NBA Picks First Week Of December

December is a special time for NBA fans and here are my NBA betting picks for the first week of basketball action for the last month of 2016.

Who wins when top franchises Cleveland and Chicago throw down on Friday night at the United Center? What's going to happen in a battle between Denver and Utah in Salt Lake on Saturday, Dec. 3? Will New Orleans and MVP candidate Anthony Davis take down MVP favorite Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City on Sunday?

NBA Picks First Week Of December

Cleveland at Chicago
When:  Friday, Dec. 2 at 8:00 pm ET
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: ESPN

Analysis: The Cleveland Cavaliers are proving to be the best team in the NBA. Cleveland's record is just as good as Golden State's as of Nov. 28. Cleveland is a ridiculous 14 and 2 straight up.
Cleveland doesn't figure to let up against Chicago this Friday. The Cavaliers are all about beating teams like Chicago, an Eastern Conference foe that supposedly has a chance at dethroning the King and his Court.

The Bulls actually beat the Cavs the last time that these two faced each other. Of course, that game was last April when Chicago was a much different team. I think the Cavaliers blow out Chicago on Friday. 

NBA Pick: Cleveland

Denver at Utah
When:  Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9:00 pm ET
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena,
TV: NBATV

Analysis: At 7 and 10 as of Nov. 28, Denver has a shot to get into the Western Conference Playoff race. The Nuggets aren't a terrible team. They average 107 points per game. That's actually good. It ranks the Nuggets ninth in the NBA in points scored per.

But Denver faces a team in Utah that could challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Northwest Division title. Utah is at 10-8 as of Nov. 28. That's an excellent record since the Thunder is at 11-8. The Jazz have won 3 in a row, including beating Denver 108 to 83 on Nov. 23.

Unless Utah suffers a key injury, it's hard to see the Jazz not beating the Nuggets by a score like the one from Nov. 23 in this.

NBA Pick: Utah

New Orleans at Oklahoma City
When:  Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Chesapeake Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
TV: TBD

Analysis: After 3 losses in a row the past couple of weeks, Oklahoma City picked it up to win 3 in a row. The Thunder beat Denver 132 to 129 on Nov. 25. On Nov. 26, they beat Detroit 106 to 88. On Nov. 28, they beat New York 112 to 103.

But Oklahoma City was terrible against New Orleans the last time they faced the Pelicans. That game, a 119 to 123 loss, was last February. I write terrible because the Thunder had Kevin Durant in that game. Will OKC play New Orleans tougher without Durant?

I think so. The key to beating the Pelicans is stopping their inside game. If the Thunder can contain Anthony Davis with Steve Adams and Enes Kanter, they should win and cover on Dec. 4. I like the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA Pick: Oklahoma City.