Christmas in the NBA isn’t just a holiday about gifts. It’s a time when the entire league can look around and take stock. This, the biggest NBA fans often say, is often when the crux of the season really begins, when the contenders and pretenders have had a couple months to sift through the new pieces on their roster and figure out what works best. This year, in the aftermath of the NBA Cup, it feels especially true.
It starts with a Madison Square Garden matchup between the two preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference, and then the defending NBA champions get a chance at revenge against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Stephen Curry will be action with the Golden State Warriors facing Cooper Flagg in his first NBA Christmas appearance, while Kevin Durant plays his first Christmas game with the Houston Rockets against Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The fun all wraps up with a nightcap featuring Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards.
Buckle up and get ready for a full day of NBA action. Here are the five games slated for Christmas Day, with times, TV and streaming info, odds and predictions from USA TODAY Sports’ NBA experts.
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(All odds according to DraftKings as of Dec. 22)
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
Time: Noon ET | TV: ABC and ESPN
The Knicks and Cavaliers remain the two favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season. Cleveland has dealt with a slew of injuries early on and is hovering around .500 after racing to the best record in the East last season, but Donovan Mitchell is still one of the league’s leading scorers.
The Knicks have lost just twice in the past month. They are coming off an NBA Cup championship win over the San Antonio Spurs and a 47-point performance by star Jalen Brunson on Dec. 21. The game will also be shown via an alternative ‘Deck the Halls’ broadcast on ESPN2 with an animated special featuring Disney characters.
Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds
Line: Knicks -5.5
Over/under: 234.5
Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions
Scooby Axson: Knicks 121, Cavaliers 118
Mark Giannotto: Knicks 119, Cavaliers 110
Jon Hoefling: Knicks 124, Cavaliers 111
Lorenzo Reyes: Knicks 130, Cavaliers 101
James Williams: Knicks 117, Cavaliers 113
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN
The defending NBA champions take on one of the three teams to actually beat them already this season in what will be the two teams’ second game in three days and third meeting in less than two weeks. Wembanyama has picked up where he left off, averaging a double-double and 2.5 blocks per game despite a minutes restriction since returning from injury.
The Thunder lost twice in three games earlier this month after starting the season 24-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in the NBA in scoring and Oklahoma City has the league’s best defense. Don’t look now, but the Spurs entered these back-to-back matchups trailing only the Thunder in second place in the Western Conference standings.
Spurs vs. Thunder odds
Line: Thunder -10.5
Over/under: 233.5
Spurs vs. Thunder predictions
Scooby Axson: Thunder 128, Spurs 117
Mark Giannotto: Thunder 110, Spurs 107
Jon Hoefling: Thunder 116, Spurs 102
Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs 107, Thunder 105
James Williams: Thunder 125, Spurs 119
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
Time: 5 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN
Flagg’s first Christmas appearance in the NBA arrives right as he’s playing the best basketball of his rookie season for the Mavericks, who have improved with the return of Anthony Davis to the lineup following a rough start.
It hasn’t been as smooth for the Warriors with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green as it was after the trade deadline last season, but Curry is playing well since he recently returned from injury and there is likely to still be some emotions with Dallas guard Klay Thompson playing at Golden State over the holidays again.
Mavericks vs. Warriors odds
Line: Warriors -7.5
Over/under: 226.5
Mavericks vs. Warriors predictions
Scooby Axson: Mavericks 115, Warriors 110
Mark Giannotto: Mavericks 120, Warriors 118
Jon Hoefling: Warriors 125, Mavericks 123
Lorenzo Reyes: Mavericks 106, Warriors 98
James Williams: Warriors 115, Mavericks 113
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN
Durant and James are playing against one another on Christmas for the fifth time in their NBA careers, and each has plenty of help this time around. Luka Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring, though his status for Thursday’s game is up in the air after he exited Saturday’s game against the Clippers early with a leg contusion. Alperen Sengun, meanwhile, continues to be a force inside for Houston, which is the best rebounding team in the league this season.
Rockets vs. Lakers odds
Line: Rockets -2.5
Over/under: 230.5
Rockets vs. Lakers predictions
Scooby Axson: Rockets 122, Lakers 114
Mark Giannotto: Rockets 124, Lakers 115
Jon Hoefling: Lakers 120, Rockets 113
Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers 112, Rockets 108
James Williams: Rockets 120, Lakers 114
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN
Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the season and Edwards is on pace to set new career highs in scoring and 3-point shooting. They will provide plenty of star power to close out Christmas in the NBA, as two of the top Western Conference contenders behind the Thunder meet again. Both teams have lost just twice since the start of December.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds
Line: Nuggets -4.5
Over/under: 237.5
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions
Scooby Axson: Nuggets 124, Timberwolves 107
Mark Giannotto: Timberwolves 122, Nuggets 117
Jon Hoefling: Nuggets 136, Timberwolves 115
Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets 118, Timberwolves 116
James Williams: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 117
