Here are your Christmas NBA Bet Tips for Christmas picks against the spread, including one club ready to defy expectations against a defending conference champion.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Miami Heat: Pelicans +3.5 (-105), 1 unit
While Jimmy Butler‘s questionable status lingers, he will probably play and move this line back up to -4.5 for Miami when announced. The Pelicans and Heat are two similar teams: Both defend well and hardly space the floor.
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The Heat are really only favored given the public perception that New Orleans was not a playoff team last year and Miami was in the Finals. This line should be closer and New Orleans could eke out a victory.
Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks -10.5 (-110), 2 units
The Warriors absolutely stink and are living off of old glory. This team without Draymond Green has no answer defensively and will continue to leak points to all types of competition, especially that with the incumbent MVP.
The Bucks might lack depth, but they improved immensely with the Jrue Holiday trade and can just stick him on Stephen Curry all game. Curry will still get his naturally. However, unless Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins go nuclear versus the wing-corps of Donte DiVincenzo and Khris Middleton, the best bet here is the Bucks in a thrashing.
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics: Celtics +3.5 (-110), 2 units
While some may view this as a Kyrie Irving Revenge Game with a healthy Kevin Durant at his disposal, the Celtics share the animosity, if not more. Boston’s core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart must have been scorned upon Irving’s departure and are looking for just desserts at home with a team of unheralded stars that are well-coached and mesh adeptly.
The Nets depth is good and they are well-spaced but their front-court will be demonized by cuts and forced to play small-ball which they are not constructed to do. The Celtics matchup up too well and should honestly be favored, especially at home.
Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers -6.5 (+100), 2 units
The Lakers are coming off of a Game 1 loss versus their intra-stadium rivals, the Clippers. While the loss may not be embarrassing given that the Lakers were celebrating winning another championship - they have something to prove Friday night with everyone watching. Expect LeBron James and Anthony Davis in peak form against a team that just does not have the personnel as currently constructed to stop them.
Kristaps Porzingis is inactive, and Dwight Powell is playing on one leg. The rest of the teams big wings and bigs are useless in deterring the Lakers’ superstars in this matchup let alone their depth. Luka Doncic will have far too much on his plate to compensate for the rest of his team.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets: Clippers -2.5 (-110), 2 units
The Clippers were embarrassed on the main stage this past postseason against these very Nuggets and are out for blood. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will not rotate off-days as often as last season and came out strong against the Lakers in Game 1.
While the Nuggets may be returning their full starting lineup from last year, they are in a tough spot with a hobbled Jamal Murray. Murray did not look like himself on Wednesday and could nurse his calf during the game. The Clippers’ acquisition of Serge Ibaka should help fend off Nikola Jokic to an extent as well to make this team look like the one that took a 3-1 lead rather than losing three straight in a playoff exit.
Get ready for 2020-2021 NBA fantasy basketball & betting
After you finish examining our Christmas NBA Bet Tips and NBA picks against the spread, read our full NBA tips for DFS fantasy basketball and basketball betting.
