NBA predictions: Sixers-Knicks tip off Christmas Day picks

The NBA has a compelling schedule for Christmas Day. The top five NBA MVP candidates will be on the court. Eight of the 10 teams playing on Sunday ended last week with winning records. The NBA picks the top three games for the Christmas day.

The Knicks had their eight-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday's 113-106 home loss to the Raptors. The 76ers closed out a six-games-happening homestand with a 113,93 rout of Detroit. New York covered the spread in all eight of its games during its winning run. Philadelphia went 5-1 ATS in front of the home fans.

The Bucks are on the road against Boston, who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Khris Middleton is injured and Milwaukee could be without him. Boston has lost five of six games recently. The Celtics are in a spread-covering funk. The Bucks won't be easy, but they should win.

Nikola Jokic has been playing well lately. He's two-time defending league MVP. The Joker has at least 38 combined points, rebounds and assists in six straight games and 13 of 14 since missing three games with an injury in mid-November.

Jokic is averaging 36 points/rebounds/assists in 22 career games against the Suns. Last year, Jokica put up the following stat lines in two games: 27 points, 13 rebounds, two assists on the road, 28 points and 6 rebounds at home. Phoenix ranked sixth in the NBA in scoring offense at more than 115 points per game, but seventh in points allowed at 110.7 per match.