2025 NBA Odds: Christmas Day parlay priced at +581
The NBA’s Christmas Day slate delivers elite matchups across the league, blending rivalry and star power, from Madison Square Garden to Crypto.com Arena and a late-night showdown in Denver.
This three-leg Christmas Day parlay focuses on teams with clearer structural advantages, lineup stability, and situational edges that tend to matter on the league’s biggest regular-season stage.
Combined, these three picks create a high-upside NBA Christmas Day parlay priced at +581 odds.
- Knicks -6 vs. Cavaliers (-110)
- Rockets -3 vs. Lakers (-110)
- Timberwolves +3.5 vs. Nuggets (-110)
Knicks -6 vs. Cavaliers
New York is set up extremely well in this spot. The Knicks are second in offensive efficiency and have rediscovered their defensive edge since returning to last season’s starting five. Jalen Brunson has been sensational, averaging over 32 points per game across his last eight outings, and he enters Christmas Day in peak form.
Cleveland, on the other hand, is trending in the wrong direction. The Cavaliers are without Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland continues to struggle through turf toe issues that have impacted his shooting and burst. Without Mobley anchoring the defence, Cleveland has slipped to the middle of the pack defensively, and asking Donovan Mitchell to carry the offensive load alone against New York’s physical perimeter defenders is a difficult task. At Madison Square Garden, on Christmas, the Knicks are in a position to win by multiple possessions.
Rockets -3 vs. Lakers
Houston is in a strong bounce-back position against a Lakers team dealing with mounting injuries and recent inconsistencies. The Rockets may have stumbled slightly in recent weeks, but they remain one of the more structured and disciplined teams in the Western Conference, particularly on defence. Their ability to switch, protect the paint, and limit transition opportunities matches up well against Los Angeles. Houston’s youth, depth, and defensive pressure also give them an edge against a Lakers backcourt that has been turnover-prone when forced into half-court sets.
With better lineup continuity and fewer defensive breakdowns, the Rockets should control the tempo and cover the short road number on Christmas night.
Timberwolves +3.5 vs. Nuggets
Minnesota has shown signs of clicking at the right time, highlighted by a statement comeback win over Oklahoma City and continued play from Anthony Edwards. Edwards is averaging a career-high 28.7 points per game and has expanded his offensive game, allowing him to punish mismatches in multiple ways.
Denver remains dangerous at home, but the Nuggets have been surprisingly vulnerable at Ball Arena, losing five of their past seven home games. Minnesota also carries confidence from its playoff success against Denver, and the Timberwolves’ perimeter defence should challenge the Nuggets’ supporting cast.
Even if Nikola Jokic dominates stretches of the game, Minnesota’s shot creation and defensive versatility should keep this contest tight. Getting points with a confident Timberwolves team makes this a strong closing leg.
