Best NBA Bets on Christmas Day: Thunder & Rockets Struggle to Score

• Finding the bets to make you a winner on Christmas Day
• 76ers get another shot at Celtics
• Thunder hoping to slow down Harden’s surging Rockets

Step aside, major sports leagues, it’s the NBA’s turn.

They’ve locked down the Christmas Day corner for a while now, with a showcase of some of the league’s best teams and talents – not to mention, the best commercial mixing hoops and holidays ever:

And we want to keep the good times rolling for you, which is why we’ve checked the lines and found some interesting wagers that should keep you interested all day.

Bet #1: Knicks Keep it Close with Bucks

*All odds taken 12/24

Analysis: The earliest present we get to unwrap on Christmas is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the early favorite for league MVP, who this season has done some of the craziest stuff we’ve seen a human do on a basketball court.

Giannis was HYPED off this transition dunk. pic.twitter.com/84TWqlwDfc

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 20, 2018

Forget the fact that the Knicks are an abomination, and don’t deserve to be playing on Christmas Day (hi league, where are the NBA-leading Raptors?).

For whatever reason, they’ve been able to hang with Milwaukee this year, as they’ve split the season series 1-1, and even have a nasty highlight for their sad-sack season to cherish.

The Bucks just had their four-game win streak snapped by Miami, and were limited to just 87 points. Meanwhile, the Knicks have lost four in a row, including losses to the lowly Hawks and Suns in that stretch.

If Milwaukee is indeed elite, they should get back to winning, but New York will make it tougher than expected.

Pick: Knicks (+10)

Bet #2: Thunder Will Clamp Down on Rockets

Analysis: This will be the second of four meetings between the two teams, with the Thunder crushing the Rockets the first time around, holding them to a season-low 80 points.

James Harden hits the dagger 3 with 1:05 left to bury the Spurs, and the crowd erupts. #MVP chants as loud as they’ve been all year. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/02JYftXgyN

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 23, 2018

Houston appears to have snapped out of their malaise to start the year, and while they are currently percentage points higher than San Antonio in the Southwest division, they are barely clinging to the eighth seed in the West.

The Thunder has built a tremendous defense. PG is playing out of his mind. Russ is really trying to not overdo it every night. Grant has been a revelation. Adams has made The Leap.

Still some legit questions (shooting, Russ' tendency to go John Wick) but OKC has impressed. https://t.co/y86JBqMdnO

— Jon Hamm (@JonMHamm) December 24, 2018

Meanwhile, the Thunder are battling the Pacers for the league lead in defensive efficiency, and keeping teams to 105 points a game, good for fifth-best in the NBA.

Chris Paul’s injury takes away a key playmaker and ball handler for James Harden and company. It’s going to be a slog at the Toyota Center.

Pick: Under 221.5 points

Bet #3: 76ers Cover Against Celtics

Analysis: Dating back to the 2014-15 season, the Celtics have won 15 of the last 17 regular season meetings, and four of five playoff games, thanks to their second round series win in last year’s postseason.

Two game-winners in 8 days for Jimmy Butler.

EXACT. SAME. SPOT. ? pic.twitter.com/osRUKoIKrt

— ESPN (@espn) November 26, 2018

But as much as these aren’t the 76ers of old – the addition of Jimmy Butler gives Philly a big three that is arguably the best in the East – it’s fair to say that these aren’t your Celtics of recent lore, either.

Kyrie Irving opens the action in Boston with 17 1st quarter PTS! #CUsRise pic.twitter.com/vdA6N5Iedt

— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2018

Boston was supposed to surge forward offensively with the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward from injury, but even with improved play, they’re middling at 13th.

Thank goodness they are still one of the NBA’s best defensive units (4th in opponent scoring).

Boston snapped a three-game skid Sunday with a much-needed win over the Hornets, as Al Horford returned to the lineup to add some stability on both ends of the floor.

Horford will be called upon again big time on Tuesday. Joel Embiid is putting together a dominant big man season, averaging 26.4 points and 13.2 rebounds a night on 48% shooting.

With Butler’s clutch plays in the crunch, the tide just might be turning in this rivalry.

Pick: Philadelphia (+4)