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NBA Betting Trends Analysis and Expert Handicapping 12/22/2025

by Jeremy Block - 12/22/2025

NBA betting trends and expert handicapping Ivica Zubac Los Angeles Clippers

We’re heading into holiday week with Christmas just around the corner and New Year’s on the horizon. And we all know that feeling after holiday shopping—dreading opening the credit card bill after buying everyone gifts they didn’t really need. While you’re in panic mode over that, there are NBA betting trends to keep an eye on. With the season approaching All-Star Weekend, we’ve seen teams turn things around, players miss extended time, and some squads still struggling to find the chemistry they need to win.

At the end of the day, betting isn’t easy with so much to track, but that’s where I come in. With Doc Sports Service, I’m here to break down the freshest trends you need to watch in the coming weeks. Let’s dive into the latest NBA trends you should be keeping an eye on.

Doc’s Sports offers NBA expert picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

Clippers Lose Ivica Zubac

If any team has been underperforming, it’s the Clippers, now sitting at just 7-21 on the season. And to make things worse, they’ll be without center Ivica Zubac for the next 3-4 weeks due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain. So, what does this mean for L.A.? A lot—and none of it’s good.

Without Zubac on the floor, the Clippers lose their only true rebounder, a player who’s been a walking double-double with 15.6 points and 11 boards a night, ranking third in the league for rebounds per game.

Look, the Clippers are already dealing with injuries. They’re still without Derrick Jones until the end of the month, and Bradley Beal is out for the season. Now, their interior defense just took another hit. L.A. is going to be incredibly vulnerable on the glass going forward.

That being said, the Clippers are going to be prime targets for betting against on rebounding player props and covering the spread in the weeks ahead.

Sabonis Sidelined For Extra Month

Sticking with the rebounding angle, the Sacramento Kings have been a mess on the boards all season, averaging just 40.8 rebounds per game. And it’s not getting any better—Domantas Sabonis will be sidelined for another month after missing the last three weeks rehabbing a meniscus injury.

Here’s the deal: On paper, Sacramento has the talent to fill Sabonis' shoes, somewhat. But with his 17.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game on the floor—its clear the Kings are just not the same team on the boards or defensively. 

With Sabonis’ rehab extended, opposing bigs are going to have an easier time cleaning up on the glass, and Sacramento’s defense will take another hit. Bottom line: The Kings are a solid team to fade against the spread going forward.

Ride Suns Hot Streak ATS

The Western Conference is stacked with playoff contenders, but if you’re looking for reliable ATS picks, the Suns are a team you can’t skip. When healthy, Phoenix is a force—they’ve proven it time and time again. The numbers speak for themselves: 10-4 ATS at home, 10-8 as an underdog, and 18-10 overall.

Now, are they a team to lock in for NBA championship bets? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But when it comes to making money during the regular season? Absolutely. This team knows how to close games, finish strong, apply pressure on defense, and capitalize on mismatches.

As long as Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks are healthy and able to lead the way, the Suns are definitely an ATS team to keep on your radar.

Bet Over on Pelicans Home Games

Last but certainly not least, we’ve got to talk about the Pelicans and how they've been playing at home lately. They’re definitely far from a legit playoff threat, but it would be a lie to say that New Orleans isn’t a lock for betting the over when they’re at home.

Hear me out: Sure, their defense gives up 123 points per game, and it might be worse than my nephew’s rec league team. But when you mix that with their offense averaging 119 points at home—compared to just 108 on the road—you've got the perfect recipe to back the over when the Pelicans are playing at Smoothie King Arena.

Sitting at 13-4 for hitting the over at home, it’s clear as day that betting the over on Pelicans home games is as good as gold. Why is this happening? Simple. The Pelicans play a style that most teams would call ‘old school’—avoiding the 3-pointer and focusing on fast breaks and attacking the paint. That keeps teams off balance, and when you factor in their weak defense, taking the over is a lock.

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