NBA Christmas Day Betting Odds Preview

The NBA delivers its traditional slate of games on Christmas Day, with five games on tap this year.

Getting things started on Christmas is the New Orleans Pelicans at the Miami Heat as a 5-point underdog at Bovada Sportsbook.

New Orleans opened its season Wednesday night with a 113-99 upset win over the Toronto Raptors as a 3.5-point underdog. New Orleans has been a strong UNDER play for bettors, at 9-2 UNDER in its last 11 games.

Miami started the season with a 113-107 loss to the Orlando Magic as a 4.5-point favorite. The Heat are 6-4 straight up and 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 against New Orleans. The last four matchups between the Heat and Pelicans have all gone UNDER the posted total.

Milwaukee 1-5 against the spread in its last 6 games

Next up is the Golden State Warriors at the Milwaukee Bucks as a 9.5-point underdog.

Both sides lost their season openers earlier this week. The Warriors fell to the Brooklyn Nets 125-99 as a 7.5-point underdog, while the Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics 122-121 as a 4.5-point favorite. Milwaukee dropped to 1-5 ATS in its last six with the loss.

The Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games, and they’ve won five of their last six in Milwaukee while going 4-2 ATS.

Nets favored over Celtics in visit to TD Garden

Continuing our look at the Christmas matchups, the Brooklyn Nets visit the Boston Celtics as a 2.5-point road favorite at Bovada.

Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak with its 125-99 win over Golden State as a 7.5-point favorite. The Nets have been a good road bet at 7-2 ATS in their last nine.

Boston will be looking for back-to-back upset wins after topping the Bucks 122-121 as a 4.5-point underdog. As a home underdog, the Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven. In their last nine home games against the Nets, the Celtics are 8-1 SU and 4-5 ATS.

Lakers have won 8 of last 9 vs Mavericks

LeBron James makes another Christmas appearance Friday night when his Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks as a 6-point favorite.

The Lakers lost their season opener to the Los Angeles Clippers 116-109 as a 7.5-point favorite. With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 1-5 ATS in their last six and they’ve dropped three straight ATS at home.

The Mavericks opened the season with a 106-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns as a 1-point underdog. Dallas has lost three straight ATS and is 2-7 ATS in its last nine. Against the Lakers, the Mavs are a miserable 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine.

Clippers seek redemption in Mile High City

In the late game on Christmas, the Clippers visit the Denver Nuggets as a 1-point favorite.

Despite getting past the Lakers 116-109 as a 2-point underdog in their season opener, the Clippers are only 2-5 ATS in their last seven. The Clippers went OVER the total against the Lakers but had been a profitable UNDER pick at 7-0-1 UNDER in their previous eight games.

Denver dropped its season opener vs the Sacramento Kings 124-122 as a 7.5-point favorite. The Nuggets have won three straight against the Clippers and they’re 5-1 ATS in their last six against Los Angeles.