NBA Betting Tips: A look at the Christmas Day match-ups
What better way to relax after your Christmas dinner than to plant yourself in front of the TV and watch some NBA basketball. Christmas Day always brings us some UK-friendly tip-off times, and this year the action starts at 17:00 with the New York Knicks facing the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Christmas Day games in the NBA are a time-honoured tradition - it started 1947, a year after the creation of the league. I've covered all five of this year's match-ups below, and you can find my NBA betting tips for Thursday, December 25.
NBA Betting Tips - Thursday, December 25
- New York Knicks -5.5 (vs Cleveland Cavaliers) @ 4/5
- Money Line - San Antonio Spurs (@ Oklahoma City Thunder) @ 11/4
- Golden State Warriors -8.5 (vs Dallas Mavericks) @ 21/20
- Money Line - Los Angeles Lakers (vs Houston Rockets) @ 5/4
- Denver Nuggets -4.5 (vs Minnesota Timberwolves) @ 10/11
*odds correct at time of publication
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New York Knicks -5.5 (vs Cleveland Cavaliers) @ 4/5
The first fixture on Christmas Day is the Knicks taking on the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden (17:00, live on Sky Sports +).
The Knicks are still riding high from from their NBA Cup final victory over the San Antonio Spurs, and despite a recent loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, I think the look like they best team in the Eastern Conference at the moment.
The Cavs just aren't the same team that dominated the East last year, and while that is mainly due to injuries, the Knicks can control the tempo here and leverage their interior dominance.
The Knicks have lost just twice in the past month and Jalen Brunson is playing at an MVP-calibre level at the moment. I can see NY putting on a festive show at MSG here.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Money Line - San Antonio Spurs (@ Oklahoma City Thunder) @ 11/4
The Thunder are making their Christmas Day debut here in what should be a belting showdown with the San Antonio Spurs (19:30, live on Sky Sports +).
OKC started the season in historic fashion, generating talk of them breaking the Golden State Warriors regular season record of 73-9, but that discussion has cooled in recent weeks as they've lost three of their last five matches - two of them against the Spurs.
One of the reasons why the Spurs beat OKC in the recent NBA Cup semi-final was due to their size advantage. Nobody seems to have an answer for dealing with Victor Wembanyama, who's fully recovered from his calf injury now, so I'm taking the Spurs to make it three wins in a row against the Thunder.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Golden State Warriors -8.5 (vs Dallas Mavericks) @ 21/20
Back-to-back wins over Orlando and Phoenix have restored some order for the Golden State Warriors who host the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day (22:00, live on Sky Sports +).
Dallas have youth on their side and they've been spearheaded by their number one draft pick Cooper Flagg, but they've only won three times on the road this season.
If the Warriors can keep Anthony Davis in check, then I'm expecting a Christmas Day victory for Stephen Curry and Co.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Money Line - Los Angeles Lakers (vs Houston Rockets) @ 5/4
The Lakers welcome the Rockets to the Crypto.com Arena as two top-six teams in the Western Conference collide. LA have lost their last two, but I think the value lies with them here on the money line.
Houston’s young core, led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengun, thrives in transition and can push the pace, while the Lakers will attempt leverage their size and experience inside, likely creating a high-scoring matchup.
This Rockets team has played three overtimes in their last four games and lost all three of them, which could see them fatigued in California. I'm taking LA on the money line.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Denver Nuggets -4.5 (vs Minnesota Timberwolves) @ 10/11
The Denver Nuggets welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Ball Arena for the fifth and final contest on Christmas Day (03:30 Boxing Day, live on Sky Sports +).
Nikola Jokic continues to dominate as the centrepiece of Denver’s offence, while the Nuggets rank among the top five in both offensive efficiency and rebounding. Despite injuries to key role players testing their depth, Denver’s mix of experience and talent makes them a tough home opponent.
The Nuggets have won both meetings with Minnesota this season by double-digits, and despite how good Anthony Edwards is, Jokic's dominance should see Denver edge this one.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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