NBA

With NBA trade season underway and the Nets looking closer to the contender many hoped they would be by the day, let's look at five realistic trade targets ...

Christmas Day games have witnessed some of NBA history's most memorable moments, but do players have a choice?

Christmas Day has seen some of the greatest games ever played in NBA history. Incidentally, it’s Kobe Bryant who has the record for the most points scored in Christmas Day game history, with 383. Interestingly, the NBA is the only major sports league in the country that has a fixed set of games on the day. There was also the game between the Heat and the Lakers in 2010, where players on both teams wore holiday sneakers. There is of course also a degree of spectacle to the whole affair, with teams normally choosing to wear their third jersey as well as some form of tribute to the Yuletide spirit. The very first NBA Christmas Day game was played in 1947 - one year after the league’s inception - when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers.

Christmas Day is about superstars. Get ready for the NBA's holiday helping and follow along with our expert analysis throughout the day!

[ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/parity-rules-the-nba-ahead-of-intriguing-christmas-day-slate) Follow him on Twitter [@YaronWeitzman](https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman). [James Harden](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/james-harden-player). [Luka Dončić](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player) scores 31 or more. He is the only non-point guard in the top 10 in assists and the only center in the top-37 (Embiid is 38th with 4.6 assists per game). The Grizz are second in the West at 20-11, but have the same record as the conference's top team (Denver). Forcing the ball out of his hands by double-teaming him as soon as he crossed half court worked extremely well, as Hardaway and [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/spencer-dinwiddie-player) shot a combined 1-for-10 for a total of three points. [Philadelphia 76ers 119, New York Knicks 112](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers-vs-new-york-knicks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39633) — Yaron Weitzman [Dallas Mavericks 124, Los Angeles Lakers 115](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-vs-dallas-mavericks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39634) [LeBron James](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/lebron-james-player) to beat them — the Lakers didn’t dare do the same with Dončić. After missing 12 of 17 long-range attempts in the first half, the Mavs buried seven of 11 in the third quarter and limited the Lakers to 1-for-6 from the same range, all of which resulted in a 31-point swing, Dallas taking a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter. He is leading the league in scoring and put up 35 in Sunday's win.

NBA Twitter reacts to the Philadelphia 76ers knocking off the New York Knicks on Christmas Day to begin a 4-game road trip.

Ralph Rivera, Managing Director of NBA Europe and Middle East says the NBA will eventually return to the UK as it shares the load with games elsewhere and ...

The thing that differentiates the NBA beyond basketball is we look at ourselves as not just the competition, but entertainment then the lifestyle around basketball. It prides itself on offering entertainment even for casual fans without necessarily possessing a nuanced and in-depth interest in what is happening on the court. That combination of the event and the buzz around it was great.” There is, of course, huge competition for interest in the UK and elsewhere as America’s various big leagues branch out across the Atlantic. Plans for the next slate of games in Abu Dhabi are already advanced and he reckons the work put in on a community and grassroots level will ensure the impact is long-lasting. “Then its all about hosting the actual event itself, and from our perspective it was just amazing, better than we ever could’ve imagined.

The Philadelphia 76ers entered their Christmas Day matinee at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks having won seven straight games, ...

So many Knicks at this point have played really strong individual defense on James Harden, whether because he's their man or because they switched onto him. The 76ers' zone has slowed the Knicks' tempo, but the trade-off is that the Knicks are up to rebounding 32 percent of their misses, including several in the second quarter. But the Harden-Embiid pick-and-roll got going late, and after that completely unlikely Shake Milton half-court heave at the buzzer, they only go into the locker room trailing by three points. The Knicks have begun the second half spamming Julius Randle at the top of the key, which is understandable considering he scored 25 first-half points. Halftime has arrived with the 76ers down just 63-60 points to the Knicks thanks to a hot second quarter. The Knicks and 76ers combined to score on 17 of their first 20 third-quarter possessions. And it’s that specific type of sequence, with an overwhelming level of offensive talent choosing from a menu of appealing options to toy with even good opposing defenses, that makes you wonder how the Sixers arrived here at this point, just 2.5 games behind the best record in the NBA. Once the ball dropped through the net, Embiid walked to the corner to scream at the New York crowd. So, Embiid pointed at the man known as “The Minivan” to do just that while he stood in the corner. He was sitting on 31 points, a performance that had the makings of another monster night for the NBA’s scoring leader. They got a boost off the bench from Georges Niang, who nailed four 3s in the fourth quarter to finish with 16 points. Led by a dominant fourth quarter, the 76ers (20-12) defeated the Knicks (18-16), 119-112.

