NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/31)
The NBA closes out 2025 with a full slate of nine games, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. Today, we’ll highlight why the New Orleans Pelicans could move to 3-0 against the Chicago Bulls this season, why I expect plenty of scoring between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs and why the Portland Trail Blazers should hit a low expected total against the league's top-ranked scoring defense. Below are the best NBA picks & predictions for Wednesday, December 31st.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
New Orleans Pelicans @ Chicago Bulls
With Josh Giddey suffering a hamstring injury in Monday's loss to the Timberwolves, the Bulls are now down their top two scorers in both him and Coby White. They're already 0-2 against the Pelicans this season. They now have to find a way to win when they're not even remotely close to full strength.
Not only did the Pelicans win 143-130 at home in late November, but they also went to Chicago and beat the Bulls 114-104, despite shooting just 24% from the field. Giddey and White combined for 31 of the Bulls' points in that game, while only two other players scored in double figures.
The Pelicans are just 2-11 away from home this season, but I don't anticipate the Bulls being able to take advantage of the Pelicans' 28th-ranked scoring defense in this game. If the Bulls couldn't beat the Pelicans with their two leading scorers, I don't know why they should be favored without them.
Pick: Pelicans Moneyline (-102)
New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs
Two of the highest-scoring teams in the league face off tonight in San Antonio, as the Knicks are averaging 120.8 points per game, and the Spurs are averaging 119.5. While the Spurs enter this game a bit cold offensively, scoring 117 or fewer points in three consecutive games, the Knicks enter having scored at least 126 points in three straight contests. Their opponents have also scored at least 124 in each of those games.
These two teams each rank in the top 11 in scoring defense, but based on the fact that the Knicks have seen four of their last five games reach at least 250 points, I'm expecting the offenses to be the keys in tonight's game.
All that said, the biggest reason to like the over is that neither team is particularly good at defending the three-point line. The Spurs rank 15th in three-point rate allowed, while the Knicks rank 21st. And while the Spurs only shoot 35.8% from deep and may have a little trouble taking advantage of the solid matchup, there won't be any such issue for the Knicks, who are shooting 38.4% from deep, fourth-best in the league.
Pick: Over 236.5 Points (-108)
Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have the top-ranked scoring defense in the league, allowing just 107.9 points per game. They're holding opponents to just 43.5% from the field, but they're allowing the sixth-highest opponent three-point rate in the league.
Considering the Trail Blazers have the second-lowest three-point rate in the NBA, you'd expect this to be a bad matchup for them. However, despite averaging the 15th-most points per game (116.8), the Trail Blazers have managed to score with relative ease against the Thunder this season.
These two teams have already met three times. While the Trail Blazers scored just 95 points in their only game at Oklahoma City, they've managed to score 115 and 121 in their other two contests. Along with the Spurs and Timberwolves, the Trail Blazers are one of just three teams to beat the Thunder this season. And while I don't expect them to win this game, they managed to drop 115 against the Thunder despite shooting just 39% from the field and 33% from long range on November 30th.
Pick: Trail Blazers Team Total Over 107.5 Points (-108)