The presents are open, the eggnog is flowing, and the NBA Christmas schedule has gifted us a loaded five-game slate that runs from noon until midnight. We’ve got new-look superteams, MVP candidates going head-to-head, and a nightcap in Denver that feels like a Western Conference Finals preview. Let’s unwrap our NBA Christmas preview and see what’s on tap for Thursday, Dec. 25.
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NBA Games Christmas: Schedule, Preview, Odds (12/25)
Here’s a quick overview for Thursday’s 5-game slate! We’re in for a real treat.
Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) @ New York Knicks (20-9) – 12:00 PM
- Spread: NYK -6.5 (-105) / CLE +6.5 (-115)
- Total: O/U 239.5 (-110/-110)
- Moneyline: CLE +200 / NYK -245
San Antonio Spurs (22-7) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (26-4) – 2:30 PM
- Spread: OKC -8.5 (-118) / SAS +8.5 (-102)
- Total: O/U 235.5 (-110/-110)
- Moneyline: SAS +280 / OKC -355
Dallas Mavericks (12-19) @ Golden State Warriors (15-15) – 5:00 PM
- Spread: GSW -8.5 (EVEN) / DAL +8.5 (-120)
- Total: O/U 228.5 (-115/-105)
- Moneyline: DAL +270 / GSW -340
Houston Rockets (17-10) @ Los Angeles Lakers (19-9) – 8:00 PM
- Spread: HOU -2.5 (-118) / LAL +2.5 (-102)
- Total: O/U 230.5 (-112/-108)
- Moneyline: HOU -155 / LAL +130
Minnesota Timberwolves (20-10) @ Denver Nuggets (21-8) – 10:30 PM
- Spread: DEN -3.5 (-110) / MIN +3.5 (-110)
- Total: O/U 239.5 (-110/-110)
- Moneyline: MIN +140 / DEN -166
NBA LIVE ODDS
| Player |
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De'Aaron Fox
SA
PG SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Devin Vassell
SA
SG SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dylan Harper
SA
PG SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Julian Champagnie
SA
SF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Keldon Johnson
SA
SF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Kyle Kuzma
MIL
PF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Myles Turner
MIL
C SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ousmane Dieng
MIL
SF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ryan Rollins
MIL
SG SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Stephon Castle
SA
SG SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Taurean Prince
MIL
SF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Victor Wembanyama
SA
PF SA @ MIL
Today
3:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ausar Thompson
DET
SG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ayo Dosunmu
MIN
PG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Bones Hyland
MIN
PG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Daniss Jenkins
DET
PG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Donte DiVincenzo
MIN
SG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Duncan Robinson
DET
SG DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Duren
DET
C DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Julius Randle
MIN
PF DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Naz Reid
MIN
C DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Rudy Gobert
MIN
C DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tobias Harris
DET
SF DET @ MIN
Today
5:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Brandon Miller
CHA
SF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Coby White
CHA
SG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dominick Barlow
PHI
PF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Joel Embiid
PHI
C PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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Kelly Oubre Jr.
PHI
SF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kon Knueppel
CHA
SG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
LaMelo Ball
CHA
PG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Miles Bridges
CHA
SF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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Moussa Diabaté
CHA
PF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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Paul George
PHI
SF PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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Ryan Kalkbrenner
CHA
C PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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Sion James
CHA
SG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tyrese Maxey
PHI
PG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
VJ Edgecombe
PHI
SG PHI @ CHA
Today
6:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
CJ McCollum
ATL
PG SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
DeMar DeRozan
SAC
SF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Devin Carter
SAC
PG SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dylan Cardwell
SAC
C SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Dyson Daniels
ATL
PG SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Jalen Johnson
ATL
PF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Jonathan Kuminga
ATL
PF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Malik Monk
SAC
SG SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Maxime Raynaud
SAC
C SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
ATL
SG SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Nique Clifford
SAC
SF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Onyeka Okongwu
ATL
C SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Precious Achiuwa
SAC
PF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Zaccharie Risacher
ATL
SF SAC @ ATL
Today
7:30 PM ET
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Cedric Coward
MEM
SG CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
GG Jackson II
MEM
PF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Guerschon Yabusele
CHI
PF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Isaac Okoro
CHI
SF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Josh Giddey
CHI
SG CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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Matas Buzelis
CHI
SF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
MEM
PF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Taylor Hendricks
MEM
PF CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tre Jones
CHI
PG CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ty Jerome
MEM
PG CHI @ MEM
Today
8:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ace Bailey
UTA
SF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Brice Sensabaugh
UTA
SF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Cody Williams
UTA
SF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Collin Gillespie
PHO
PG UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Devin Booker
PHO
SG UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Grayson Allen
PHO
SF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Jalen Green
PHO
SG UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Jordan Goodwin
PHO
PG UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Kyle Filipowski
UTA
C UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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Oso Ighodaro
PHO
PF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
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- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Royce O'Neale
PHO
PF UTA @ PHO
Today
10:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - |
NBA Christmas Schedule: Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
- Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC / ESPN
- Spread: Knicks -6
We start the NBA Christmas games at Madison Square Garden with a battle of elite guards. Jalen Brunson (29.1 PPG) has the Knicks humming, and the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns has opened up the floor in ways Knicks fans haven’t seen in decades. They host a Cavs team led by Donovan Mitchell (30.6 PPG), who loves playing at MSG.
