NBA Christmas Day odds: Betting predictions and previews for the five Christmas games

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Watching the NBA is as synonymous with Christmas as Santa Claus, exchanging presents and mistletoe. Before wagering on the five Christmas Day NBA games, check out our ranking of the top NBA betting sites.

A pair of Eastern Conference contenders get the action started on ESPN at noon EST.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have formed a must-see duo in Milwaukee, helping the Bucks become one of the highest-scoring teams in the Association. However, the Bucks’ defense has fallen off mightily with the departure of Jrue Holiday.

Even still, Milwaukee is at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Knicks also have a powerful duo in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, who each average 20+ points and 5+ assists per game. But the Bucks are one of the NBA’s hottest teams, and we predict Giannis and Co. will get the victory and cover the spread.

Ball Arena in the Mile High City hosts the second game of the day, tipping off at 2:30 p.m. EST on ABC.

The Nuggets seemingly have no NBA Championship hangover. Nikola Jokic looks as good as ever in his ninth season and trails only Joel Embiid in NBA MVP odds.

Golden State jumped out of the gates to a 5-1 record until a seven-game losing skid sent the team spiraling. The Warriors have steadied the ship as of late and are slowly crawling up the Western Conference standings.

A three-point defeat to Denver kicked off Golden State’s losing streak, and the Warriors will keep the second meeting tight in search of revenge.

Game three features a historic rivalry matchup beginning at 5 p.m. EST on ABC.

After losses in the NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals in the previous two seasons, Boston looks primed to make another deep postseason run. Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were splashy off-season acquisitions that instantly got in rhythm with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

LeBron James continues to age like fine wine, leading Los Angeles in points, assists, and steals per game. Anthony Davis is still one of the best rim defenders in the NBA, ranking top five in blocks per game.

The Celtics swept the Lakers last season with a pair of overtime victories, and Boston projects to do the same this year.

The first of two Christmas night games gets underway on ESPN at 8 p.m. EST.

The 76ers are enjoying life without James Harden and already have an eight-game and six-game win streak under their belt. Embiid has the highest scoring average in the league, and Harden’s absence paved the way for Tyrese Maxey’s breakout season.

Miami is currently on the bubble of the Play-In Tournament, with plenty of time to get rolling and earn a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. Tyler Herro has only played in 10 games but is reaching career-highs in scoring, assists, three-point percentage, and steals.

The Heat are 4-1 in the last five games with Herro, and that trend promises to continue on Monday.

Luka Doncic and Devin Booker have a history of disdain for one another, and the superstars will renew pleasantries at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.

The rivalry began in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals when the two chirped back and forth throughout the series. Doncic got the last laugh when he dropped 35 points in a 123-90 blowout win in game seven.

Toward the end of last season, Luka and Booker got face-to-face in a heated confrontation late in a Suns victory.

Dallas faced Phoenix four times last year, winning twice and losing by four or less in the other two meetings. The Mavs and Suns typically play to the wire, so we’re taking the points in the final Christmas matchup.

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