The NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate is always one of the most exciting dates of the regular season; this year is no exception.
Top-tier matchups will see rivalries renewed and some of the league’s most talented superstars pitted against one another. The best part? It lasts all day.
Here are the latest odds on this year’s NBA Christmas Day games.
All NBA odds are current as of Monday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. ET and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
NBA Christmas Odds & Lines 2024
Christmas NBA Games 2024
Bucks @ Knicks Odds (Noon ET)
Bucks -3 (-110) @ Knicks +3 (-110)
The Bucks and Knicks will open the NBA Christmas schedule with a marquee matchup at Madison Square Garden. As two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season, this is bound to be a competitive contest.
Milwaukee is headlined by superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging over 31 points per game alongside Damian Lillard. This will be the sixth consecutive season that his Bucks have appeared in a Christmas Day game, going 3-2 to date.
New York rose to success in 2022-23 with Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson at the helm, who combined to score over 49 points per game. They’ve largely repeated their offensive prowess this year, with Brunson, in particular, looking like one of the league’s top rising stars.
The Bucks have gone 2-0 against the Knicks this season, including a 146-122 win in the In-Season Tournament. As slight favorites, I’m inclined to back them against the spread with my NBA bet of the day.
Warriors @ Nuggets Odds (2:30 p.m. ET)
Warriors +5 (-110) @ Nuggets -5 (-110)
The Warriors were the Western Conference’s team of the 2010s, but could they still have enough juice in the tank to make another run at the title? Their Christmas Day matchup with the Nuggets — the defending NBA Finals champions — could serve as a measuring stick.
That said, it looks like this will be an uphill climb for Golden State. Draymond Green (suspension) won’t be available, and Stephen Curry hasn’t gotten much help from his other co-stars.
- See where each team stands in the latest NBA Finals odds.
Denver doesn’t have the flashiest names — at least, not outside of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray — but it does play an unstoppable brand of basketball. The Nuggets prioritize ball movement, ranking second in assists per game, and play with an unselfish mindset.
The Warriors were swept by Denver this past year, and the Nuggets won their first meeting of the 2023-24 season on Nov. 8. Expect another winning performance from the home team.
Celtics @ Lakers Odds (5 p.m. ET)
Celtics -1.5 (-110) @ Lakers +1.5 (-110)
For the second year in a row, the Celtics get arguably the most anticipated Christmas Day matchup. They took on the Bucks in 2022, and this year, they’ll travel to Los Angeles for a meeting with their oldest rival, the Lakers.
This meeting between Christmas past and present will see LeBron James, perhaps the greatest player in NBA history, host young superstar Jayson Tatum, who is back in the MVP conversation again this year.
It’s not just about the two front-runners, though. Boston boasts one of the best No. 2 options in the league in Jaylen Brown, while Los Angeles is entering its fifth season with two-way force Anthony Davis on the roster.
Both meetings between the Celtics and Lakers in 2022-23 went to overtime, with Boston prevailing in each. Expect sparks to fly in what could easily be the most competitive game on the schedule.
76ers @ Heat Odds (8 p.m. ET)
76ers +1.5 (-110) @ Heat -1.5 (-110)
The Sixers have been one of the major surprises of the season and were largely written off over the summer due to the looming James Harden trade. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have helped to guide the team to 18 wins in their first 25 games.
Meanwhile, Miami has been solid on both ends of the floor thanks to the stellar play of Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. The Heat are also terrific from beyond the arc — they’ve connected on over 39% as a team, ranking No. 1 in the NBA.
The battle between Embiid and Adebayo will be one worth watching, but don’t be surprised if Maxey steals the spotlight. The 23-year-old has risen to the occasion without Harden and is on track to make his first All-Star appearance.
Mavericks @ Suns Odds (10:30 p.m. ET)
Mavericks +4 (-110) @ Suns -4 (-110)
This matchup has become one of the league’s more bitter rivalries in recent years, and that only figures to be amplified when they meet for the first time on Christmas Day.
There’s no love lost between Luka Dončić and Devin Booker, but Kevin Durant will be the player to watch for in this contest. The 35-year-old is playing at an MVP-caliber level again this season, averaging his highest points per game (30.6) since 2013-14.
Unfortunately, this won’t be the matchup that it was cracked up to be before the year began. Bradley Beal (ankle) and Kyrie Irving (heel) are expected to be sidelined, so we’ll have to wait to see these teams square off at full strength.
Given the circumstances, the Suns are rightful favorites here. Don’t overthink this one and back them against the spread.
