Unwrap your Christmas Day NBA viewing guide (Tall elves not included)

Philadelphia (22-10) at Milwaukee (27-4), 2:30 ET, (ABC)

These teams could meet again in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are running over the NBA like they’re a reindeer and the rest of the teams are grandma. But the size and defensive stoutness of the 76ers may be able to slow Milwaukee.

Gift equivalent: Nintendo Switch. These teams are wildly entertaining, and both love to switch pick-and-rolls.

Nice list: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the NBA this season -- sorry, James Harden -- and Christmas will let all of America see him and finally learn to pronounce his name. Philly's Joel Embiid averages 23 points and 12.6 rebounds, and Ben Simmons is shooting 40% from three!

Naughty list: Embiid is certain to end up on Santa’s naughty list by smack-talking Giannis on Instagram, and those Simmons numbers are based on a mere five three-point attempts.

How to watch: Keep your eyes glued to the screen, and only play with your new toys at commercial breaks.

Prediction: Giannis and the Bucks eke out a close win. The most poignant moment comes when announcers reveal that Milwaukee's Brook Lopez sold a vintage Darth Vader figurine to buy his brother Robin a comb, and Robin sold his hair to buy Brook a display case for said Darth Vader.

Houston (21-9) at Golden State (7-24), 5 p.m. ET (ABC)

This should be a huge rivalry game, with the Rockets and Russell Westbrook looking to avenge a combined five playoff series defeats in five years AND Kevin Durant’s defection from Oklahoma City. But Durant is gone, the Splash Brothers are out, and the Warriors are tanking. It’s less of a basketball game than a remake of It’s A Wonderful Life, showing what the Warriors would be like if Steph Curry had never been born.

Gift equivalent: A giant, beautifully wrapped gift box with a single pair of socks inside.

Nice list: James Harden is averaging a stunning 38.6 points, a healthy Westbrook is putting up big numbers (23.9 ppg., 8 rpg.), and Clint Capela is dominating the boards (14.5 rpg.).

Naughty list: The Warriors are failing in so many areas, but with six different All-Stars knocked out by injury since May, the training staff is getting coal in its stockings.

How to watch: This is the time to score points with your relatives by turning off basketball to spend time with your family. Or take this time to fit in a viewing of A Christmas Story on TBS.

Prediction: Westbrook gets a triple-double in the first quarter, Harden fouls out half the Warriors team by halftime, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr is forced to take the court himself in a 45-point blowout loss.

Clippers (22-10) “at” Lakers (24-6), 8 p.m. ET (ABC)

The Lakers are the official home team in this Staples Center matchup, so that means the crowd will be 90% Lakers fans instead of 80% Lakers fans if the Clippers were “home.” LeBron James and Anthony Davis are banged up, but they’ll play. So will the Clippers' Patrick Beverley, who has a sore groin.

Gift equivalent: An InstantPot. Great gift, but you’re a little sick of hearing about it all the time.

Nice list: LeBron and AD are MVP candidates, and the Clippers' Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams pour in points off the bench. Kawhi Leonard is like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, leading teams through the playoff fog to a title and sitting out 25% of reindeer games with load management.

Naughty list: Lakers have lost three in a row, and the Clippers lost to the lowly Bulls last week, which should count as three losses.

How to watch: This game will be on during dinner in many places, the perfect excuse to mute commentary by Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy.  

Prediction: The Clippers blow this one when Doc Rivers melts down like Frosty the Snowman after a controversial call.

Pelicans (8-23) at Nuggets (21-8), 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

This game looked a lot better before the Pelicans' Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall draft pick, was shut down in the preseason with a knee injury. He hasn't played, and there's no timetable for his return. The Pelicans are spiraling, Denver has won six in a row, and no one has a problem with Nikola Jokic’s Santa-esque physique anymore.

Gift equivalent: A fancy drone, but the batteries won’t arrive until mid-February.

Nice list: Denver is one of the best teams in the league defensively, and Will Barton (14.6 ppg.) has had a great bounce-back season. The Pelicans' Brandon Ingram (25 ppg.) has improved, earning him a spot on the trading block.

Naughty list: The entire Pelicans team, Zion’s nutritionist, and the people who put New Orleans on national TV 20 times this season.

How to watch: In bed, settling your brains for a long winter’s nap, which can start in the middle of the second quarter.

Prediction: A Nuggets blowout, followed by Zion and Jokic eating an entire Christmas ham by themselves.