NBA on Christmas Day is always loaded with nonstop betting action. While you are bouncing around between Christmas parties and opening gifts, there is always time to get some bets in for the big betting day. This year is no different with five NBA games, and the first one starting at Noon ET.
The matchups across the board are great this year, and we get to see how the teams fair early one in the season on one of the league’s biggest days. Here are the odds and best bets for Christmas Day.
Christmas Day Odds
New Orleans Pelicans @ Miami Heat (-5.5) O/U 229
Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks (-8.5) O/U 233.5
Brooklyn Nets (-2) @ Boston Celtics O/U 227
Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers (-6) O/U 230
Los Angeles Clippers (-1) @ Denver Nuggets O/U 222
Christmas Day Best Bets
Pelicans/Heat Under 229
Death, taxes, and Christmas Day unders. The first game tips off at Noon ET between the Pelicans and Heat. The early games on Christmas day tend to go under given the Holiday and early start. Oddsmakers have picked up on the trend, but this year feels like it has a chance of going under again.
The Heat are a scrappy team and will grind every team down to the bone night in and night out. Miami loves playing these low scoring matchups, and it should happen again on Christmas. The Pelicans’ offseason moves also favor defense, and Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe are coming in this offseason.
Both players will be huge defensive matchups for the Heat to get around even with sharpshooters like Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. Dam Adebayo will have his hands full around the rim with Adams and Zion Williamson. With Butler leading this squad, they will be ready for the dog fight and do everything possible to win.
Look for a scrappy low scoring game in the first Christmas Day matchup.
Nets -2
After dominating the Golden State Warriors on opening night, the Nets head up to Boston to take on the Celtics on Christmas Day. The public will be all over Brooklyn with how the team performed in its first game with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Betting on a public team on a day like Christmas is never a winning strategy. However, it is most likely the right side to back.
The Celtics will be without Kemba Walker and possibly Tristian Thompson for this match, which will be a huge loss for Boston. Boston will miss Gordon Hayward after leaving for Charlotte this offseason, so not having Walker will hurt.
That puts a lot of the load on Jayson Tatum, who just signed a five-year extension, but he won’t be able to do it all alone.
The Celtics have to try and figure out how to stop Durant and Irving in this matchup. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart should help with the Nets duo but will need to keep it up for 48 minutes.
It’s hard to see Boston hanging around in this matchup. The Nets arguably have the best bench in the league, and even if Durant and Irving are neutralized, the bench can make up for it.
