We have four NBA player props for this Friday, and our staff of basketball betting experts is focused on some key players who could be in line for noteworthy performances as we head to close the work week.
Read below for our NBA player prop picks for Friday, December 6.
NBA Player Props for Friday, Dec. 6
- Khris Middleton Under 15.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists (-105, DraftKings)
- Tyrese Haliburton Under 3.5 Rebounds (+125, bet365)
- Deandre Ayton Over 15.5 Points (-130, DraftKings)
- Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 Rebounds (-110, Caesars)
Bucks vs. Celtics Player Prop
Khris Middleton will finally make his season debut after undergoing offseason surgery on his ankles. Yes, "ankles." As in, both of them.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Middleton had been medically cleared in November but had been working on feeling physically ready to play. As a 33-year-old with extensive injury history, Middleton's workload will likely be extremely limited here.
We unfortunately have a precedent for Middleton coming back from major offseason surgery. He had his knee worked on last offseason and came into the 2023-24 season on a minutes restriction.
Middleton played 16-17 minutes in each of his first three games, averaging 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Given that he's gone through another season, and another round of lower body surgery, 16-17 minutes might be the ceiling for him tonight.
Boston is a top-10 defense that plays at a slow pace. I don't see Middleton exceeding a stat per minute in this matchup.
Pick: Khris Middleton Under 15.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
Pacers vs. Bulls Player Prop Pick
We got hooked on this one on Tuesday, as Tyrese Haliburton grabbed four rebounds. He fell short of this line on Wednesday and continues to struggle on the glass with Bennedict Mathurin in the starting lineup.
Mathurin became a starter in November. Haliburton has averaged just 2.9 rebounds on 4.3 rebound chances since then. He was averaging 5 rebounds on 8.6 rebound chances prior to the lineup change.
The under is listed at plus-money because this is a good rebounding matchup. Chicago is 20th in rebounding rate and 26th in rebounds allowed per game.
Point guards haven't done a ton of damage on the glass against Chicago though. The Bulls have allowed the 12th-fewest rebounds per game to the position.
Pick: Tyrese Haliburton Under 3.5 Rebounds
Jazz vs. Trail Blazers Player Props
Portland's centers have been in-and-out of the lineup all season. Deandre Ayton has been the last man standing recently, and the production has followed. In four games without Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams, Ayton has averaged 19 points and 34.7 minutes. The playing time is the key. Ayton was averaging under 30 minutes per game with one of Clingan or Williams available.
Utah has been one of the worst defenses in the league. They rank 29th in defensive rating and 28th in points allowed per game. The Jazz have allowed the 2nd-most points per game to centers, continuing a trend from last season.
Ayton has 16+ points in every game without Clingan and Williams. I'll back him to achieve that same feat tonight.
Pick: Deandre Ayton Over 15.5 Points
Timberwolves vs. Warriors Prop Bet
This is an excellent matchup for Rudy Gobert. Golden State has allowed the 4th-most rebounds per game, and they've been crushed by centers.
The Warriors had given up the most rebounds per game to centers for much of the season, until the Pelicans took the lead from them last night. Golden State is now 2nd by 0.04 rebounds per game. Regardless of their exact ranking, it's a great spot for big men.
Gobert has taken a small step back on the glass this season, but he's still one of the premier rebounders in the league. He ranks 9th in rebounds per game and 7th in rebound chances.
I don't typically look into historical matchup data, but I was curious about Gobert's performance against the Warriors. Their style of play seems like it could hinder a player of Gobert's limited mobility, yet that hasn't been the case.
Gobert has averaged 12.8 rebounds per game against Golden State throughout his career, which is his 3rd-best mark against an opponent. I'll back him to clear 11.5 rebounds tonight.
Pick: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 Rebounds
