team struggles, but when Reggie Jackson and company actually play well and help PG-13, LA has the potential to be one of the best teams in the league.
And on the other end, the Orlando Magic are just bad. The talent level isn’t there, the experience isn’t there, and they haven’t been playing very well with the sparing talent that they do have. They’re one of the worst teams in the league, and going against a team with a guy like Paul George won’t be easy, even with this one taking place in Orlando. Take the Clips and the points, and be extremely confident in that pick.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -8 (-110)
Utah Jazz @ Washington Wizards – 7pm ET
The Utah Jazz finish up their road trip in Washington when they take on the Wizards on Saturday night. The Jazz are on a roll, winning their last six games in a row, and their season record is now sitting at 18-7. The Wizards have a season record of 15-11, and last time out they got an overtime win against the Pistons, 119-116.
Denis Kirilov
The Utah Jazz hosts the Washington Wizards on Sunday night in the NBA. The Jazz are playing on a very high level right now as they are coming into this meeting on a 6-game winning streak. They rarely drop less than 100 points as it only happened twice this season – in their losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and to the Chicago Bulls. They have been all over the place recently as Donovan Mitchell enjoyed a 4-game streak with at least 30 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic has also been putting up double-figures throughout the whole season so far, while Rudy Gobert is a machine for rebounds as he leads the NBA with 14.7 rebounds per game.
The Washington Wizards definitely have a fantastic squad, but they will need to pull something out of the hat if they want to surprise the Jazz. They have lost three consecutive matches lately which dragged them down to 5th place in the East with 15 wins and 11 losses. The team is really close to 1st place, but whenever they have it within arm’s reach, something happens and they crumble under the pressure. The Wizards had to go through overtime in their visit to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in order to take the final victory. Kyle Kuzma and Bradley Beal are really great players, but I don’t think they are a match for Mitchell, Bogdanovic, Robert and the rest of the Utah Jazz. I will go ahead and pick Utah’s spread for this one.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Utah Jazz -5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
The Utah Jazz continue to climb up the Western Conference standings, now at 18-7, they sit just three games behind Golden State for the conference’s top seed. They got a massive win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on Thursday, where eight (!) of their players scored in double digits. They ‘re hungry to make up for a disappointing end to last season, when they were the number one seed and lost in the Western Conference Semifinals. They’ve added more depth to an already hearty roster, with guys like Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside.
Donovan Mitchell is continuing to play like an MVP candidate and Rudy Gobert is right there with him, as the big man looks to add another Defensive Player of the Year trophy to his cabinet. On Saturday, they’ll play a Washington Wizards team that’s 15-11 and just 2.5 games out of a top seed after they had a thrilling last second win against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Much like the Jazz, they are a deep team that seems to have a different player breaking out each night. But, the Jazz are going to be a tough team for them to control: Utah leads the league in field goal percentage and is second in points per game. While this should be an entertaining one to watch, the Jazz are pretty on fire right now, and after a double-digit win in Philadelphia, they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz
Noah Dunlap
This is an intriguing game to try to predict, because of the fact that it’s hard to know which Washington team shows up. The Wizards early on in the year looked like they had the potential to be the best team in the Eastern Conference, however, they’ve since fallen on hard times, anc haven’t been able to find their way out of the hole. Early in the year, the offseason additions of Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma were working phenomenally well, but they’ve since cooled off, as well as getting somewhat inconsistent play from Bradley Beal.
With Utah, for the most part you know what you’re getting night in and night out, especially in the regular season. Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and company have been arguably the most consistent regular-season team in basketball over the past 3 years or so, and while they hit a lull earlier this season, it appears as if they’ve made their way past that, and are back to playing great ball. With the questions surrounding Washington’s play as of late, I like the Jazz to go on the road and get the win here. Take Utah and the points, as the line currently sits reasonably low at -5.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz -5 (-110)
Houston Rockets @ Memphis Grizzlies – 8pm ET
Two Southwest Division teams take the court against each other on Saturday night, when the Houston Rockets are on the road and take on the Memphis Grizzlies.
Denis Kirilov
The Houston Rockets and the Memphis Grizzlies will play for the second time this season. Their first meeting ended up 136:102 in favor of the Grizzlies. Ja Morant led the way for Memphis with 22 points, but now he is not available due to his knee injury that took him out for the rest of the season. In this game, four players from Memphis were leading in the scoreboard – Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, Dillon Brooks, and Kyle Anderson.
