Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets – ESPN
ESPN’s Boxing Day bonanza is here once again, with all five NBA Christmas Day games on TV back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back.
Milwaukee visit New York in the first game of the day, but it’s OKC’s trip to Houston that looms as the first juicy contest on the agenda.
The Thunder come into the match winning four of their past five matches, with Paul George finding his form in recent outings.
In wins against Sacramento and Utah, George went off for 43 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and 43 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and five steals respectively.
The Rockets on the other hand have now won seven from their past eight, although will now need to contend without Chris Paul for the next two weeks, after he recently picked up a hamstring injury.
The battle on the glass could be the deciding factor, with the Thunder rebounding the ball 48.7 times per game which is good enough for second in the league, while the Rockets pull the ball down just 41.3 times, the fourth lowest number in the Association.
The Thunder won their first match-up this season by 18, and with George rolling and Paul out, the Thunder could break the Rockets’ hot form here.
Tip: OKC @ $2.04
Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics – ESPN
In a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference finals, two heavyweight sides go head-to-head once more.
These sides haven’t met since Boston won the season opener 105-87, although it’s the Sixers who have just edged out the Celtics over the course of the season so far since that game.
Philly sit in fourth with a 22-12 record while Boston are fifth at 19-13, and enter the clash on a three-game losing streak.
One of those losses was a bad home loss to the Suns, while the Sixers on the other hand are coming off a big 25-point win against the conference-leading Raptors.
Philly are 13-6 since Jimmy Butler arrived, although they’ll face their toughest road stretch of the season starting on Christmas, as they face Utah, Portland, LA Clippers and Phoenix all away from home following their trip to Boston.
They’ve got enough talent to record a victory inside the TD Garden, although Boston will be itching to get a home win and break their recent hoodoo.
Tip: Boston @ $1.60
LA Lakers @ Golden State Warriors - ESPN
In the primetime slot at midday (AEDT), Lebron James’ LA Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors for the first time this season.
The Lakers enter the clash at 19-14, while the Warriors have won three of their past four and boast a 23-11 record.
James has settled in to his new life in LA nicely, and is currently averaging 27.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
Kevin Durant is mirroring those numbers for the Warriors (28.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists), as the two star forwards lock horns for the first time this campaign.
The Lakers will be well in this clash, although home court advantage should be enough to get the Warriors over the line.
Tip: Los Angeles Lakers +9.5 @ $1.85