It's the most wonderful time of the year -- a five-game, 12-hour NBA marathon.

[Giannis Antetokounmpo](/nba/players/2067655/giannis-antetokounmpo/) stars for Milwaukee. There's no [Steph Curry](/nba/players/1685204/stephen-curry/), but this game should still be great. [Russell Westbrook](/nba/players/1622555/russell-westbrook/) leads all. [We move up to Boston](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-vs-bucks-tv-channel-live-stream-nba-on-christmas-day-how-to-watch-online-time-prediction-odds/) for Bucks-Celtics at 5. A no-look pass! A full-court toss!

Milwaukee @ Boston. Current Records: Milwaukee 22-10; Boston 23-10. What to Know. The Milwaukee Bucks' road trip will continue as they head to TD Garden at ...

- Apr 12, 2017 - Boston 112 vs. - Apr 15, 2018 - Boston 113 vs. - Apr 28, 2018 - Boston 112 vs. - Apr 20, 2018 - Milwaukee 116 vs. Milwaukee is now 22-10 while the Celtics sit at 23-10. - Apr 28, 2019 - Boston 112 vs. Regional restrictions may apply.) [NBA picks](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/picks/#ttag=SL19_lk_cbssports_nba_htw) for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Milwaukee is expected to lose this next one by 5. Boston can attribute much of their success to small forward The Milwaukee Bucks' road trip will continue as they head to TD Garden at 5 p.m. Tatum's evening made it four games in a row in which he has scored at least 30 points.

A blistering performance from Jayson Tatum (41 pts) and Jaylen Brown (29 points) proved to be too much for the Bucks who fell to their third successive ...

The pick of today's action, is undoubtedly the clash at the TD Garden in Boston which sees the second placed team in the East, Milwaukee Bucks travel to Massachusetts in a repeat of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, where the Celtics prevailed. The Bucks bring it back to just a 2 point lead for Boston. Later tonight we'll have the Grizzlies at Golden State and Suns at Nuggets rounds off a marathon NBA session. Middleton is missing his 26th game of the season. ... You've got to go out there and play good basketball, build good habits, defend and compete." to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they faced the Miami Heat. Bucks 62-64 Celtics Bucks 76-85 Celtics Bucks 86-100 Celtics Bucks 103-120 Celtics Bucks 108-124 Celtics Bucks 118-139 Celtics

This year's marquee Christmas Day matchup pitted two NBA MVP candidates against each other as Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo ...

Tatum made a statement with his performance, establishing the Celtics as the clear top team in the Eastern Conference. He scored 20 points in the third quarter alone on Sunday, and he added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals to stuff the stat sheet. He out-dueled Antetokounmpo, who finished with 27 points but struggled to find a rhythm, shooting 9-of-22 from the field.

Jayson Tatum scored 41 for Boston on Sunday to help the Celtics beat Milwaukee 139-118 in a matchup of the top two teams in the NBA.

The NBA season is a long season, and we will be a much better basketball team by the end of this year than we are right now,” he said. “It was one of those games where you’ve just got to stick around,” Harden said. After some jawing back and forth, Antetokounmpo was given a technical foul and went to the bench. “So they’re two teams that are very familiar with each other.” Asked about his team’s ability to limit the damage done by Antetokounmpo, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “Limiting’s crazy. “In that moment I was just letting him know that.” Tatum scored 20 in the third quarter, when the Celtics turned a one-point lead into a 100-86 edge. The Celtics have also struggled lately, losing five of six before winning back-to-back games. Antetokounmpo, who fell hard on his hand on Friday night but was cleared to start, scored 27 points with nine rebounds. “But it’s also December 25th. “I thought I was playing pretty physical defense, nothing dirty. Brown scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth, and Jayson Tatum scored 41 for Boston on Sunday to help the Celtics beat Milwaukee 139-118 in a matchup of the top two teams in the

In a battle between two NBA titans, it was the Boston Celtics who dominated the second half of their Christmas Day matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He dominated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Tatum scored 41 points for the second time in three days. He scored six straight Celtics points in only 49 seconds of action before Robert Williams (layup), Derrick White (free throws) and Grant Williams (3-pointer) joined in on the fun to rack up a 13-6 run to close the third period. - Joe Mazzulla on Marcus Smart That provided Boston with a 100-86 advantage heading into the final period. Boston owned just a one-point lead at halftime but extended that lead to as many as 22 points during the second half.

