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New US military GenAI tool ‘critical first step’ in future of warfare, says expert

The recently launched ‘GenAI’ tool for U.S. service members and Department of War workers is a ‘critical first step’ in the future of warfare, according to a military expert.

This month, the Pentagon announced the launch of GenAI.mil, a military-focused AI platform powered by Google Gemini. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the platform is designed to give U.S. military personnel direct access to AI tools to help ‘revolutioniz[e] the way we win.’

On Monday, the Department of War also announced that the Pentagon is further integrating Elon Musk’s xAI Grok family of models into the GenAI platform, allowing employees to use xAI safely on secure government systems for routine work, including tasks involving sensitive but unclassified information.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Emelia Probasco, a Navy veteran, former Pentagon official and senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, explained that the tool will help train Department of War service members and civilians on the use of artificial intelligence in their everyday workflow, preparing them for further integration of AI in military matters.

Probasco said the tool will have a ‘big impact’ on the everyday functioning of the Department of War.

‘Prior to the rollout of this new website and having Gemini 3 available to the force, folks were either using sort of a tool that wasn’t as capable … or even worse, they were sort of going to their home computers and trying to do various things on their home computers, which they’re not supposed to do, but it was probably happening,’ Probasco explained. ‘Now they’ve got a more secure environment where they can experiment with these tools and really start to learn what they’re good for and what they’re not good for.’

While Probasco said she does not believe the tools, such as the GenAI platform, ‘fully changes war,’ she thinks ‘it’s the critical first step in training so that we know how to use it well.’

She said that the Department of War has ‘made it very clear in the past year that they want to forge ahead and be innovative and try new things and adopt AI.’

The GenAI tool, Probasco said, gives the department a type of sandbox to experiment with for still bigger innovations to come.

‘There are responsible people in the department who are trying to figure out what is the best use of this tool. Let’s try lots of experiments in sort of sandboxes or in safe places so that when a conflict comes, we are ready and ahead, frankly, of any adversary who has started to play with the tools,’ she explained.

Probasco said the Department of War understands that adversaries such as China are also developing and experimenting with artificial intelligence. Indeed, this month, President Donald Trump announced he would be partially reversing a Biden-era restriction on high-end chip exports, permitting Nvidia to export its artificial-intelligence chips to China and other countries.

The H200 chips are high-performance processors made by Nvidia that help run artificial intelligence programs, like chatbots, machine learning and data-center tasks. 

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill voiced that they are split over the decision, with some seeing the move as a dangerous concession and others as strategic.

Either way, Probasco said ‘we have lots of evidence’ that China ‘is doing rapid experimentation [with AI] across all domains of warfare.’

‘And it’s not, can I use a chatbot, but rather, ‘Can I gather up lots of information to start to target individuals for espionage?’ For example, [and], ‘Can I use data to create more sophisticated cyber-attacks?’’ she explained.

‘There is this sort of dynamic of a race between the two sides trying to figure out how to adopt it,’ she explained.

Though important, Probasco said the GenAI tool is ‘not going to necessarily be the weapon system that gains [the U.S.] an advantage.’

She assured the AI tool that will truly give the U.S. a military advantage ‘is underway,’ but said ‘that’s not the sort of thing you just roll out for every service member to use.’

‘It’s important to remember that using a chatbot to help you think through certain problems or do talking points is not what’s going to win the war. There are much more sophisticated military systems that use generative AI; they use other kinds of what’s called ‘good old-fashioned AI.’ There are lots of other techniques that militaries need to use,’ she said.

‘Those are already in the works, and they’ve been in the works for years,’ Probasco explained, adding, ‘That’s not going to be rolled out in a big public announcement where everybody can play with it.’

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Republicans consider using reconciliation again after Trump’s biggest legislative win

As the year closes, Republicans are looking to the past for another dance with a partisan exercise that tested the party’s unity and delivered President Donald Trump his crowning legislative achievement of the year.

Budget reconciliation is how congressional Republicans rammed through Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ earlier this year. But it’s a time-consuming, labor-intensive process that laid bare intra-party divisions and nearly exploded before liftoff.

Still, some Republicans want to take another stab at reconciliation, which allows a party in power to advance legislation with just a simple majority in the Senate as long as it adheres to strict, budgetary parameters.

