NBA Christmas Day games are some of the most-hyped of the regular season each year. That applies from perspectives of both bettors’ and fans’ interests.
The Philadelphia 76ers are among the 10 teams that will be in action on Wednesday, December 25. Their game has the smallest spread of the five at some New Jersey legal sportsbooks.
We compare the action of the most popular games at four New Jersey sports betting apps:
Breaking down NBA Christmas Day odds
Many of the legal mobile sportsbooks in New Jersey have action available on Philadelphia’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day. Those include:
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Point total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MIL +0.5 -110 PHI -0.5 -110 | MIL -109 PHI -109 | O 222.5 -109 U 222.5 -109 |
| FanDuel | MIL -2.5 -120 PHI +2.5 +100 | MIL -148 PHI +126 | O 220.5 -105 U 220.5 -115 |
| Fox Bet | MIL +4.5 -250 PHI -4.5 +205 | MIL -150 PHI +125 | O 219.5 -118 U 219.5 -105 |
| Sugarhouse | MIL -3 -112 PHI +3 -109 | MIL -137 PHI +116 | O 220.5 -108 U 220.5 -113 |
Some of the books have an equally narrow spread on the battle of Los Angeles, slated for later on Wednesday. Clippers-Lakers lines look this:
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Point total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LAC -1.5 -110 LAL +1.5 -110 | LAC -125 LAL +106 | O 223.5 -112 U 223.5 -109 |
| FanDuel | LAC +2.5 -120 LAL -2.5 +100 | LAC +110 LAL +128 | O 222.5 -120 U 222.5 +100 |
| Fox Bet | LAC +1.5 -105 LAL -1.5 -118 | LAC +105 LAL -125 | O 222.5 -118 U 222.5 -111 |
| Sugarhouse | LAC +2 -109 LAL -2 -112 | LAC +104 LAL -124 | O 223.5 -108 U 223.5 -113 |
The day’s first game, featuring the defending champion Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics, also has a tight spread. Those odds right now are:
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Point total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | BOS -2.5 -112 TOR +2.5 -109 | BOS -113 TOR +117 | O 213.5 -113 U 213.5 -108 |
| FanDuel | BOS -3.5 +100 TOR +3.5 -120 | BOS -150 TOR +128 | O 213.5 -105 U 213.5 -115 |
| Fox Bet | BOS -3.5 -105 TOR +3.5 -118 | BOS -154 TOR +135 | O 212.5 -118 U 212.5 -111 |
| Sugarhouse | BOS -3 -112 TOR +3 -109 | BOS -148 TOR +125 | O 213 -112 U 213 -108 |
A game that fails to live up to the hype it received preseason because of the injury to New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson is next in the largest spread. The breakdown of this contest goes:
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Point total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NOP +9.5 -110 DEN -9.5 -110 | NOP +390 DEN -500 | O 219.5 -113 U 219.5 -108 |
| FanDuel | NOP +9.5 -110 DEN -9.5 -110 | NOP +360 DEN -460 | O 218.5 -110 U 218.5 -110 |
| Fox Bet | NOP +9.5 -110 DEN -9.5 -110 | NOP +380 DEN -550 | O 218.5 -111 U 218.5 -111 |
| Sugarhouse | NOP +9.5 -110 DEN -9.5 -110 | NOP +390 DEN -500 | O 218.5 -113 U 218.5 -108 |
In terms of another game that looked better on paper when the schedule came out, this contest bears an appropriate spread for how one-sided it could be. This 2018-19 Western Conference Finals rematch shakes out this way:
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Point total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOU -10 -110 GSW +10 -110 | HOU -560 GSW +430 | O 228.5 -113 U 228.5 -108 |
| FanDuel | HOU -11 -110 GSW +11 -110 | HOU -700 GSW +520 | O 226.5 -110 U 226.5 -110 |
| Fox Bet | HOU -11.5 +100 GSW +11.5 -120 | HOU -900 GSW +600 | O 226.5 -118 U 226.5 -111 |
| Sugarhouse | HOU -11 -110 GSW +11 -110 | HOU -770 GSW +575 | O 226.5 -113 U 226.5 -108 |
The books have had their say on all of these contests. Do their opinions line up with the background information? In some ways, yes, not so much in others.
How to bet the 76ers’ and other games
It’s hard to bet against a Milwaukee team that has won 27 of its 31 games and features a Giannis Antetokuonmpo that has added a 3-point shot to his game.
It’s similarly difficult to bet against a 76ers team that has been tough as nails to conquer on their home court. Defensively and on the boards in Philadelphia, the 76ers are especially efficient.
That’s why there’s essentially no spread on this contest and the moneylines aren’t attractive either. The smart money is on the non-traditional bets.
DraftKings has a line of +275 on a moneyline/total parlay, taking the 76ers and either the over or the under of 222.5. Sugarhouse mirrors that with +290 on the 76ers and the under on the same point total.
FoxBet offers +425 on Philadelphia winning by 1-5 points. FanDuel will pay out +470 if 76ers center Joel Embiid scores the game’s first point.
In the first game of the day, the line is a little surprising. Toronto will be without Marc Gasol, Norman Powell, and Pascal Siakam while Gordon Hayward is eligible to return for Boston.
Unless Kyle Lowry can have the game of the season to this point, it’s difficult to see where the Raptors will find the offense to compete with the Celtics, complete with not only Hayward possibly but Enes Kanter as well.
Several books have alternate spreads with Boston winning by a more comfortable margin. Those lines look attractive.
The same could be said for the mid-day game, Houston at Golden State. Given the Warriors’ defensive struggles, alternate spreads on a bigger Rockets win are similarly enticing.
In the first evening game, the status of Lakers forward LeBron James is still uncertain. It’s inadvisable to make any bets that his play could influence until that becomes more certain.
If James can contribute, however, it’s easy to make a case for his team prevailing in this one. The Lakers have already dropped one game to the Clippers this season and losing to them again could create a mental advantage for the Clippers going into the postseason.
For the nightcap, copy and paste the sentiment on the Rockets-Warriors game here. New Orleans has been horrible defensively and the Nuggets could see season-highs on offense in this game.
NBA Christmas Day 2019 offers some opportunities for New Jersey sports betting customers to make their holidays merrier. The onus is on the players and teams to cooperate with those hopes.