Mitchell and Brunson are two of the premier scorers in the league. With KAT pulling Cavaliers bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen out of the paint, the lane should be open for driving. Neither team is shy about shooting. I expect fireworks early to wake everyone up.
The Knicks and Cavs have two respectable defenses, but Cleveland is playing at a pace that we haven’t seen from them in many years, ranking in the top third of the league in pace.
NBA Christmas Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC / ESPN
- Spread: Thunder -8.5
This is the rivalry of the next decade featured on the NBA Christmas schedule. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs roll into OKC to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the West-leading Thunder (26-4). OKC has been a machine at home, and SGA (32.5 PPG) is making a legitimate MVP case.
The Spurs have been hot, winning seven straight coming into the week, but Wemby had a quiet offensive night (12 points) in their last outing on Dec 23. Against this physical Thunder defense (Dort, Holmgren), San Antonio might struggle to keep pace for 48 minutes.
That being said, Stephon Castle seems like he is growing into a star, while lottery pick Dylan Harper is starting to play extremely well. The Spurs are young, deep, and dangerous.
NBA Christmas Games: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
- Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC / ESPN
- Spread: Warriors -2.5
The Mavs are going through a miserable, injury-plagued 2025 campaign. It remains to be seen if Anthony Davis will last past the Feb. trade deadline.
Rookie phenom Cooper Flagg is coming off an unreal game against the Nuggets, where he dropped 33-9-9.
They face a Golden State Warriors team with Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry. Curry is still doing Curry things (28 pts vs Phoenix on Dec. 20), but the Mavs have a massive size advantage inside with Davis.
The Warriors don’t have a great answer for AD. Draymond is an elite defender, but he gives up a lot of height. But as long as Chef Curry is on the court, you can’t count out the Warrios at home.
NBA Christmas Preview: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC / ESPN
- Spread: Lakers +3
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets in primetime, a staple of NBA Christmas games. LeBron James (Probable – Groin) continues to defy Father Time, posting 36 points against the Clippers just a few days ago. But don’t sleep on the Rockets—they acquired Kevin Durant to pair with Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet, making them a legitimate threat.
KD vs. LeBron on Christmas. It never gets old. The Lakers rank 24th in defensive rating, which might be a problem against the Rockets’ skilled offense.
NBA Christmas Schedule: Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC / ESPN
- Spread: Nuggets -3.5
We end the NBA Christmas games slate with a potential WCF preview. Nikola Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double (29/12/10) and has the Nuggets rolling. They host Anthony Edwards (30.0 PPG) and the Timberwolves.
Minnesota has struggled a bit against top-tier teams (3-8 vs >.500 records), and playing at altitude in Denver is the toughest ask in the league. Jokic usually dissects the Gobert/Randle frontcourt with ease.
Denver’s Cameron Johnson is on the injury report, and he’s out with a knee issue. Bruce Brown and the Nugget’s depth will have to step up. Jamal Murray just went off vs. the Mavs on Tuesday with 31 points and 14 dimes–he’s playing VERY good basketball right now, reminding the NBA that he is a star.
Check back Thursday for our NBA betting cheat sheet. Looking for more NBA advice? We have you covered all season!
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