The regular season rolls on with a strong midweek NBA slate, featuring several intriguing matchups that shape as pivotal betting opportunities. From contrasting tempos in the East to high-profile Western Conference clashes, Wednesday’s games offer a range of angles across spreads and totals. Whether it’s controlling pace, exploiting defensive pressure, or anticipating scoring runs, we’ve broken down the key factors and have you covered with our best bets for the day.
NBA Betting Tips: Wednesday, December 24th 2025
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers (11:30am AEDT)
The Bucks arrive in Indianapolis to face a Pacers unit that has blown hot and cold throughout December. While Milwaukee is currently the slight market favourite, the odds reflect a healthy respect for Indiana’s high-octane home form against the visitors' veteran poise.
The defining battle will be the clash of styles. Indiana thrives on chaos and transition, looking to turn every possession into a track meet. Conversely, Milwaukee prefers a more surgical approach, leaning on half-court execution and an elite rebounding presence to stifle momentum. If the Bucks succeed in neutralising the fast break, they usually find a way to grind out a result.
Should Milwaukee dominate the boards and force the Pacers into a half-court slugfest, they’ll be in the driver’s seat. However, since both offences have shown a tendency to dry up when the pace is dictated by the defence, the total feels like the smarter play here. Expect a more disciplined, lower-scoring affair than the oddsmakers are projecting.
Under 220.5 Points
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (12:30pm AEDT)
Oklahoma City heads south to San Antonio, where they’ve been installed as firm favourites. Despite the Spurs proving they can be a nuisance on their home floor, the market is backing OKC’s two-way balance and their knack for pulling away during the middle quarters.
The primary advantage for the Thunder is their defensive disruption. OKC leads the league in forcing mistakes, and San Antonio’s young backcourt has been prone to ball-security issues when faced with aggressive perimeter pressure. If the Thunder can turn live-ball turnovers into easy transition buckets, the margin could widen rapidly regardless of how well they shoot from deep.
If the Spurs manage to protect the rock and keep the game played at a walking pace, they might hang around. That said, the Thunder’s relentless intensity over 48 minutes is difficult for a developing team to handle. Look for OKC to assert their authority and cover the spread comfortably.
Thunder -6.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns (1:00pm AEDT)
The Lakers roll into Phoenix for a heavyweight Western Conference showdown that the bookies have priced as a near-coin flip. While the Suns get the narrow nod as the home side, the betting community is largely focused on whether these two star-studded rosters will light up the scoreboard.
This matchup will be decided by offensive flow. The Lakers are lethal when they can get out and run, capitalising on their size in transition. Phoenix, meanwhile, is content to play a more methodical game, relying on elite mid-range shot-making and structured sets. When both teams are hitting their shots, the scoreboard tends to tick over very quickly as defensive rotations begin to lag.
If either side finds their range early, the game is likely to devolve into a high-scoring shootout. Given the lack of elite rim protection currently being shown by either squad, there’s a high probability this contest sails past the total in a high-voltage finish.
Over 225.5 Points
$1.88 (1.5 Units)
