Christmas Day NBA Picks & Player Props: Best NBA Bets on Dec. 25
Every Christmas Day, the NBA rolls out one of its biggest slates of the year, and 2025 is no different. With five marquee matchups spread across the afternoon and evening, fans get a steady stream of basketball from brunch through late night.
The Knicks open the day at Madison Square Garden against the Cavaliers, then the Nuggets and Timberwolves close things out as two of the best teams in the West face off in Denver. With rotations tightening and stars playing heavy minutes on a national stage, it sets up as an ideal schedule for those on sports betting apps hunting value on game lines, player props and a holiday parlay.
Below are today’s best NBA bets for the Christmas Day slate, which are especially valuable when leveraging the latest sportsbook promotions.
Game Lines
New York Knicks -(5.5) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (-105)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
The Knicks just lifted the NBA Cup and have turned MSG into one of the toughest environments in the league, especially in early national TV windows. Cleveland can struggle to generate efficient halfcourt looks when the outside shots are not falling, while New York’s physical defense, edge on the glass and Jalen Brunson’s shot-making should allow the Knicks to control tempo and pull away late.
Dallas Mavericks (+8.5) vs Golden State Warriors (-115)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Golden State still commands respect at home, but +8.5 is a big number to give a Mavericks team that can score in bunches when their young core gets rolling. Dallas plays hard and has seen both Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis break out of late, which should help the Mavs hang around and keep this within two or three possessions even if the Warriors ultimately win.
Denver Nuggets (-3.5) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (-105)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Denver remains one of the league’s most reliable home sides, and Christmas night games have often turned into Nikola Jokic showcases. Minnesota’s defense is strong, but Jokic’s combination of scoring, passing and ability to punish mismatches forces the Wolves to make tough decisions on every possession. With the Nuggets’ continuity and late-game execution, laying the small number at altitude is appealing, even with all of the injuries to the starting lineup.
Player Props
Jalen Brunson over 29.5 points (-110)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Brunson has leaned into a true superstar scoring role this season and tends to rise to the occasion in big national TV spots. Against a Cavaliers defense that can be vulnerable at the point of attack, he should see a high usage rate and plenty of pick-and-roll opportunities to get to his mid-range spots, the rim and the free throw line.
Karl-Anthony Towns over 1.5 made threes (-115)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
No matter which frontcourt partner he shares the floor with, Towns remains one of the league’s best shooting bigs. His three-point volume stays steady, and the Knicks’ defense often prioritizes protecting the paint, which should leave KAT with several clean pick-and-pop looks to clear two or more triples.
De’Aaron Fox over 17.5 points (-115)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Fox’s speed and ability to live in the paint always translates, and his points line is slightly discounted relative to his usual scoring range. In a spotlight game, he is unlikely to defer, and his combination of transition buckets, pull-up jumpers, and free throws gives him multiple paths to finishing north of 20.
Cooper Flagg over 6.5 rebounds (+115)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Flagg has already flashed his high-motor reputation at the NBA level, attacking the glass on both ends for Dallas. Golden State’s jump-shot heavy offense should create plenty of long rebounds, and with Flagg’s length and timing, seven or more boards is very much in reach at plus money.
Jimmy Butler over 4.5 assists (-115)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Serving as a secondary playmaker for the Warriors, Butler has shown comfort initiating sets and working out of pick-and-roll. Against a Mavs defense that will load up on Dallas’ primary scorers, Butler should have the ball in his hands plenty, giving him a good chance to rack up five or more assists by finding shooters and cutters.
Alperen Sengun over 7.5 rebounds (-150)
🏀 Odds via Caesars Sportsbook 📈
Houston runs a ton of offense through Sengun, but his rebounding remains a core part of his profile. The Lakers can occasionally struggle to finish possessions when Anthony Davis is pulled away from the rim, and Sengun’s positioning, touch and minutes load should allow him to clear eight boards.
Alperen Sengun over 5.5 assists (-145)
🏀 Odds via BetMGM 📈
Sengun’s vision and passing touch have turned him into an offensive hub, with Houston often playing through him at the elbows and top of the key. Los Angeles is likely to send extra attention his way as a scorer, opening pockets for backdoor cuts and kick-outs that can easily turn into six plus assists.
Anthony Edwards over 3.5 made threes (+110)
🏀 Odds via bet365 📈
Edwards has leaned further into the pull-up three this season, with both attempts and confidence up from deep. If Minnesota finds itself chasing the scoreboard against Denver, Edwards’ volume from beyond the arc should spike, giving him a strong ceiling to hit four or more threes at a plus-money price.
Today’s Best Parlay
🏀 Combined Parlay Odds: +553 (via Caesars Sportsbook) 📈
- Leg 1: Nikola Jokic over 29.5 points (-106)
- Leg 2: Kevin Durant over 25.5 points (-122)
- Leg 3: Anthony Davis over 24.5 points (-118)
Jokic is the centerpiece of everything Denver does and tends to lean into an aggressive scoring mode in statement games, especially at home on Christmas night. Durant remains one of the league’s purest scorers and should see heavy usage in Houston’s offense against a Lakers defense that has had issues containing elite wings. Davis has really figured things out in Dallas of late, with plenty of post touches, rolls to the rim and mid-range opportunities against Golden State's frontcourt. If all three stars embrace the holiday spotlight the way they usually do, this trio of points overs has real upside as the best NBA parlay for Christmas Day.
Christmas Day always brings out maximum intensity from players and coaches, but it also amplifies volatility with emotional swings, national TV narratives and staggered tip-off times throughout the day. As such, keep all of these things in mind as you build your best plays today,
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All Odds as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 25
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