The Houston Rockets have been on fire recently as they have won 7 out of their last 8 games. This includes victories over teams like the Brooklyn Nets, the Chicago Bulls, and the Charlotte Hornets. Christian Wood and Eric Gordon are doing their best to carry the Rockets, while Josh Cristopher makes a really impression in his first year. In my opinion, this will be a very different meeting than their previous one. Both teams are in great form lately as Memphis jumped to 4th place in the West, while the Rockets have bounced off the rock bottom and are now 13th in the standings. In my opinion, it will be better to go with a pick concerning the total number of points. Recently, the Grizzlies dropped 152 points against the Thunder, while the Rockets ended up racking up 146 points against the Hornets, so I will certainly go with the option for “over points”.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Over TBA (TBA)
Michael Lantz
The Memphis Grizzlies continue to carry on without Ja Morant. They beat a fully loaded L.A. Lakers team on Thursday, thanks to the performances of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. This young core is proving they are a force to be reckoned with as they continue to win games without their star player.
Watch Sengun get his career high in points. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jkw2RoI0sd
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 11, 2021
As for the Houston Rockets, they were denied winning their eighth straight game, after a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last night. Still, this up-and-coming team kept it close with the defending champs, losing by nine. They’ve shown they’re ahead of schedule in their ability to compete. The Grizzlies are without Morant and scoring machine Dillon Brooks, so this seems like the perfect time for the Rockets to take advantage. I’ll pick them to cover.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Houston Rockets +8 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
Both of these are playing great basketball as of late, which is actually reasonably surprising for both. Houston is a team that lacks the talent that one would assume necessary to win seven in a row, which is what they did before dropping their last outing, while Memphis improved to 5-1 Thursday night with a win over the Lakers without Ja Morant, who is out for substantial time with a knee sprain. One reason I think the Grizzlies have excelled in this stretch is that the spacing on the floor has looked better. Ja is an offensive force who demands the ball often and has the ability to do unnatural things when on the floor, which causes spacing to oftentimes be hard to figure out. Without him, while the offense takes a step back from an explosive standpoint, the spacing becomes a touch easier since the speed and unpredictability isn’t a thing. As for this one, I think the Grizzlies have a touch more talent, even without Ja, than the Rockets can throw out, so give me Memphis to get the win in a tight one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat – 8pm ET
The Chicago Bulls finish up their quick two game road trip when they take on the Miami Heat on Saturday night. The Bulls are coming off a loss last time out, going down to the Cavaliers, 92-115, which takes their season record to 17-9. The Heat, despite being without a couple of their key players, managed to get the win last time out, against the Bucks, 113-104.
Denis Kirilov
The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat are off to a fantastic start this season. The Bulls are right behind the Brooklyn Nets at second place with 17 wins and 9 losses. Miami currently sits 4th in the East with a 15-11 record. The upcoming fixture will be a very interesting one as both teams won’t be able to use some of their top players. For the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan will be sidelined after entering COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Javonte Green and Matt Thomas will also miss the game due to safety precautions. Moreover, Alex Caruso is also questionable with a muscle injury. Bam Adebayo won’t compete against the Bulls due to a finger injury, while Jimmy Butler is also uncertain.
The Bulls’ problems took the better of them in their last game with the Cleveland Cavaliers as they lost by 23 points. The Heat, on the other hand, defeated the strong-looking Milwaukee Bucks in a tight contest in FTX Arena. Caleb Martin led his team with 28 points on 9-12 shooting, having 75% from beyond the arc. Kyle Lowry also contributed with a double-double (22 points and 13 assists). In my opinion, the Heat are slightly better than the Bulls in the current situation and I am reluctant to trust them. In their first meeting for the season, Miami even managed to stop Chicago without one of their key players, Tyler Herro.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-112)
Michael Lantz
A few weeks ago this one would’ve been a great matchup between two of the Eastern Conference’s finest squads But in the last couple of games, the Heat have been without all-stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, due to injury. The Bulls also got hit badly the other night when Demar DeRozan tested positive for COVID. This one will lack the firepower that it could’ve but it should still be a close game for two teams trying to stay atop the East.
