With five NBA games scheduled for Christmas Day, we're taking a look at the best NBA player props and best bets for Monday based on the best NBA odds.
The best day of the 2023-24 NBA regular season has arrived, as five games featuring 10 legitimate title contenders highlight a loaded slate on Christmas Day.
The action tips off at noon ET when the Milwaukee Bucks face the New York Knicks and ends at 10:30 p.m. ET with a nightcap between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. In between are three more games between some of the top teams in the NBA Finals odds market, all of whom are hoping for a statement win on Christmas.
As part of our NBA predictions for Christmas Day and our Christmas Day best bets, here are our NBA player props and best bets for Monday (odds via our
best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Christmas Day NBA schedule and odds
(Odds via DraftKings)
- Milwaukee Bucks (-3.5) vs. New York Knicks
- Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets (-6.5)
- Boston Celtics (-3) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat (-2.5)
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns (-4.5)
Christmas Day NBA best bets
- Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points vs. Bucks (-115 via BetMGM) ???
- Stephen Curry Under 27.5 points vs. Nuggets (-105 via DraftKings) ???
- LeBron James Over 8.5 assists vs. Celtics (+100 via FanDuel) ???
- Tyrese Maxey Over 37.5 points + assists vs. Heat (-115 via FanDuel) ????
- Luka Doncic to record a triple-double vs. Suns (+165 via FanDuel) ??
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Christmas Day NBA player props
Brunson has found his name embroiled in a social media debate about the value of small guards to championship-caliber squads, even as he puts together one of his best stretches of the season. And this feels like a prime spot for him to silence his critics even further.
The All-Star guard is averaging 30.6 points over his last five games, which started with a 50-piece against the Suns on Dec. 15 and was capped off by a 36-point effort on Saturday. That came against this very Bucks defense that let Brunson erupt for 45 points in their first meeting in November.
This wager is dealing as short as -140 at DraftKings with a total as high as 27.5 at bet365, so we're getting a market-best price on a prop total that Brunson has cleared in three of his last five games. I'd expect him to put on another show on Monday's national stage.
See our Philip Wood's Bucks vs. Knicks NBA player props for more on this matchup.
Our NBA betting expert Philip Wood highlighted this bet in his Warriors vs. Nuggets NBA player props, and we feel the same way about fading the Warriors star on a stage that has seen him struggle.
For whatever reason, Curry is averaging a meager 15.3 points in nine career games on Christmas Day, shooting an abysmal 31.5% from the field and 23.1% from deep. He's scored 20 points or more just once in his holiday starts, which came in 2021 against the Suns.
This time, he faces a Nuggets defense that limited him to 23 poi nts in their lone matchup earlier this season (Nov. 8) and has held him below 28 points in four of their last seven meetings. Especially with teammate Klay Thompson heating up over his last six games (25.7 PPG), this doesn't feel like a spot to expect a scoring resurgence from Curry.
This betting menu wouldn't be complete without the NBA's all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day, right?
While James has flexed his scoring prowess on many holiday occasions, he's assumed the role of primary faciliator ever since the Lakers' run through the NBA In-Season Tournament. The former assists champ is averaging 9.5 assists in December, and he's finished with nine or more dimes in four of his last five games.
While this prop is dealing at -110 or shorter at four of our five best sports betting sites, we're catching plus-money odds at FanDuel, which makes it even easier to back James on a day he usually shines.
This game was setting up to be a showcase for Joel Embiid, the current NBA MVP odds favorite, but the reigning award winner sprained his ankle on Friday and won't suit up for Christmas Day.
That opens the door for Tyrese Maxey to show out in his first-ever Christmas Day game. The fourth-year guard is already in the midst of a breakout season, averaging career highs in point (26.4) and assists (6.8) as the second fiddle to Embiid this season.
This is my favorite bet of these five Christmas Day props, and it's dealing a tick below the consensus 38.5 across our other best sportsbooks – a total Maxey has still hit in each of his last two games even with Embiid on the floor.
The prop market for this game is a little scarce amid the uncertainty of who will even play in the Dec. 25 nightcap. Because of that, we'll take a shot on Doncic to stuff the stat sh eet in the final game on Christmas Day.
The four-time All-Star leads the Mavericks in points (32.9), assists (9.1), and rebounds (8.6) per game, and he's averaging a ridiculous 36 points, 11.3 assists, and 9.5 rebounds in December with four triple-doubles in 10 tries.
Much of that has come without starters Kyrie Irving (5.2 APG) and Dereck Lively (7.7 RPG), who are both questionable for Monday, while Suns leading rebounder Jusuf Nurkic (10.3 RPG) has already been ruled out. It's no surprise that Doncic's rebound and assist prop totals are trading in the double digits at some of our best sportsbooks.
Instead of playing either directly, I'd rather take a shot on Doncic recording his second consecutive triple-double and third in five games, especially at this market-best +165 price at FanDuel.
NBA best bets made Sunday at 6:15 p.m. ET.
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