The sea parted for Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum as he cut into the paint, only for his opening to disappear in a split second as Giannis Antetokounmpo ...

To make matters worse, Los Angeles has four games remaining on a five-game trip as Davis remains out indefinitely, raising the possibility that James and company will miss the playoffs for a second straight year. Tatum posted a game-high 41 points, including a 20-point burst in the third quarter that put Boston comfortably in command, to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Naturally, the 44-year-old Nowitzki, who is eligible for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2023, was depicted shooting one of his patented one-legged fadeaway jumpers. The sea parted for Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum as he cut into the paint, only for his opening to disappear in a split second as Giannis Antetokounmpo rotated to the front of the rim. “We left it in the locker room at halftime. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who finished with 23 points and 11 assists, left the contest in the fourth quarter with an apparent hip injury. Sunday’s second contest saw Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks follow the 76ers’ lead by launching a massive second-half comeback against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. “I was going to attack the rim,” Tatum said during a postgame interview. The 76ers have won eight straight to climb into the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed. In addition to Embiid’s punishing play inside and Harden’s controlled orchestration, the 76ers got nine combined three-pointers from De’Anthony Melton and Georges Niang. The two-time MVP finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists as the Bucks were outshot and outworked by their conference rivals. Tatum barely adjusted to Antetokounmpo’s sudden emergence, angling just a bit to the right as he finished a poster dunk over a two-handed contesting effort by the Milwaukee Bucks big man.

Jayson Tatum was the gift that kept on giving this Christmas, producing yet another MVP caliber performance against a superstar opponent.

For such an accomplishment to come against perhaps his biggest MVP competition, was the topper on Tatum’s tree. And in their first meeting of the season, Tatum was hands down the best player on the floor. He also scored 29 against Kevin Durant and the Nets and 25 against Devin Booker and the Suns, both also among the top 10. Sixth year in a row (playing on Christmas), and something I never want to take for granted. He shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line to the Greek Freak’s 8-of-12 effort. For reference, Tatum and Antetokounmpo were the top two vote-getters, respectively, in ESPN’s latest MVP straw poll, which featured votes from 100 media members.

Jayson Tatum scored 41 points to power the NBA-best Celtics over Milwaukee 139-118.

Ja Morant had 36 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to lead the Grizzlies, who fell to 20-12. "You've got to attack the rim," Tatum said. "They are one of the best teams in the league and it's always special to play on Christmas," Tatum said. He came up big when we needed him most, especially at the beginning of the fourth," Tatum said. "If you go in there and lay it up, he's going to send it to the parking lot." "We wanted to come out in the second half, especially at the start of that third quarter, with some pace and some energy," Tatum said.

Jayson Tatum posted his fifth straight 30-point game, leading the Boston Celtics with 41 en route to a 139-118 Christmas Day win over the visiting Milwaukee ...

James went on to finish with 38 points, six rebounds and five assists. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 35 points and eight rebounds while Jalen Brunson added 23 points and 11 assists. Tatum added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals as Boston won back-to-back games.

Christmas Day is about superstars. Get ready for the NBA's holiday helping and follow along with our expert analysis throughout the day!

[ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/parity-rules-the-nba-ahead-of-intriguing-christmas-day-slate) Follow him on Twitter [@YaronWeitzman](https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman). [Steph Curry](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/stephen-curry-player) went down with a shoulder injury, the Warriors are 2-3. [James Harden](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/james-harden-player). He is the only non-point guard in the top 10 in assists and the only center in the top-37 (Embiid is 38th with 4.6 assists per game). [Luka Dončić](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player) scores 31 or more. [Jayson Tatum](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/jayson-tatum-player) went off for Boston in its biggest game of the season to date, tallying 41 points on 14 of 22 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists. And the team also got significant contributions from Klay Thompson (24 points), Donte DiVincenzo (19 points), Ty Jerome (14 points), Anthony Lamb (11 points) and Moses Moody (10 points). Forcing the ball out of his hands by double-teaming him as soon as he crossed half court worked extremely well, as Hardaway and [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/spencer-dinwiddie-player) shot a combined 1-for-10 for a total of three points. [Philadelphia 76ers 119, New York Knicks 112](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers-vs-new-york-knicks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39633) — Yaron Weitzman [Dallas Mavericks 124, Los Angeles Lakers 115](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-vs-dallas-mavericks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39634) [LeBron James](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/lebron-james-player) to beat them — the Lakers didn’t dare do the same with Dončić.

Christmas Day is about superstars, none of which disappointed. Catch up with all of Sunday's NBA action!

[ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/parity-rules-the-nba-ahead-of-intriguing-christmas-day-slate) Follow him on Twitter [@YaronWeitzman](https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman). — Melissa Rohlin [Denver Nuggets 128, Phoenix Suns 125 (OT)](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/phoenix-suns-vs-denver-nuggets-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39637) [Jamal Murray](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/jamal-murray-player) (26 points, 14 of which he scored in the fourth quarter) catapulted the Nuggets past the Suns, giving them the best present of all on Christmas: the No. [Jordan Poole](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/jordan-poole-player) had a team-high 32 points in 29 minutes. [James Harden](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/james-harden-player). [Steph Curry](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/stephen-curry-player) went down with a shoulder injury, the Warriors are 2-3. [Luka Dončić](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player) scores 31 or more. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/jaylen-brown-player) struggled at the free-throw line (2-for-6) but was clinically efficient everywhere else (11-19 overall, 5-9 on 3s) for 29 points. [Jayson Tatum](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/jayson-tatum-player) went off for Boston in its biggest game of the season to date, tallying 41 points on 14 of 22 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists. [Philadelphia 76ers 119, New York Knicks 112](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers-vs-new-york-knicks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39633) — Yaron Weitzman [Dallas Mavericks 124, Los Angeles Lakers 115](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-vs-dallas-mavericks-dec-25-2022-game-boxscore-39634)

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 70 points as the Boston Celtics dismantled the Milwaukee Buck 139-118 on Christmas Day.

… Pat Connaughton, a native of nearby Arlington, Massachusetts, made his first start of the season and scored 15. The teams met in the second round of last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs, and the Celtics won in seven games en route to the NBA Finals. … The Celtics made five of their first six 3-point attempts. Boston had lost five of their last seven, and Milwaukee has now lost three in a row for the first time this season. Brown scored 13 of his 29 in the fourth, and Antetokounmpo lost his temper after a hard pick sent him to the floor and retaliated by shoving the Celtics All-Star. Their lead was down to one point, 62-61, before Bobby Portis fouled Brown on a desperation 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.

The Celtics were on the road to play a regular season game with the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks when Hall of Fame power forward Tommy Heinsohn ended ...

These two squads now find themselves going in opposite directions: The Sixers have won eight in a row, while the Knicks have lost three straight following an ...

Memphis’ first-ever Christmas Day didn’t exactly go as planned, as Jordan Poole (32 points) and Klay Thompson (24) led the way for Golden State, which drained 18 threes in the win. Denver is now first in the West at 21-11 and has won four straight. Saint Nick saved the best for last, as Christmas Day’s nightcap was as great as it was exciting. The game is in February, but I’ll take this blowout over one of the league’s top squads as a good omen. Especially because Jayson Tatum went ahead and dropped 41 points in the win, and added Giannis Antetokounmpo to his poster trophy case. LeBron James scored 38 for the Lakers in their fourth-straight loss. Georges Niang hit four triples in the final frame alone to lead Philadelphia’s fourth-quarter charge, finishing with 16 points; Jalen Brunson had 23 points and 11 assists for the Knicks. Not bad company for JT to keep. Philly didn’t lead until there were just 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, yet despite its flat play from the opening tip, the game never felt all that out of reach. Dallas scored 51 points in the third quarter, the highest-scoring quarter on Christmas in NBA history and a league-best this season. Despite my grandfather’s protest, the NBA carried on with its Christmas slate, just like it does every year. Or, honestly, a tale of a single quarter.

