Winning Points
**PREFERRED
Boston over *Brooklyn by 4
Rajon Rondo is easily running away with the assists lead in the league and the Celtics
are well-rested having last played at home on Friday. The Nets have upgraded their roster yet remain a work in progress. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett can take advantage
of Brooklyn’s perimeter defense, which ranked among the five worst in the league in
defensive field goal percentage.
BOSTON 100-96.
New York over *Los Angeles Lakers by 4
Until Steve Nash and Pau Gasol return, the Lakers are a stay-away from team no matter how tempting they might look as a ‘dog. Los Angeles was 1-6 ATS the first seven
times it has been a ‘dog this season.
NEW YORK 104-100.
*Miami over Oklahoma City by 3
This is the Christmas Day highlight matchup and should be a great game. It’s the first
time the teams are meeting since the Heat defeated the Thunder in the NBA finals.
This is the Thunder’s third consecutive road matchup, but they haven’t played since
Thursday. Kevin Durant was battling Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony for the scoring lead, while LeBron James had a streak of 26 straight regular-season games of scoring 20 or more points going entering the second half of this month.
MIAMI 109-106.
Houston over *Chicago by 1
The Rockets were 8-1 ATS in their first nine games against Eastern Conference foes,
including defeating the Bulls, 93-89, as one-point home favorites a month ago behind
28 points from James Harden.
HOUSTON 93-92.
*Los Angeles Clippers over Denver by 5
The Clippers have covered nine of their first 13 home contests. Denver entered the
middle of this month improving its road performances covering three of its last four
on the highway. Free throw shooting continues to plague the Nuggets, however, as
they ranked last at 68 percent.
LA CLIPPERS 105-100.
**PREFERRED
Boston over *Brooklyn by 4
Rajon Rondo is easily running away with the assists lead in the league and the Celtics
are well-rested having last played at home on Friday. The Nets have upgraded their roster yet remain a work in progress. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett can take advantage
of Brooklyn’s perimeter defense, which ranked among the five worst in the league in
defensive field goal percentage.
BOSTON 100-96.
New York over *Los Angeles Lakers by 4
Until Steve Nash and Pau Gasol return, the Lakers are a stay-away from team no matter how tempting they might look as a ‘dog. Los Angeles was 1-6 ATS the first seven
times it has been a ‘dog this season.
NEW YORK 104-100.
*Miami over Oklahoma City by 3
This is the Christmas Day highlight matchup and should be a great game. It’s the first
time the teams are meeting since the Heat defeated the Thunder in the NBA finals.
This is the Thunder’s third consecutive road matchup, but they haven’t played since
Thursday. Kevin Durant was battling Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony for the scoring lead, while LeBron James had a streak of 26 straight regular-season games of scoring 20 or more points going entering the second half of this month.
MIAMI 109-106.
Houston over *Chicago by 1
The Rockets were 8-1 ATS in their first nine games against Eastern Conference foes,
including defeating the Bulls, 93-89, as one-point home favorites a month ago behind
28 points from James Harden.
HOUSTON 93-92.
*Los Angeles Clippers over Denver by 5
The Clippers have covered nine of their first 13 home contests. Denver entered the
middle of this month improving its road performances covering three of its last four
on the highway. Free throw shooting continues to plague the Nuggets, however, as
they ranked last at 68 percent.
LA CLIPPERS 105-100.

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