‘We can do two more reconciliation bills without a single Democratic vote,’ Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. ‘Doesn’t mean we wouldn’t welcome Democratic votes, but we can do them without a single Democratic vote.’

Turning once again to reconciliation would help Senate Republicans, in particular, address one of Trump’s desires to kill the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the upper chamber without changing the precedent that Democrats, for years, have threatened to do.

But they need a plan, first.

That would come from Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the de facto maestro of the reconciliation process. His committee was responsible for drafting the budget resolution that unlocked the process in the upper chamber earlier this year, and he is reportedly eying drafting another resolution in the new year.

‘It would be political malpractice not to do another reconciliation,’ Graham told Semafor.

But many Republicans acknowledged just how difficult reconciliation is, especially after the latest exercise that dominated much of Congress’ attention for the first half of the year.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that ‘it’s always hard, but it’s an option, and one that we’re not ruling in or ruling out.’

‘I would say you have to have a reason to do it, you know,’ Thune said. ‘I mean, you don’t just do reconciliation for the heck of it. You got to have a, you know, a specific purpose. And so we’ll see. I mean, that purpose may, you know, may start getting some traction.’

Kennedy floated using reconciliation to tackle affordability issues, but some see the painstaking process as an avenue to grapple with another issue that has dominated Congress for several months: healthcare.

Lawmakers left Washington, D.C., without a fix to expiring Obamacare subsidies, effectively setting up a drastic hike in out-of-pocket healthcare costs for millions of Americans. There are bipartisan negotiations in the works to deal with the issue when lawmakers return, but Republicans have a gnawing appetite to drastically change the program.

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital that Republicans ‘have to do something’ on healthcare.

‘Reconciliation is one pathway to do something, but it also limits what we can do,’ Banks said. ‘So we need bipartisan support to pass something that will help everybody.’

And Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., who has been critical of Republicans’ inability to get a healthcare solution across the line, told Fox News Digital that reconciliation ‘may be an answer.’

‘The healthcare situation is really, it’s a big deal,’ Justice said. ‘It’s more than difficult, you know? And so we need to, we need to try to fix it. That’s for sure.’

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Victor Wembanyama injury update for Spurs vs. Thunder pre-XMas game

Victor Wembanyama’s return from injury has coincided with the San Antonio Spurs surging up the NBA’s Western Conference standings. They sit alone in second place entering back-to-back games against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder beginning Tuesday, Dec. 23 in Texas and concluding with a Christmas day showcase in Oklahoma on Thursday.

These will be the second and third meetings between the Thunder and Spurs in less than two weeks after San Antonio beat OKC, 111-109, in an NBA Cup semifinal matchup on Dec. 13. That was Wembanyama’s first game back from a left calf strain that sidelined him for more than a month of action. San Antonio hasn’t lost with him in the lineup, part of a six-game winning streak.

The 7-foot-4 French star has been on a minutes restriction of late, but he remains an emerging force after starting his third NBA season in the early MVP conversation before his injury. But Wembanyama’s status for Tuesday’s pre-Christmas game against the Thunder is up in the air after the release of the team’s initial injury report.

Here’s the latest injury update on Wembanyama ahead of the San Antonio Spurs’ Dec. 23 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder:

Is Victor Wembanyama playing today?

Maybe. Wembanyama has appeared in the Spurs’ past four games since initially returning from a left calf strain on Dec. 13. But the team has listed him as questionable on the injury report ahead of San Antonio’s Dec. 23 matchup at home with the Oklahoma City Thunder in relation to injury management for his left calf.

Victor Wembanyama injury update

“That’s going to be the plan until it’s not,’ Johnson told reporters, according to FOX San Antonio. ‘The season’s long and grueling. … It’s a treacherous schedule, and so we have to continue to just take it day by day on how he’s feeling, how he’s reacting. And because of what he’s had recently, we are overly mindful of that and other guys in that same situation, but specifically because of his unique anatomy and situation,” explained Johnson.

Victor Wembanyama stats

Wembanyama is off to a strong start in his third NBA season, averaging a career-high 24.4 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He’s also averaging 3.3 blocks per game while shooting better than 50% from the floor for the first time in his NBA career.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Pistons vs. Kings game preview: keys, injuries, odds, how to watch

The Sacramento Kings reminded everyone that the beam still works.

