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Top 5 bets for NBA Christmas Day

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Here are five recommended bets for a star-studded slate of NBA games on Christmas Day:

Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks

Recommended bet: Knicks team total under 108.5

If you haven't heard by now, the under's been a hot play for early Christmas Day games in recent years. Still, we aren't playing the trend just to play it, as we specifically like the Knicks to come in under their total.

New York did put up 136 points in an overtime win against Milwaukee on Dec. 1, but that point total feels skewed, as one of the league's worst 3-point shooting teams somehow converted on a blistering 58.8 percent of its attempts from deep. With the early start this time around and the Knicks scoring 108 points or more in just two of their last 12 regulation-length games, we don't expect a repeat.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets

Recommended Pick: Thunder +1.5

We recommend taking a good look at the Thunder here, as the Rockets - who've won six of their last seven games - will be without Chris Paul due to a hamstring injury. And losing a key playmaker will make things especially difficult against the Thunder, the NBA's No. 1 defensive team to date. The short chalk on a hot team is tempting, but the wrong side is favored here.

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics

Recommended Pick: Over 223

Our first recommended full-game total will be played at 5:30 p.m. ET, when bettors will no longer need to worry about body clocks being a factor. And that should mean plenty of pace from the Sixers, who rank No. 4 in offensive tempo. They also have the league's No. 6 scoring offense and will enter Tuesday's game with momentum after putting up 126-plus points in three of their last four outings. Meanwhile, the Celtics appear to have fixed their offensive issues, as they're averaging a cool 119.1 points over their previous 12 contests.

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

Recommended Pick: Under 235

This is the highest total on the board for Tuesday, which is no surprise when you consider the offensive stars involved. However, the Lakers have been better than expected defensively - ranking No. 11 in defensive efficiency and No. 9 in points allowed per game - while the Warriors defend the 3-point line well and limit second chances off misses. We see this total coming in under.

Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz

Recommended Pick: Over 214.5

We're capping off the slate by endorsing the over between the Trail Blazers and Jazz, who went under the total a mere four days ago in Utah's 120-90 win. However, that was an especially rough shooting night for the Trail Blazers, who went 10-for-18 from the free-throw line, 10-for-32 from behind the arc, and shot just 40.2 percent from the field overall. We think the change in scenery is the recipe for an over this time around.

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.

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