This week's NBA Style Rankings feature fly suits, checkered patterns and bucket hats — and a noticeable "Star Wars" reference.

[the shoes](https://twitter.com/laclippers/status/1605751985159819264), either. The two-time NBA MVP has developed a pattern of wearing suits into the arena before games. Russell also has the white shirt to match the shoes and socks that he’s showing off by wearing hemmed pants. He’s wearing black leather pants, black shades and a checkered black-and-white sweater. The rookie is making waves on the court, but if he continues being this fly, he’ll make waves off it, too. The brown varsity jacket isn’t your average Jordan Brand jacket; it’s a collaboration with award-winning artist Travis Scott, who has consistently teamed up with Jordan to create shoes and clothes. The jacket is so eye-catching that all he added was a black T-shirt, the “6” chain representing his jersey number, a light pair of jeans and a pair of New Balances. Diallo has one of the most stylish New York Yankees jackets I’ve ever seen. It appears as though he is feeling pretty good about the current situation, on and off the court. He’s gone viral for the I want to sincerely thank everyone who reads, even if this isn’t necessarily your cup of tea — or eggnog. Being 10 weeks in with the

The Celtics got back to their winning ways, the Warriors humbled the Grizzlies and it was a rough day for LeBron James and the Lakers.

Unfortunately, the three-time all-star made it only four minutes against Denver before he had to call it a night. Anyone who called it an early night before the Denver Nuggets’ 128-125 victory over the Phoenix Suns made a huge mistake. The Mavericks have struggled to find shooting and consistent sources of secondary offense, and Wood helped carry them through some early dry spells against the Lakers. There’s still time for Barrett’s game to blossom, but it’s alarming that his contributions haven’t picked up since he’s been paired with Brunson, a savvy organizer and setup man. Despite an eight-game winning streak earlier this month, it’s hard to take the Knicks too seriously because Barrett, the franchise’s highest draft pick in recent years, has yet to show consistent flashes of stardom. The holiday stage allowed Melton to remind the world that he’s having a career year for the Philadelphia 76ers. Jackson was an obvious weak link, as he was limited to just 21 minutes by severe foul trouble, which has been a recurring issue throughout his career. Klay Thompson, who got a technical foul for taunting Dillon Brooks, said it was “a good night to send a message” because the two teams might square off again in the playoffs. Rather than rolling over without their superstar, Golden State's tenacious defensive spirit and championship mettle proved to be more than enough to pull off an upset against a Memphis team that entered as heavy favorites. Bottling up and frustrating Antetokounmpo has been the key to short-circuiting the Bucks in playoff losses to the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and Celtics. Antetokounmpo commanded a significant amount of defensive attention from Boston, and he couldn’t consistently find the right counters. 10, a disheartening blowout in which Jayson Tatum’s play left much to be desired.

This week, Zach Harper analyzes the clutch numbers for all 30 teams.

0.0 rebounds per 36 3.4 rebounds per 36 0.0 assists per 36 1.3 assists per 36 3.4 assists per 36 0.0 turnovers per 36 1.3 turnovers per 36 1.1 assists per 36 2.7 assists per 36 2.3 turnovers per 36 2.3 assists per 36 3.4 turnovers per 36

Jayson Tatum's MVP campaign received a major boost over the holidays. The same can't be said for the Bucks' offense. And we have no idea what to say about ...

He’s the most dominant, and unselfish, superstar in the NBA. Look at his hustle on this play near the end of the game. And this was the first Christmas Day game the Grizzlies organization had ever played. After hitting a couple tricky floaters and spot-up 3s, he finished 6-for-21 from the floor, including 1-for-8 in the fourth quarter. The Knicks lost the game. After a slow start, it seemed like Barrett was beginning to take meaningful strides as the third option on a winning team. There was a 44-point masterpiece against the Bulls, and five straight games during New York’s eight-game win streak in which he scored at least 22 points. But time wouldn’t be on the Sixers’ side, and losing someone as good as Harden for absolutely nothing would not be great. If the Sixers actually lose Harden for nothing, it could range anywhere from an unmitigated disaster to a blessing in disguise. In the third quarter, the Mavs went 9-for-13 from deep and scored a whopping 51 points. In the holiday’s most important clash, a rematch of what can safely be referred to as last postseason’s fiercest series, the best player on the court was Jayson Tatum. The Sixers could win the title.