Despite its rare appearances this season, the Kings lit the victory beam, a ritual that began in 2022, following their dramatic Sunday win, 125-124, in overtime against the Houston Rockets.

The Kings (7-22) look to capitalize on that momentum when they host the Detroit Pistons (23-6) Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

With the Kings down by two in the final seconds of overtime, DeMar DeRozan, who had a team-high 27 points, drove to the lane and kicked the ball out to Schröder in the left corner, who netted a go-ahead three with 2.2 seconds left. The reserve guard scored 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s matchup between the Kings and Pistons.

Kings keys to victory

Keep up the defensive intensity. The Pistons are a physical team, and Sacramento needs to bring its grit.
Continue to feed off the energy of ‘The Sixth Man’, which is all of the fans who passionately cheer for Sacramento at the Golden 1 Center. Be active. Run the floor.
Bench production: Schröder is coming off a near triple-double off the bench. Other reserves also have to step up when their name is called.
Limit second-chance opportunities. Rebound the ball and end the defensive possession.

Kings injury report

Doug McDermott: Left knee soreness, expected to return on Dec. 23.
Devin Carter: Left Ankle Sprain, expected to return on Dec. 23.
Zach LaVine: Left ankle sprain, expected to return on Dec. 27.
Domantas Sabonis: Left knee soreness, expected to return on Jan. 1.
Drew Eubanks: Left thumb avulsion fracture, expected to return on Feb. 1.

Pistons injury report

Ronald Holland II: Left knee soreness, expected to return on Dec. 23.
Isaac Jones: Left knee sprain, day-to-day, assigned to G-League on Dec. 20.

How to watch

Start time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, California)
TV Channel: NBC Sports California; FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; FanDuel Sports Network Indiana
Live stream: NBA League Pass

Kings vs. Pistons odds

Spread: Pistons by 8.5 (-115)
Over/Under: 227.5 (O/U -110)
Moneyline: Pistons -425

Kings next five games

Dec. 27 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Dec. 28 at Los Angeles Lakers
Dec. 30 at Los Angeles Clippers
Jan. 1 vs. Boston Celtics
Jan. 2 at Phoenix Suns

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Senate quietly works on bipartisan Obamacare fix as healthcare cliff nears

Obamacare subsidies that have dominated the conversation on Capitol Hill are set to expire after Congress failed to act, but a cohort of bipartisan senators are quietly working to find a solution for when lawmakers return next year.

It has engulfed Congress since September and played a starring role in the longest-ever government shutdown. And both Republicans and Democrats tried, and failed, to pass their partisan plans to either extend or replace the Biden-era enhanced tax credits.

They are guaranteed to expire, and millions of Americans who use the subsidies are set to experience hikes to their out-of-pocket costs for healthcare that can vary widely depending on the state.

Still, some in Congress haven’t given up on the issue.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, held bipartisan confabs last week as lawmakers readied to leave Washington, D.C., to hash out a framework for an Obamacare fix that could meet the desires of both sides of the aisle.

There are several political landmines that the group will have to overcome, like Democrats’ demands for a relatively clean, multiyear extension of the subsidies and Republicans’ desires to add income caps and anti-fraud measures.

‘We have some momentum to enact a bipartisan bill that includes reforms,’ Collins said. ‘As you know, Senator Moreno and I convened an ideologically diverse group of both Democratic and Republican senators who met for nearly two hours on Monday night, and we’re now working on drafting a specific bill to incorporate those conversations that will include reforms as well as the two-year extension.’

The plan has yet to see the light of day, but Collins and Moreno both already have a public proposal, as do several other lawmakers in the upper chamber.

Their original plan, released earlier this month, would extend the subsidies by two years, put an income cap onto the subsidies for households making up to $200,000 and eliminate zero-cost premiums as a fraud preventive measure by requiring a $25 minimum monthly payment.

That initial offering could give a glimpse into the final product, but there are still hurdles to getting a bill on the floor that could pass.

Namely, Senate Republicans are largely against any kind of extension to the subsidies without major reforms and a built-in off-ramp to wean off the credits, which they say are rife with fraud and funnel money directly to insurance companies rather than patients.

There’s also another wrinkle in the House, where Democrats and a handful of Republicans rebelled to force a vote on their own extension to the subsidies. That bill is expected to get a vote next month.

Lawmakers see it as changing the dynamic of negotiations in the Senate, but whether it ever makes it to a vote in the upper chamber is an open question.

