Not getting to play on Christmas has the Oklahoma City Thunder feeling like they have something to prove when they head to Indianapolis for a meeting with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. A 57-25 finish to the 2023-24 campaign that resulted in the No. 1 seed in the West wasn’t enough to get Oklahoma City some extra time on national television. Coming within two wins of the conference finals this past spring apparently didn’t do the trick, either. The Thunder seemingly haven’t been fazed by the holiday snub, though, winning 23 of their first 28 games this season to once again position themselves atop the West. Still, Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander intends to make sure that his team

The Patriots are +180 on the money line as they face the Chargers at 1:00 ET on Saturday, December 28th at Gillette Stadium. The Chargers are favored by -4 on the road, with the over/under line set at 42.5 points. The Patriots are the underdog on the point spread, and this week 17 AFC matchup is being televised on NFLN. After two straight losses, the Chargers bounced back in week 16 with a 34-27 win over the Broncos, improving their record to 9-6. The victory gives them a 93.5% chance of making the playoffs, but they have no shot at winning the AFC West. Heading into week 17, the Chargers are 16th in our power rankings. Against the spread, the

The Miami Heat get another crack at the Orlando Magic on Thursday, aiming to avenge Saturday’s stunning collapse. The Heat led by 25 points before unraveling in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 37-8 en route to a 121-114 loss at home. Miami (15-15) bounced back with a 110-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, with guard Tyler Herro emphasizing the team’s motivation against Orlando: “We owe them one.” The Heat have struggled with consistency this season and hover around .500. Star guard Jimmy Butler, averaging 18.5 points per game, has missed the past two contests due to illness and is uncertain to play Thursday. Reports suggest Butler may also seek a trade before the Feb. 6 deadline,

The Los Angeles Rams will aim to extend their four-game winning streak and solidify their NFC West title hopes when they host the injury-plagued Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams (9-6) have turned their season around, winning eight of their last 10 games after a 1-4 start. Their 19-9 victory over the New York Jets last week showcased their ability to grind out wins, even when the offense struggled early. Coach Sean McVay credited the team’s resilience in navigating through early challenges: One key to the Rams’ success has been the dominance of Kyren Williams, who has elevated the offense with his consistency on the ground. Williams rushed for 122 yards against the Jets, adding to