NFL, NBA Share Christmas Spotlight with 8-Game Marathon
nfl-nba-christmas-day-2025-schedule-guide
Christmas Day 2025 delivers an unprecedented sports buffet: five NBA contests and three NFL divisional showdowns spread across five television platforms. Tipoff comes at noon ET at Madison Square Garden, and the curtain closes after midnight in Denver. Below is a game-by-game look at start times, networks, betting odds, storylines and key numbers.
NBA – Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN/ABC
Line: Knicks –5.5, O/U 237.5
The Knicks (20-9) ride the league’s No. 2 offense and eight wins in nine games, while Cleveland (17-14) tries to stop an 8-8 slide made worse by Evan Mobley’s calf strain and Darius Garland’s turf-toe woes. Jalen Brunson is averaging 32.3 points and 6.8 assists over his past eight outings on 51/41/83 shooting. Donovan Mitchell, scoring a career-best 30.7 per game, makes his first Christmas appearance since 2021.
BPI win probability: New York 61.1%
Picks: Zach Kram 123-111 NYK; Kevin Pelton 118-116 NYK
NFL – Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET, Netflix
Line: Cowboys –7, O/U 50.5
Already eliminated, Dallas (6-8-1) seeks a fifth NFC East win behind Dak Prescott, who is 26-4 lifetime versus Washington and New York. The Commanders (4-11) own the league’s worst ATS mark (5-10) and a –12 turnover margin. Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens draw a defense allowing top-four fantasy points to QBs.
BPI win probability: Dallas 56.1%
Picks: Pamela Maldonado 44-24 DAL; Eric Moody 27-20 DAL; Seth Walder 30-13 DAL
NBA – San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Line: Thunder –10.5, O/U 233.5
One month after ending OKC’s 16-game win streak in the NBA Cup semifinals, Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren meet again. Wembanyama, coming off the bench since returning from a calf strain, averages 24.4 points and 12.3 rebounds in five career duels with Holmgren. The Thunder (26-4) have yet to allow a 40-point opponent this season; Kram predicts Wembanyama will be the first.
BPI win probability: Oklahoma City 74.1%
Picks: Kram 110-104 OKC; Pelton 120-108 OKC
NFL – Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix
Line: Lions –6, O/U 44.5
Detroit (8-7) has lost two straight; Minnesota (7-8) is out of playoff contention but hopes Justin Jefferson (917 yards) clears 1,000 for the fourth time in five seasons. The Lions’ slim 7% playoff chance disappears with a loss or a Packers victory. Jahmyr Gibbs seeks a bounce-back after just 5.8 fantasy points versus the Vikings in Week 9.
BPI win probability: Detroit 68.4%
Picks: Maldonado 29-18 DET; Moody 27-20 DET; Walder 31-24 DET
NBA – Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Time/TV: 5 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Line: Warriors –7.5, O/U 226.5
Klay Thompson visits San Francisco for the third time as a visitor after 13 Warriors seasons. The veteran averages 11.8 points in 21 bench minutes this month for Dallas (12-19). Rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg has erupted for 33, 35 and 42 in the past four weeks. Golden State (15-15) is 7-2 when it drains at least 18 triples and owns the NBA’s best record (4-1) when playing with two days of rest.
BPI win probability: Golden State 72.0%
Picks: Kram 113-108 DAL; Pelton 118-112 GS
NBA – Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Line: Rockets –4.5, O/U 228.5
Both clubs limp in: Houston (17-10) has dropped four of six, while Los Angeles (19-9) was minus four starters in its last outing. LeBron James has scored at least 16 points in all 19 career Christmas games; Kevin Durant’s streak stands at 12. Kram projects both stars to top 30, which would mark their 16th mutual 30-plus meeting.
BPI win probability: Houston 61.5%
Picks: Kram 125-115 HOU; Pelton 118-114 LAL
NFL – Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Time/TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Line: Broncos –13.5, O/U 36.5
Denver (12-3) can clinch the AFC West with a victory and a Chargers loss Saturday, and it remains in the mix for the conference’s top seed. Third-stringer Chris Oladokun makes his first NFL start for Kansas City (6-9), which has failed to score in six first halves this season. The 36.5 total is the Chiefs’ lowest home over/under since 2008.
BPI win probability: Denver 55.6%
Picks: Maldonado 24-10 DEN; Moody 23-13 DEN; Walder 24-17 DEN
NBA – Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Line: Nuggets –4.5, O/U 237.5
Minnesota (20-10) is 3-8 against teams .500 or better but stunned Oklahoma City last week behind Anthony Edwards’ late-game heroics. Denver (21-8) has dropped five of seven at Ball Arena and is missing top defenders Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Edwards, averaging 28.3, is Pelton’s pick to lead all Christmas scorers.
BPI win probability: Denver 59.9%
Picks: Kram 120-112 DEN; Pelton 116-111 MIN
From noon in Manhattan to midnight in the Mile High City, Christmas 2025 offers 14 consecutive hours of marquee matchups, playoff implications and historic individual streaks.
Source: ESPN