Rivalries, Nikola Jokić's MVP case, GMs in Rob Pelinka's DMs and more notes from a thrilling day.

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros. December 26, 2022 8:50 AM.

[Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.nba.com/player/1630245/ayo-dosunmu/) (PG/SG – CHI): $4,000 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel [Nikola Vucevic](https://www.nba.com/player/202696/nikola-vucevic/) (C – CHI): $7,500 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://www.nba.com/player/1626157/karl-anthony-towns/) injured, and he’s done just that. [Brandon Ingram](https://www.nba.com/player/1627742/brandon-ingram/) and [Zion Williamson](https://www.nba.com/player/1629627/zion-williamson/), allowing CJ to collect at least 44 DK points in five straight games. We finally saw an upside game from PJ over the weekend, and this guy can be a stud when he’s motivated. This center is amid a breakout season, averaging 35 DraftKings points per game. He’s also soared against Houston over recent years, scoring at least 37 fantasy points in each of their last seven meetings, falling just shy of a 50-point average. The 21-year-old has only played six games since his return from injury but has scored at least 51 fantasy points in four straight. That makes them the most fantasy-friendly matchup in the NBA, and it looks even better since they’re surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards. The Rockets rank 21st in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency. Lillard has been crushing it all year, and he’d be in the MVP discussion if it weren’t for a few injuries. We had a ton of big-name players on Christmas Day, which leaves us with limited options in terms of superstar players.

Lillard has a lofty DFS salary Monday but is a strong player to build lineups around on Yahoo given his performance since returning from injury.

SportsLine's Mike McClure, a daily Fantasy pro with over $2 million in winnings, gives optimal NBA DFS lineup advice.

[Javonte Green](/nba/players/3127807/javonte-green/) (knee) and [Derrick Jones Jr](/nba/players/2267075/derrick-jones-jr/). [Hornets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/CHA/charlotte-hornets/) guard [LaMelo Ball](/nba/players/3149252/lamelo-ball/) who is listed at $10,200 on DraftKings and $8,900 on FanDuel. [Mavericks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DAL/dallas-mavericks/) guard [Luka Doncic](/nba/players/2900426/luka-doncic/) as one of his top NBA DFS picks on DraftKings and FanDuel. [Trail Blazers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/POR/portland-trail-blazers/) have allowed opponents to hit 38.2% of their 3-pointers over their last three games. In their last outing on Friday against Denver, the [Nuggets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DEN/denver-nuggets/) hit 47.6% of their threes in a 120-107 win. [Bulls](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/CHI/chicago-bulls/) forward [Patrick Williams](/nba/players/3141865/patrick-williams/) ($4,600 on DraftKings and $4,800 on FanDuel). Their next matchup comes against the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SA/san-antonio-spurs/), who are coming off of back-to-back losses last Thursday and Friday and are jumping right into another pair of games on Monday and Tuesday. In his previous start against Atlanta on Wednesday, he finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. [Tre Jones](/nba/players/3041299/tre-jones/) could be worth considering in the NBA DFS player pool on Monday after his last three games as well, where he averaged 16 points, 6.3 assists and four rebounds during that run. Anybody that included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day. They're a must-see for any NBA DFS player. McClure is a DFS professional with over $2 million in career winnings.

We take a look at the latest NBA MVP odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.

[compared to last week’s tracker](https://dknation.draftkings.com/2022/12/19/23516142/nba-mvp-race-2022-23-odds-picks-predictions-favorite-jokic-anthony-davis-injury-tatum-giannis-doncic), even though the [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com) guard put up 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a comeback win over the [Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com). Jokic had a 41-point triple-double to close out Christmas Day in a thrilling overtime win for the Nuggets over the [Phoenix Suns](https://www.brightsideofthesun.com). If the Nets keep winning, Durant should have the resume to be in the discussion with Tatum, Antetokounmpo, Doncic and Jokic. [Denver Nuggets](https://www.denverstiffs.com) big man and reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic seems poised for a three-peat. That was certainly the case this holiday season, and those star performances had a direct impact on the 2022-23 MVP race. Christmas Day is a big one in the NBA, and typically features the league’s best players on a national scale.