The Bulls had a rough time in their last game with no DeRozan as they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers by 23. Meanwhile, the Heat have seemed to adapt to their team’s injuries a bit, as they were able to capture a big win against a Bucks team that was close to full-strength. Even if Butler continues to sit for the Heat, I’ll take their reserve team, which seems to enjoy having a chip on their shoulder. You can never count out a Bulls team with Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball at the helm, but until the Bulls show they can power through the adversity of missing their best player a bit more, I’ll take the home squad.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat
Noah Dunlap
Against my better judgement I think I lean Miami in this one. Even without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and a shaken up Jimmy Butler, they managed to get a win over the Milwaukee Bucks in their last outing, which honestly doesn’t seem possible. Kyle Lowry played well, and you can always count on Duncan Robinson to give you a decent night from the field. So while the Heat are having some health issues, they seem to be being able to find their way past that and still see positive results.
For Chicago, they look like they could be the best team in a wide open Eastern Conference, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been dominant at all, either. The pieces are there for them to make a deep run in the postseason, as Lonzo Ball and DeMar Derozan have both helped Zach LaVine a lot, but the consistency does worry me just a bit. This one is almost certain to be extremely tight, but I like the Heat to come out a bit more consistent, sneaking out with a close win at home.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-112)
Golden State Warriors @ Philadelphia 76ers – 8.30pm ET
The Golden State Warriors kick off a five game road trip in Philadelphia, when they take on the 76ers on Saturday night. The Warriors have won three of their last four games, with their only loss coming against the Spurs, 107-112. The 76ers suffered a loss last time out, which snapped a three game winning streak, this brings their season record to 14-12.
Denis Kirilov
The Golden State Warriors have been playing exceptional in the first two months in the 2021/22 NBA season. They lead the West with 21 wins and 4 losses, competing with the Phoenix Suns for 1st place. Steph Curry found his rhythm and remains the biggest contributor for his team. Alongside him, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole also shined throughout the first part of this campaign. After suffering two losses in three games, the Warriors took things in their hands and won their last two home matches with ease. Golden State might experience some troubles in their away games this season as they are far from their dominant style in Chase Center.
The Philadelphia 76ers somehow found a way to tie things up after going through some difficult periods. First, Ben Simmons refused to play for the team and later on, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris missed a couple of games as they were put in the safety protocols due to COVID-19. The team is back on track after winning three consecutive games on the road. The Hawks and the Hornets fell victims to Joel Embiid’s rage. However, in their last match they lost to the Utah Jazz who faced almost no trouble in Wells Fargo Center. For me, the Warriors are huge favorites to win this one and I will go with them.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors (-108)
Michael Lantz
The Golden State Warriors continue to hold onto the best record in basketball as they sit at 21-4 on the season. While Steph Curry has been brilliant per usual, the team has become incredibly balanced, and have gotten breakthrough performances from the likes of Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney, and more. On Saturday, they’ll travel to Philadelphia to take on a 76ers team that’s back to full-strength, but seems to be having a hard time clicking after so many players missed time with injuries and COVID.
History is on the horizon. pic.twitter.com/HGxBXMR4ZW
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 11, 2021
Despite Philly’s inconsistent play, they still sit at 14-12, with Joel Embiid continuing to show why he might be the best center in basketball as he’s averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds on the year. Philly traditionally plays quite well at home, but they’re going to have their hands full against a Golden State team that ranks among the best on both sides of the ball. Philadelphia struggled against another top Western Conference team, the Utah Jazz, earlier in the week. I expect them to make some adjustments, so they aren’t embarrassed in consecutive games at home. But it takes a special team or a special situation for me to bet against the Warriors these days—I’ll go with the “Dubs”.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors
Noah Dunlap
The Golden State Warriors are the best team in basketball, and that’s due in large part to the absolutely phenomenal play of Steph Curry. At this point in the year I find it hard to believe that he wouldn’t be the MVP, and on top of that he’s getting great help from Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, as well. With these three playing great, and looking like they’re getting ready to get Klay Thompson in the coming weeks, the Warriors just keep getting scarier to have to play.
Philadelphia has also been extremely good this season, outside of a brief stretch where their leader Joel Embiid was out with Covid. That stretch is the main reason their record doesn’t look all that great right now, but by the end of the year, assuming they stay healthy, I fully expect the Sixers to be competing for an Eastern Conference title. However, in this one, I absolutely love the perimeter play from Golden State to make the difference. The one question I have is how Golden State does in travelling all the way across the country for this matchup, but even with that, I lean Warriors relatively tight in this one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors (-108)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