‘Well, we’ll see,’ Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. ‘We’ll obviously cross that bridge when we come to it.’

Some Republicans in the upper chamber see the momentum building in the House as a pressure point on them that could further drive the conversation around the subsidies and, more broadly, healthcare.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said, ‘It will apply pressure on us, which isn’t a bad thing.’

‘I’m ready to start talking about healthcare at any time,’ Kennedy said. ‘I just don’t, I mean, I’m a pragmatist. I live in the real world, and I just don’t see a lot of appetite to make reforms. I just don’t — I see the vast majority of my Democratic colleagues just want an extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies.’

And Senate Democrats welcome the development, given that the House’s plan mirrors their own, three-year extension of the subsidies, which already failed in the upper chamber earlier this month.

‘Well, it seems to me the basic proposition is, is it progress or not? And I think it is, because what we have felt all along is the only timely tool is the tax credits,’ Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said.

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Trump promises cheaper drugs under TrumpRx, but economists say the long-term costs may be hidden

As President Donald Trump rolls out his TrumpRx proposal to cut prescription drug prices, economists are raising questions about what happens when prices are capped and whether short-term savings for consumers come at the expense of future medical breakthroughs.

On Friday, Trump announced deals with nine pharmaceutical companies to lower prices on certain medications for Americans, along with $150 billion in promised new investments in domestic manufacturing and pharmaceutical research.

The announcement builds on the administration’s Trump Rx initiative, a government-run portal designed to steer consumers toward lower-cost prescription drugs offered directly by manufacturers. The program is central to Trump’s effort to tie U.S. drug prices to those paid in other wealthy countries, a policy known as ‘most favored nation’ pricing.

But economists caution that price-lowering agreements don’t eliminate costs and often shift them elsewhere, particularly into reduced drug development, delayed innovation, or higher prices in other parts of the market.

Michael Baker, director of healthcare policy at the American Action Forum, said government price setting shifts costs rather than eliminating them.

‘At the most basic level, government price setting only limits what patients pay for a drug — usually reflected in an out-of-pocket or co-insurance payment,’ Baker said. ‘This does nothing to address the overall cost of the drug, which someone still has to pay, nor does it lower the cost associated with development.’

As a result, Baker said, patients ultimately bear those costs through tighter coverage rules, fewer treatment options or reduced future innovation.

‘Patients will experience far less of the crown jewel of the U.S. healthcare system that they are currently accustomed to receiving,’ he added.

Economists say the effects of permanent price caps would also be felt upstream, in research and development.

‘We know for sure that if drug prices are capped permanently below the levels the firm would have set, that will lead to lower incentives for R&D to discover new drugs and bring them to market,’ explained Mark V. Pauly, professor of healthcare management at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Pauly added that the impact is expected to be negative, but its scale — including how many drugs might never be developed and their potential value — remains highly uncertain.

‘I do not know the answer, but I know for sure no one else does either,’ he added.

Others argue the administration’s approach avoids the most damaging forms of price control.

Ed Haislmaier, an expert in healthcare policy and markets at The Heritage Foundation, said recent agreements appear to involve companies trading lower prices for benefits such as expanded market access or relief from other costs, including tariffs.

‘In such cases, companies are likely calculating that revenue losses from lower prices will be offset by revenue gains from more sales,’ Haislmaier told Fox News Digital.

‘The kind of government price controls that are most damaging to innovation are ones that limit the initial price a company can charge for a new product. That is the situation in some countries, but fortunately not yet the in the United States,’ he added.

Ryan Long, Paragon’s director of congressional relations and a senior research fellow, suggested that pricing pressure abroad could force foreign governments to shoulder a greater share of drug development costs.

Long said this strategy would lead ‘to lower prices for American consumers without sacrificing U.S. leadership in biopharmaceutical innovation that leads to new treatments and cures.’

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DAVID MARCUS: Why AmericaFest and Phoenix are perfect models for a midterm convention

Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest is very much like a circus, and I mean that in the best possible way. A circus can travel anywhere, put up its tents and put on a show.

The scale of last weekend’s event in Phoenix was nothing short of monumental, with 31,000 in attendance. That isn’t so far off of the estimated 50,000 souls who went to the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

To put it bluntly, TPUSA, along with other organizations, are capable of producing a much-needed midterm convention and a city like Phoenix, which hosted the conservative confab admirably, is exactly where it should be held.

