Do you have annoying relatives coming to town for Christmas? Or, if you don’t celebrate Christmas, do you have a day off in the middle of the week but are wondering what kind of sports will be on television? The NBA puts together a slate of Christmas Day games each year, so the sports betting enthusiast can make a lot of money — which can make listening to that irritating uncle over your holiday meal easier to deal with, as you follow the scores on your smartphone and realize how much you are making that day. We have the full Christmas Day schedule for you as well as three NBA betting picks for you to consider.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week for Christmas Day 2019
2019 Christmas Day Game Schedule5 games.. 5 top plays from Sunday's action! pic.twitter.com/SvMfCB3fLG
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2019
- Boston at Toronto (12:00 pm ET, ESPN)
- Milwaukee at Philadelphia (2:30 pm ET, ABC)
- Houston at Golden State (5:00 pm ET, ABC)
- L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers (8:00 pm ET, ABC)
- New Orleans at Denver (10:30 pm ET, ESPN)
Boston at Toronto
The Celtics roll in a three-game winning streak, with a win in Dallas followed by home wins over Detroit and Charlotte. That win over the Hornets came on Sunday in 119-93 fashion, as Jayson Tatum put up a career-best 39 points, including 22 in the fourth period. He also pulled down a dozen rebounds. That gives him four 30-point games since January 14, 2019. Kemba Walker scored 23 points, Jaylen Brown tallied 16 points and nine boards, and Grant Williams came off the bench to score a dozen. Can they keep it going against Toronto?
The Raptors were down 30 points late in the third period against Dallas on Sunday, but then they used a fullcourt press to make the Mavericks melt down, and Kyle Lowry put up 20 points all by himself in the fourth quarter as Toronto completed the first 30-point comeback by a team in the regular season in ten years. That’s the sort of experience that can help build momentum. Toronto has a game in Indiana Monday before coming back to host Boston on Wednesday.
NBA Betting Prediction: Boston 111, Toronto 105
Milwaukee at Philadelphia
Since losing at home to Dallas last Tuesday, the Bucks have simply just started another winning streak, rolling over the Lakers, Knicks and Pacers, the last two wins coming in back-to-back fashion on Saturday and Sunday. Milwaukee beat Indiana, 117-89, on Sunday, getting 18 points, 19 boards and nine assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 19 points from Wesley Matthews. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 48-34 in the paint and made 15 shots from downtown, including five in a row in the fourth period.
Next on the Bucks’ slate is a Philadelphia team that had lost to the Nets, the Heat and the Mavericks before rebounding to beat the Washington Wizards, 125-108, on Saturday. Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson each had 21 points, and Ben Simmons added 14 points, 11 assists and eight boards. The 76ers had struggled with the zone defenses that those three teams prior to the Wizards had used to beat them, but then they moved the ball more effectively on Saturday to get the win. But can they stop the Greek Freak?
NBA Betting Prediction: Milwaukee 118, Philadelphia 113
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers
The Clippers have split their last six games, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-112, on Sunday. Paul George struggled for the Clippers, going just 6 for 17 and committing five turnovers. The Clippers led by 18 in the second quarter, but they squandered the lead. Kawhi Leonard (knee soreness) did not play but is likely to play on Wednesday — check your injury reports before locking in wagers.
The Lakers have dropped three in a row, falling to the Pacers, the Bucks and the Nuggets, with the loss to Denver coming at home in 128-104 fashion on Sunday. LeBron James missed the game for the Lakers due to a thoracic muscle strain. Anthony Davis did score 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Kyle Kuzma had 16 points, but those were the only two Lakers to hit double figures. James also remains questionable — so check those injury reports. My prediction has both of those players out for Wednesday.
NBA Betting Prediction: Clippers 111, Lakers 103
