It's the most wonderful time of the year! The NBA Christmas Day slate it finally here. So, our staff of basketball experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board for 4-of-5 matchups on today's stacked NBA calendar.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 5 NBA picks for Christmas Day. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Wednesday, December 25.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks for Christmas Day
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 2:30 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
| 5 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
76ers vs. Celtics
By Joe Dellera
Kristaps Porzingis has consistently cashed at this line, going over in 7 of 10 games this season, and one game he missed was when he played only 11 minutes against the Wizards.
Excluding that game, he is averaging 20.1 points per game on the year.
Porzingis has also consistently gone over this against the Sixers. He's gone over in 5 of 6 and is averaging 24.5 points per game against Philly.
With his ability to stretch the floor, it makes life a bit more difficult for Embiid to handle him one-on-one, as his bread and butter is not scoring attacking the rim, but to have a multi-level scoring attack.
Pick: Kristaps Porzingis Over 17.5 Points (-105)
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Timberwolves vs. Mavericks
The Christmas schedule will put the Timberwolves on the national stage when they are experiencing a difficult stretch. Minnesota visits the Mavericks on Wednesday while on a three-game losing streak of 10 or more points.
Although the defense is playing at a similar level to last season, allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions compared to 108.4 in the previous campaign, their scoring is down from 113.0 to 109.3.
Even Julius Randle was at a complete loss for words when asked how they could improve the offense.
"To be honest, man, I don't know…" Randle told reporters. "I can tell you what's working sometimes. Like when we're playing with pace, moving, all that stuff. We've just got to do it more consistent than that, but I don't know, man."
Randle’s teammate Anthony Edwards opted for more reticence when presented with a similar question from reporters following an earlier loss.
"They're not going to like what I say,” Edwards said. “so I'm just going to keep my answers to myself."
Given the apparent disconnect engulfing the Timberwolves, this matchup in front of a national audience could lead to even more chaos. As a result, I can only look to fade Minnesota and lay the five points with a Mavericks team that’s covered the spread in seven of their last 10 meetings.
Pick: Mavericks -5 (-112)
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Spurs vs. Knicks
Day game unders are a big thing in NBA trends, and one I think is worth playing into.
The hypothesis is that the players who are extreme creatures of habit do not have the normal time for their pregame routine, and thus, come out a bit lackluster and less warmed up.
The possessions and efficiency drop. We also have a Knicks team that plays great offense, but they play at a very slow pace.
The Spurs are one of the top teams at limiting teams to under 100 points. If this is a slow game like I'm expecting, it should be an under spot.
Pick: Under 226.5 (-135)
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76ers vs. Celtics
We might not know Jayson Tatum's status until tipoff and he indeed missed the Celtics' 108-104 loss at Orlando on Monday.
Off of a loss, however, Boston has been tough, bouncing backs with wins after all six previous setbacks, and covering the spread in five of those games.
Moreover, Boston has plenty of experience against Joel Embiid, and beat the Sixers in the last three of four meetings between these teams a year ago. Lately, another hot hand has emerged, as Kristaps Porzingis has scored 20 points per game across the Celtics' last three.
Speaking of Embiid, he's coming off of an ejection on Monday against the Spurs, and most of Philly's success has come at the expense of sub-500 or injured teams. I'll lay the points with Boston on Christmas Day.
Pick: Celtics -8.5 (-110)
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Lakers vs. Warriors
When LeBron James returned on December 15 to beat the Grizzlies, he looked renewed. He gained what he had lost before coming back from injury. Then, he exhibited his old leadership skills in two straight wins at Sacramento.
LeBron is back, he's very much involved, and he's playing in the spotlight against a struggling Warriors team today.
The Warriors haven't been able to get things right with newly acquired Dennis Schroeder, who is not playing well, and suddenly Steph Curry is not playing well either.
The Warriors have lost four of their last five games, all to good teams, but they still lost.
I'm seeing more positives from the Lakers, and some sleepiness from the Warriors. I'll take the Lakers to cover.
Pick: Lakers +4 (-108)
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