As I’ve written in this column before, a midterm GOP conventionmidterm GOP convention, though a tad unconventional as a concept, is exactly what Republicans need to put Trump and his policy wins front and center before the electorate.

John and Lucy, a couple in their 40s who I met at the event, told me it was their first AmFest.

‘The energy is amazing,’ Lucy said. ‘I didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t expect this.’

John concurred, saying, ‘This is like a rock concert, fireworks and loud music, I think it gets everyone pumped up.’

The atmosphere at AmFest was a whizzing and whirring technicolor explosion of light and sound, all resounding toward the goal of forwarding the conservative movement.

There is little doubt that 10 minutes at a pulsating and intense live event like Amfest – or a Trump rally – is worth 10 days of on-screen ads. It hits attendees in each of their five senses, and 50,000 may not sound like much, but that’s a veritable army to send back home in an off-year election.

One eager young conservative I met, Matt, who is studying finance in grad school and sports what might now be called the TPUSA mustache, told me, ‘I’d totally go to a midterm convention. Hell, I’d just go for the parties.’

That may sound a bit shallow to some, but it also sounds like exactly the kind of positive energy that a winning political movement needs.

When it comes to the question of where to hold a midterm convention, Phoenix can teach would-be convention planners a lot about the key question of location, location, location.

In places like New York City or Chicago, AmFest would have brought out hundreds of protesters, including many of the dangerous Antifa variety. Even vastly smaller events like a recent Mom’s For Liberty conference in Philadelphia attracted angry mobs.

In Phoenix, I never saw more than a dozen or so, and they were far more silly than menacing.

It’s worth noting that the local news channels did choose to focus almost as much attention on this bedraggled band of apparently unemployed naysayers as they did the tens of thousands inside the event.

Funny that.

But around the clean and very pretty downtown of soft light and perfect temperatures, one felt little to no resentment or pushback at the sudden flood of red MAGA hats and sparkly Trump outerwear. Everything was cool.

I asked one of my Uber drivers, a longtime Phoenix resident, why he thought the city was so welcoming in this way.

‘Nobody is uptight about politics. Everyone has weird ideas, we have weird politicians,’ he told me, laughing at his own joke for moment before adding, ‘It’s always been like this.’

Phoenix is not the only prime location for a midterm convention. Oklahoma City is another, as is Nashville. These are thriving places with better than average governance that truly do highlight the accomplishments of the Trump administration.

JD VanceJD Vance told the crowd at AmFest, ‘Why do we penalize corporations that ship American jobs overseas? Because we believe in the inherent dignity of human work and every person who works a good job in this country.’

The best place to sell that very popular message is in the smaller American cities where the jobs are being created, not one of the great metropolises still clinging to the dream that one day everyone can just work for the government.

As of now, the GOP has somewhere just north of seven months to put together a midterm convention, but the good news is that it is also flush with campaign cash. And the conservative movement has organizations like TPUSA that are capable of coming together to pull it off.

If Republicans want to hold onto Congress and give Trump a runway for his final two years, then their first priority for the coming fall should be to bring the circus back to town.

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Last-minute gifts! Vouchers for sports and music books from USA TODAY

Don’t panic yet! The USA TODAY Co. stands just a couple of clicks away from the perfect last-minute gift for the sports fan, music lover or avid reader in your life.

And it will arrive in time for holiday gift-giving.

Over the past year, USA TODAY and news outlets across the country have published more than two dozen hardcover, premium books on topics from championship seasons (Eagles, Dodgers, Buckeyes, Thunder, Gators, etc.), well-known figures (Uecker, Corso, Carter, Leo, etc.), musical icons (Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Bruce Springsteen’s Jersey roots), historical events (Hurricane Katrina, Tropical Storm Helene, President Trump’s reelection) and so much more.

If you order a book (or two or three) right now, you can print out or download a gift voucher to say an incredible book will arrive soon. Put your voucher in a stocking or a card or wrapped in a box. Or include it in a Merry Christmas email.

In a week or two, your special someone will celebrate a second Christmas when a book arrives. Expect a second thank-you for your gifting skills!

Several new books are in production — including ones about Indiana’s top-ranked football team, the farewell season of the Buffalo Bills’ stadium and Trump’s 40 years at Mar-a-Lago — and they can be ordered now as gifts that will arrive a couple of months into the new year. Image Christmas in March!

