NBA Christmas Day Predictions & Odds | Best ATS Picks, Player Props, SGP Bets for Thursday
It's a holiday tradition like no other with another five-game slate of basketball today, and our NBA Christmas Day predictions feature live odds with our best ATS picks, player props, and SGP bets for every game on Thursday. Be sure to bookmark this page as we'll be updating it with our best bets ahead of tipoff for each game on Christmas.
🏀 Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions & odds (12 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
These two budding Eastern Conference rivals opened the season against each other in a 119-111 win for the Knicks back on Oct. 22, and they meet again for the first time since that initial clash over two months ago. The Cavaliers will be without Evan Mobley (calf), who is set to miss his sixth straight contest, while the Knicks are hoping Jalen Brunson (ankle) and OG Anunoby (aknle) can suit up at Madison Square Garden.
Live Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds
Cavaliers vs. Knicks prediction
🎄 Knicks -6 (-112)
While all of the attention is focused on the Thunder out west, the Knicks have the best net rating (+7.1) in the Eastern Conference after winning 10 of its last 12 games including the NBA Cup championship. Meanwhile, the Cavs have been inconsistent without Mobley, whose absence is a big deal against an uber-efficient New York frontcourt.
More Cavaliers vs. Knicks picks
- Cavaliers vs. Knicks player props
- Cavaliers vs. Knicks same-game parlay
🏀 Spurs vs. Thunder predictions & odds (2:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
The Thunder have been on a blistering pace to start the year with just four losses through their first 30 games. Two of those have come against the Spurs, who narrowly beat Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinal on Dec. 13 before blasting the defending champions by 20 points on Tuesday ahead of their rematch on Christmas. Victor Wembanyama should feature in this one, though fellow big man Chet Holmgren (face) left Tuesday's loss and will be worth monitoring ahead of tipoff.
Live Spurs vs. Thunder odds
Spurs vs. Thunder prediction
🎄 Spurs +9.5 (-110)
I was intrigued by the Spurs as massive underdogs in this matchup even before their 20-point win over OKC on Tuesday night, which came with Victor Wembanyama scoring just 12 points on nine attempts. I'd expect him to play a much bigger role tonight, especially if Chet Holmgren isn't 100 percent as the anchor for the Thunder's interior defense.
More Spurs vs. Thunder picks
- Spurs vs. Thunder player props
- Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay
🏀 Mavericks vs. Warriors predictions & odds (5 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
This matchup doesn't feature the star power it would have a year ago - when Kyrie Irving was healthy and Luka Doncic still played for the Mavericks - but there remains intrigue with top pick Cooper Flagg making his Christmas debut and former Golden State star Klay Thompson returning to the Bay Area for the fourth time since leaving for Dallas. The Warriors could sure use a 40-point holiday outburst from Curry, who's already hit that mark four times this season after scoring 48 points earlier this month.
Live Mavericks vs. Warriors odds
Mavericks vs. Warriors prediction
🎄 Warriors -8.5 (-102)
Cooper Flagg has been sensational as a rookie for the Mavericks, but it hasn't meant much in the win-loss column with Dallas sitting 11th in the West with a below .500 ATS record, too. The Mavs' offense ranks in the bottom five leaguewide in scoring efficiency thanks to stagnant ball movement around Flagg, which won't fly against an elite Warriors defense that should feed off its home crowd on Christmas Day.
More Mavericks vs. Warriors picks
- Spurs vs. Thunder player props
- Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay
🏀 Rockets vs. Lakers predictions & odds (8 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
It's too early in the season to truly consider playoff implications, but the Rockets and Lakers sit within 1.5 games of each other in the standings ahead of the first meeting this year between these Western Conference contenders. There's a real chance Luka Doncic (calf) doesn't play in this one, though LeBron James and Austin Reaves are both in the lineup for Los Angeles, which is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time all season.
Live Rockets vs. Lakers odds
Rockets vs. Lakers prediction
🎄 Rockets -3 (-110)
The Lakers have the better record between these teams after the first two months, but a closer look reveals the Rockets are clearly the superior unit with a top-three net rating (+7.8) and the NBA's best rebounding rate (55.3%). That elite size should pose issues for the Lakers' underwhelming frontcourt in what could be the final Christmas Day matchup between longtime rivals LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
More Rockets vs. Lakers picks
- Rockets vs. Lakers player props
- Rockets vs. Lakers same-game parlay
🏀 Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions & odds (10:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
The Timberwolves and Nuggets have met in two of the last three postseasons, and they'll face off in the final game on Christmas Day in a clash of superstars in Denver. Neither team will be at full strength with Denver's Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels (hip) on the injury report, though superstars Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic will take center stage in a heavyweight bout between two of the top four seeds in the Western Conference through the first third of the season.
Live Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets prediction
🎄 Timberwolves +4 (-106)
The Nuggets own the NBA's second-best net rating (+8.8) behind only OKC, but they've been 2.2 points per 100 possessions worse over the last month without Aaron Gordon. Meanwhile, the T-Wolves are rolling with a 10-2 record over their last 12 games, including wins over the Thunder and Knicks over the past week. Anthony Edwards loves to shine in the spotlight, and this feels like the perfect spot for another eruption in prime time.
More Timberwolves vs. Nuggets picks
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets player props
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets same-game parlay
🎁 More NBA expert picks for Christmas Day
See all of our experts' NBA picks for Christmas based on the latest NBA odds.
- NBA Christmas Day predictions
- NBA best bets for Christmas Day
- NBA Christmas Day parlay picks
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