2023 NBA bets, lines and stats for Monday - ESPN

As the NBA season marches on we are in for a jolly Christmas Day slate with five games on the schedule. The 298th regular season meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics is the game I'm most looking forward to.

These are two of the most storied franchises in the league, having won 17 championships each. Two of the past three Christmas games have been won by the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics UNDER 234.0 points. This should be a low scoring affair. The Celtics rank third in points allowed per 100 possessions while the Lakers rank eighth. Boston also plays at a slower pace. The total has gone under in five of the Lakers last five home games.

LeBron James OVER 36.5 points and assists. On Christmas day, he should continue his habit of shining on the big stage, especially against a high-profile team like the Celtics. Over the last eight games, James has averaged 28.0 points and 9.5 assists per game. Over that time period, James has had a usage rate of 29.1%, so he is well positioned to surpass this number. In his last five Christmas Day games, he has averaged 28 points and 7.4 assists. In his Lakers' career, James has averaged 28.0 points and 8.6 assists against the Celtics.

Jalen Brunson OVER 26.5 points. Over the last five games, he averaged 20.4 field goal attempts and 30.6 points. On the inside, the Bucks play well defensively, but on the perimeter, they can be exploited. Milwaukee gives up the fifth most points per game to point guards. Brunson scored 36 points against the Bucks on Saturday night.

Tyrese Maxey OVER 35.5 points, rebounds and assists. He's surpassed this line in three consecutive games. Maxey's averaged 26.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season. Based on