Check out our lineup. Then check a gift (or two or three) off your last-minute to-do list!

Again, don’t panic. However, don’t procrastinate. The last minute is closer than you think. And USA TODAY Co. is here to help.

Amazing sports books!

“CHASING GOLD: A Kid’s Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics.” Watch your little ones’ eyes light up as they discover figure skating, skiing and other winter sports, meet Team USA’s superstars and try the book’s fun activities such as Olympic bingo and crafts. Details at Gold.KidsGuidebook.com.

Buy our Winter Olympics book for kids now!

“LEE CORSO: Not So Fast, My Friend: A Tribute to the Soul of College Football.” Each of the 160 stunning pages celebrates what makes college football a cherished American passion. Besides insider stories about Corso’s career as a Florida Seminole (rooming with Burt Reynolds), college coach and beloved broadcaster, “Not So Fast, My Friend” includes tidbits about every major-college team and each of Corso’s 431 headgear predictions. Details at Corso.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Lee Corso tribute book now!

“BOB UECKER: The Life and Career of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Legendary Broadcaster.” This 144-page hardcover brings to life the wit, wisdom and unparalleled storytelling of an American icon. Filled with rare photos and insider anecdotes, this book about “Mr. Baseball,” so dubbed by Johnny Carson, traces Uecker’s life from Milwaukee to a journeyman catcher to a Hall of Fame broadcaster to an actor, Miller Lite pitchman and self-deprecating funnyman. Details at Uecker.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Bob Uecker tribute book now!

New for titles for 2026!

‘EARNHARDT! The Intimidator’s Life, Legacy and Enduring Popularity after 75 Years.’ Dale Earnhardt earned his nicknames of the Man in Black and The Intimidator by willing his black No. 3 Chevrolet past the competition and into the hearts and minds of NASCAR fans … and way beyond. With the 75th anniversary of his birth in April, The Daytona Beach News-Journal is producing a coffee-table book about the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion whose legend has only continued to grow, nearly 25 years after his tragic death on a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. At 160 pages, the book will provide flag-to-flag coverage of Earnhardt’s long run as NASCAR’s leading man, with tons of classic photos and plenty of stories — old and new. Details at ManInBlack.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until April, to include Earnhardt coverage from this year’s 500, but gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy our Dale Earnhardt tribute book now!

“PERFECT! Indiana’s Historic Rise to the Big Ten Championship.” “PERFECT!” will chronicle how Indiana — 13-0, ranked atop the polls and the CFP’s top seed — scored at least 50 points in six games, beat Ohio State for the first time since 1988 and won its first outright conference title since 1945. It will chronicle Fernando Mendoza’s epic journey from a two-star recruit to winner of the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Graham-George Award as the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year and the Grange-Griffin Trophy as the MVP of the Big Ten championship game. Details at Indiana.ChampsBook.com. This book will not ship until February so that it can include how the Hoosiers fare in the College Football Playoff, but gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy our Hoosiers championship book now!

“FAREWELL TO THE RALPH: Remembering Where We Cheered, Froze, Cried and Bonded.” Since 1973, the Buffalo Bills’ stadium has gone by a multitude of names, topped by “The Ralph” after former owner and founder Ralph C. Wilson. The stadium has been home to countless highs and lows — from dramatic Josh Allen touchdown runs to the heyday of the early 1990s Super Bowl years. This 208-page coffee-table book from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle commemorates The Ralph’s long and storied history as the gates close for good after the 2025 season. Details at BillsStadium.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until March — after a W in Super Bowl 60? — but gift certificates are available right now. Thousands already have reserved a copy of “Farewell to The Ralph.”

Buy our Bills stadium commemorative book!

“GOLDEN AGE AT MAR-A-LAGO: Donald’s Trump 40 years of society, celebrity and presidency in the Palm Beaches.” When Donald Trump arrived on the island, Palm Beach society took notice. He acquired and meticulously restored Mar-a-Lago, the legendary Marjorie Merriweather Post estate, and then did the unthinkable: He opened its gilded doors to the world, hosting spectacular galas that redefined the Palm Beach social season. Over four decades journalists from The Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News documented his remarkable ascent from ambitious developer to president of the United States, all as Mar-a-Lago evolved into the storied Winter White House. This 176-page collector’s edition offers an intimate chronicle of an extraordinary era through rare photographs, many previously unpublished, alongside exclusive accounts only the Palm Beaches’ papers of record can provide. Details at Trump47.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until April so that it can include the 2026 social season at Mar-a-Lago from Trump’s second winter of his second term. But gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy our Mar-a-Lago collector’s book now!

