Christmas Day is not only for family, friends, food and gifts. Christmas Day is for the NBA. A five-game extravaganza is on the docket as the Milwaukee Bucks visit the New York Knicks to tip things off at noon.
The Golden State Warriors visit the NBA defending champion Denver Nuggets at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m.), Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat (8 p.m.) and, for dessert, the Dallas Mavericks visit the Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m.).
PennStakes.com – your source for PA betting sites - has created hypothetical odds for which player will be the leading scorer on Christmas Day. Here is who we think will top the stat sheet:
Odds on Top NBA Christmas Day Scorer
Leading Scorer the Obvious Choice
The defending NBA Most Valuable Player, Joel Embiid, tops the list at +800 (11.1% chance). Embiid is having another stellar season and leads the league in scoring at 33.4 points per game.
Embiid currently is 1.4 points per game ahead of Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (32 ppg), who is tied for second on our list at +1000 (9.1%) with Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA Finals MVP. At ESPN Bet Pennsylvania, Jokic is the favorite for MVP at +225, followed by Doncic (+425) and Embiid (+550). Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks round out the top five at +1200 (7.7%).
Embiid is seeking his third consecutive league scoring title. Last season, he averaged 33.1 points per game and became the first big man to lead the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons since Bob McAdoo with the Buffalo Braves (1973-76).
Embiid’s teammate, guard Tyrese Maxey (+2000, 4.7%), is in a three-way tie for eighth on the list with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and New York Knicks guard and Villanova alum Jalen Brunson. Maxey is having his best season yet, averaging 27 points per game. Last season, he averaged 20.3.
For the best PA sportbook promos and sports betting information on the Sixers and the state’s other pro sports teams, stay close to PennStakes.com.
