The tradition of Christmas Day games in the NBA goes all the way back to the second year of the league’s existence in 1947. Ever since then, there have been Christmas Day games in the NBA much like Thanksgiving Day football in the NFL.
This year the stars are out in full force with six MVPs and seven teams that have either won a championship or made the finals in the last four seasons.
Today the stars will be out in full force as the best players in the game from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry to Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum to LeBron James, Joel Embiid to Jimmy Butler, and Luka Doncic to Kevin Durant will all square off in a tradition that is over 75 years old.
Here is a breakdown, preview and my predictions for the slate of five games today on Christmas Day.
Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks
Tip-Off: 12 pm EST
Channel: ESPN
Betting Lines: Milwaukee -3.5 (over/under 242)
This is the fourth game between Milwaukee and New York this season. In the first game, Milwaukee held off New York’s furious comeback. The next two games were all Milwaukee with the team winning by 24 points three weeks ago and 19 points two days ago.
In three games against New York this season Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game on 65.3% shooting overall.
In five career games on Christmas Day for his career Giannis is averaging 25.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists
Prediction: Milwaukee is rolling right now with seven straight wins and nine straight against New York dating back to the 2021-2022 season. As long as Antetokounmpo plays Milwaukee should win here covering both the spread.
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
Tip-Off: 2:30 pm EST
Channel: ABC
Betting Lines: Denver -7 (over/under 234.5)
Golden State is starting to look like a team that can contend this season in the Western Conference with five straight wins heading into today. Three wins have come by six points or less as Stephen Curry and company continue to play without Draymond Green.
They will have to slow down Jokic to make it six straight wins today. This season Jokic is averaging 26.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game and in three career Christmas Day games he is averaging 29.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game.
The first time these teams played Denver used a strong fourth quarter to pull off the 108-105 win. Golden State was without Green in that game too, relying on Curry and a team effort to nearly steal a win over the defending champions.
Prediction: With both teams playing well and Golden State’s knack for playing close games, win or lose, this will be a close, exciting and chaotic game. Behind a big Curry game, something he has only done once on Christmas Day, I see Golden State coming out on top.
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Tip-Off: 5 pm EST
Channel: ABC/ESPN
Betting Lines: Boston -3.5 (over/under 234.5)
The most historic rivalry in the history of the league gets another chapter added on Christmas Day. This season both Boston and Los Angeles have their eyes on adding a banner, with this being a preview of what could be a Boston-Los Angeles NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade.
James has played 17 games in his career on Christmas Day putting up 27.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. In his last two games, James has exploded for 39 points and 38 points respectively in losses to the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks.
Last year Tatum went off for 41 points on Christmas Day in a win setting the stage for an epic duel between James and Tatum today.
Prediction: Boston has played great in its last 12 games going 10-2 overall winning seven games by double-digits and going over 234.5 points only six times. Boston for the win covering the point spread and the over.
Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat
Tip-Off: 8 pm EST
Channel: ESPN
Betting Lines: Miami -3 (over/under 226)
This is the first game of the season between Philadelphia and Miami. Heading into this game Philadelphia has won nine of 11 games while Miami has won three of its last four. Both teams are playing well and getting healthy, setting the stage for Embiid, Maxey, Butler and Bam Adebayo to steal the show today.
Embiid is the one to watch as he has been all season. Over his last nine games, Embiid is averaging 40.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game on 60.6% shooting.
Over the past four seasons, Miami has built its success and reputation on slaying giants, overcoming the odds and shocking the NBA world. Embiid is the ultimate giant in the league today.
Prediction: I like Philadelphia to win and for the game to go over the point spread behind big performances from Embiid and Maxey.
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
Tip-Off: 10:30 pm EST
Channel: ESPN
Betting Lines: Phoenix -4.5 (over/under 238)
The biggest question of the day today – Are Doncic and Booker going to exchange gifts? This rivalry started with words, then regular season games and was finally solidified in the playoffs.
Last season Doncic nearly finished with a triple-double in a win over Los Angeles with 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He plays his third Christmas Day game with the opportunity to go 2-1 in his career.
For Phoenix, it has one of the most prolific Christmas Day scorers in league history in Durant. With 15 points he will tie Dwyane Wade for fourth all-time in points scored. In 2010 he went for 44 points, ninth most in league history and the second most in a game this century.
With Doncic, Durant and Booker all on the court this has all the makings of an offensive firework show that could break records and set presidents for Christmas Day games to come for the next 20-plus years.
Prediction: There are a lot of role players out today for both teams along with Kyrie Irving for Dallas, but despite that Dallas should come out on top with a win and cover the spread with both teams lacking a rim protector and firing three-pointers all game.
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