Nets and Sixers rising in the East, Nuggets leading the West, must-see matchups to close out the calendar year and more.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee): Giannis led the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years – and did so by scoring 50 points in the title-clinching game. LeBron James (Cleveland): Yes, LeBron has left Cleveland twice, but he did deliver a championship to the city that drafted him back in 2003. [a 113-93 loss to the Clippers](https://www.nba.com/game/0022200408) in Los Angeles on Dec. Devin Booker: One of the top young scorers in the game today, Booker is one of just six players to ever score 70 points in an NBA game. Before the fireworks display welcomes in 2023 at midnight, be sure to check out some NBA fireworks on NBA League Pass beginning at 8 p.m. Can the Celtics avenge their [most lopsided loss](https://go.nba.com/n3pgg) of the season when the Clippers visit TD Garden on Thursday? However, that may be in jeopardy as Brunson exited Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a right hip injury. A win over the Cavaliers on Monday would not only push Brooklyn’s win streak to nine, the Nets would also leapfrog the Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings and climb to third place. After spending his first four seasons in Dallas – and being a key member of the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference finals last season – Jalen Brunson signed with New York as a free agent this past summer. 27, the Nets ranked 13th in offense (112.6 rating) and 20th in defense (112.6 rating). The Sixers capped off a busy four-game week on Sunday with a win over the Knicks in New York on Christmas Day. [last week’s Heat Check](https://www.nba.com/news/the-five-everything-to-know-for-week-10), we looked at a trio of Eastern Conference teams riding win streaks of six games or more: the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets.

Everything you need to know to place your NBA bets and set your fantasy basketball lineups for Monday's slate.

[Walker Kessler](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4433136/walker-kessler) (rostered in 16.2% of ESPN leagues). [Jordan Clarkson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528426/jordan-clarkson) over 29.5 points + assists + rebounds. [Jabari Smith Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4432639/jabari-smith-jr). Kessler is in line for another start with [Kelly Olynyk](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2489663/kelly-olynyk) still out with an ankle injury. [Tyrese Haliburton](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4396993/tyrese-haliburton) over 29.5 points + assists. -- Moody [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) at [San Antonio Spurs](/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs) -- Moody [Indiana Pacers](/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) at [New Orleans Pelicans](/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans) -- Snellings [Houston Rockets](/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets) at [Chicago Bulls](/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls) [Norman Powell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2595516/norman-powell) (available in 83.4% of leagues), [Terance Mann](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907823/terance-mann) (available in 96.0% of leagues) and [Luke Kennard](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3913174/luke-kennard) (available in 98.5% of leagues) are all reasonable streaming options with Kawhi Leonard out Monday night. [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3593/bojan-bogdanovic) over 19.5 points. -- Eric Moody [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) at [Detroit Pistons](/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons) [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell) over 26.5 points.

Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic are two Trail Blazers players to watch on Monday night. The NBA follows up its marquee Christmas Day slate with seven games ...

[Jakob Poeltl](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jakob-poeltl-3870), SAS vs. [Walker Kessler](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/walker-kessler-5644), UTA at SAS ($16): [Kelly Olynyk](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/kelly-olynyk-3443) (ankle) has already been ruled out, setting him up to miss his fourth straight game. [Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/ayo-dosunmu-5337), CHI vs. [Jusuf Nurkic](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jusuf-nurkic-3580), POR vs. [Damian Lillard](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/damian-lillard-3304), POR vs. [Jabari Smith](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jabari-smith-5643), HOU at CHI ($18): Another team who has had a difficult time defending the 3-point line is the Bulls, who have allowed their opponents to shoot 38.0% from deep. [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/kawhi-leonard-3195) (knee) won’t play in this game, but the Clippers are healthy otherwise. [Lauri Markkanen](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/lauri-markkanen-4119), UTA at SAS ($29): This is a solid matchup for Markkanen, who’s shooting 43.8% from behind the arc on 6.8 3-point attempts per game. HOU ($11): [Alex Caruso](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/alex-caruso-3952) (concussion) is out again, so Dosunmu should continue to have increased playing time. [Reggie Jackson](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/reggie-jackson-3217), LAC at DET ($17): Jackson continues to provide muted stat lines, scoring 20.1 Yahoo points or fewer in four straight games. Let’s dig into some of the top options to consider on Yahoo, as well as a few to possibly avoid. A game that stands out is in Cleveland when the Cavaliers host the Nets.

