The schedule reveal is underway for the NBA season. After the opening night card was revealed, we got a schedule drop for the Christmas Day games.
Let’s break down the matchups and the opening lines for each contest.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
Opening Line: Knicks -3, -155 Moneyline
Our slate includes only two games from the East, but you couldn’t ask for a better matchup than this one. The Cavaliers and Knicks are the two top contenders in the lesser conference, tied at +850 odds to win the 25/26 title. And they’ve earned that distinction.
Cleveland rolled to the best record in the East last year before smashing the Miami Heat in the first round. It they succumbed to the devil magic of the Indiana Pacers, marking another early playoff exit for this Cavs core. In the offseason, the Cavs more or less ran the team back, adding Lonzo Ball to upgrade their guard room. With the Celtics and Pacers effectively ruled out this year due to superstar injuries, it’s now or never for Cleveland. But the Knicks will have plenty to say about that.
New York made a darling run to the Eastern Conference Finals, also losing to the Pacers in a much more competitive series. It also run its team back while adding necessary depth in Guerschon Yabusele. The pressure is on the Knicks as much as it’s on the Cavs to come out of the East this year.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Opening Line: Thunder -9.5, -455 Moneyline
The NBA is correct in identifying this as a banger matchup. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the now, as the defending champions and title favorites for the 25/26 season. But Victor Wembanyama is the future. That battle for the future will be on display.
OKC kept the whole band together this offseason and will be well-poised to run it back. But it’s a challenging task to return to the Finals, even when your team sticks together. Just ask the Celtics. Or the Bucks. Or the Lakers.
Spoiler alert: the Spurs won’t be winning the title this season. But they’ve positioned themselves well for the future, adding good depth in free agency while extending De’Aaron Fox and drafting Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, two huge upside swings. They should challenge for a playoff spot this year, but the growing pains will continue for a very young team.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Opening Odds: Lakers -1, -118 Moneyline
Two of our opening night representatives will face off on Christmas. And both have similar dreams.
Behind the Thunder, the Rockets and Lakers are two of the teams vying for playoff spots in the Western Conference. They have the horses to go deep in the postseason; all they need to do is make it to the rodeo. Houston made its big splash by pushing in chips for Kevin Durant. LA already made its big push, getting Luka Doncic at the last trade deadline.
It’s going to be a star-studded affair and a measuring stick contest for how these teams match up. Who knows; they could find themselves facing off come playoff time.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
Opening Odds: Warriors -3.5, -166 Moneyline
Our third matchup between Western Conference playoff hopefuls is between the Warriors and the Mavericks. And there’s plenty of storylines to follow.
Klay Thompson will be back in the Bay Area. The Warriors will be getting a taste of Cooper Flagg. And it’s another duel between Draymond Green and Anthony Davis. Jimmy Butler will surely manufacture a reason to hate the Mavericks. The star power in this one is elite, and both teams should find themselves in the playoff mix if they’re healthy.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Opening Odds: Nuggets -5, -205 Moneyline
The ties between the Timberwolves and the Nuggets run awfully deep. These matchups are always entertaining, and it brings a lot of story.
Timberwolves front office leader Tim Connelly built up the Nuggets’ championship team, one that beat these same Wolves on the way to the title in 2023. Minnesota fought back with a dramatic seven-game victory in the following postseason. Once again, these two teams will find themselves squarely in the mix for the Western Conference this season. Don’t be surprised to see them facing off come playoff time. This Christmas day game provides an exciting preview.
All five of these matchups are between teams that will be fighting for playoff spots. Some teams are competing to prove themselves superior in their conferences. It’s a banger of a Christmas Day slate.