Monday's PrizePicks NBA player props slate includes Lauri Markkanen and his rebounding prowess, especially since PrizePicks set his line...

Thanks for reading to the end of this article! [Only 17 total bets have win rates of 60% or higher on tonight’s card](https://www.stokastic.com/sports-betting-central/prizepicks-nba-prop-tool/). Valanciunas need only make one for bettors to bring home the bacon. [FanDuel Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet: Free NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks [DraftKings Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet: Free NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks - Miami won’t have starting center Bam Adebayo and could be without Jimmy Butler, according to [Miami’s recent injury report](https://www.oddsshopper.com/articles/nba/jimmy-butler-injury-update-ankle-injury-putting-status-question-c18). Jaden McDaniels is averaging exactly 3.5 rebounds per game since Towns’ injury. [PrizePicks NBA player props tool](https://www.stokastic.com/sports-betting-central/prizepicks-nba-prop-tool/), Markkanen should come down with 8.17 rebounds tonight. Considering Markkanen is already averaging 8.1 rebounds per game this year, even a small uptick would help him cash this prop handily. Available via Stokastic’s new [NBA Bet Pro](https://www.stokastic.com/sports-betting-central/nba-bet-pro/) package, bettors can now sort every prop market by expected hit rate instead of manually sifting through each game to find value. With six games on tap tonight, bettors have a lot to process.

KD's brutal act in record feat, Nets statement; star erupts for sleeping giant in OT thriller – NBA Wrap.

The Bulls, who’d won three in a row to get their season back on track, had no answers for Alperen Sengun (24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists), Kevin Porter Jr. (26 points, seven rebounds, nine assists) and Jalen Green (24 points, six rebounds) on the defensive end. Brooklyn looked on from the opening tip, piling 34 points on the board in the first quarter to lead by 12 and take control of the match. Paul George scored seven of the Clippers’ 14 points and dished out two assists in overtime to lead his side to a big 142-121 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Brooklyn Nets have downed Cleveland on the road 125-117 on Tuesday (all times AEDT) to extend their NBA-best winning streak to nine and take the Cavs’ spot in the East’s third seed. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined for 64 points, TJ Warren added a season-high 23 off the bench and Ben Simmons racked up four points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals as the Nets continued their dominant run.

NBA round-up: Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant both scored 32 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, extending their longest winning streak since ...

Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Brooklyn Nets survived a shaky finish and extended their winning streak to a ...

Keldon Johnson added 21 points for the Spurs, with Malaki Branham scoring a career-high 20. Garland scored 18 of his points in the fourth, including a jumper in the lane that made it 121-117 with 44 seconds left. Lowry finished with 18 points and a game-high nine assists. DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 31 points and nine assists. Kevin Durant scored 32 points but fouled out for the sixth time in his career when he bumped Garland with 1:54 remaining. On the 11th anniversary of his NBA debut with Cleveland, Irving made 11 of 19 shots and hit seven 3-pointers as Brooklyn took a pair of 19-point leads before withstanding Cleveland's late comeback try that featured several big shots by Darius Garland, who led all scorers with 46 points.

The Brooklyn Nets pushed their NBA winning streak to nine games with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Spurs led by 14 with 2:36 remaining. "Each day we try to gather as a team and think how we can get better," he said. "I want to celebrate those small things, but keep pressing forward. In New Orleans, Naji Marshall scored a career-high 22 points to lead the short-handed Pelicans in a 113-93 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs cut a 13-point deficit to one with 3:54 left in the first half, but the Nets responded with a vengeance to lead 65-49 at the break. They have won 14 of their last 15 games.