“RED REIGN: The Inside Story of Texas Tech’s First Big 12 Football Championship.” The Red Raiders dominated the Big 12, won 12 games by at least three touchdowns, whipped BYU twice in showdowns and claimed its first outright conference title since 1955 in the old Border Conference. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez won the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. “Red Reign,” from the award-winning journalists at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, will chronicle Texas Tech’s best season ever with exclusive photography, behind-the-scenes access and game-by-game coverage. Details at TT.ChampsBook.com. This book will not ship until February so that it can include how the Red Raiders fare in the College Football Playoff, but gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy our Texas Tech championship book now!

“ANCHOR DOWN: How Heisman Finalist Diego Pavia Led Vanderbilt to its Historic 2025 Season.” To commemorate Vanderbilt’s amazing season, The Tennessean will chronicle how a quarterback who had zero Division I offers out of high school named Diego Pavia showed up in Nashville and helped transform a program that hadn’t reached double digits in victories in its history. But the book isn’t just his story. It’s the story of a team that bought in, a coach who never stopped believing and a fan base that finally got to see what Vanderbilt football could become. Details at Vanderbilt.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until February so that it can include how the Commodores fare in their bowl, but gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy our commemorative Vanderbilt book now!

“COACH STEVE’S YOUTH SPORTS SURVIVAL GUIDE: How Parents and Kids Can Get the Most of the Experience.” USA TODAY Sports columnist Stephen Borelli, a national authority on the $40 billion youth sports industry, offers his perspective and expert advice from sports figures ranging from Caitlin Clark to Andre Agassi, Shannon Miller, John Wooden, Annika Sorenstam and even Ted Lasso. Details at CoachSteve.USATbook.com. This book will not ship until March, but gift vouchers are available right now.

Buy Coach Steve’s survival guide for youth sports!

That championship season books!

“DYNASTY IN BLUE: The Dodgers’ Back-to-Back Championship Reign.” This 208-page collector’s book captures the historic season that cemented the Dodgers of the 2020s among baseball’s greatest dynasties. It’s all there with dynamic photos and insider stories — from Opening Day in Tokyo to Shohei Ohtani’s MVP season, Clayton Kershaw’s last hurrah, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s playoff dominance and the dramatic home runs by Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas and Will Smith that won Game 7 of the World Series. Details at LAD.ChampsBook.com. Also available: “BLUE BLOODS: Superstars Align for LA’s 2024 Championship Run,” the story of Ohtani joining the 50-50 Club and the Dodgers crushing the Yankees in the World Series. Details at LA.ChampsBook.com.

Buy Dodgers 2025 championship book now! Buy Dodgers 2024 championship book now!

“FLYING HIGH: How the Eagles Soared to the Championship.” Saquon Barkley hurdled defenders backward, and Philadelphia kept the Chiefs from a three-peat. Details for this 208-page hardcover at Fly.ChampsBook.com.

Buy our Eagles championship book now!

“SCARLET REIGN: Inside the Ohio State Buckeyes’ Fight to Claim College Football’s Crown.” The Buckeyes steamrolled the College Football Playoff field by a combined score of 145-75. Details for this 208-page hardcover at OSU.ChampsBook.com.

Buy our Buckeyes championship book now!

“THUNDER UP! SGA’s MVP Season and OKC’s Historic Championship.” From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP brilliance to the NBA’s best record to a thrilling seven-game NBA Finals, these 160 pages of stunning photography and behind-the-scenes stories capture the magic of a season that shook the NBA. Details at  ThunderUp.ChampsBook.com.             

Buy our Thunder championship book now!

“CHOMP-IONS! The Florida Gators’ Rise to the Top of College Basketball.” This 208-page coffee-table book takes Gator Nation courtside for Walter Clayton Jr.’s All-America heroics, crushing Tennessee’s spirit with a 30-point victory and another in the SEC title game, the impossible Elite Eight comeback against Texas Tech, the epic second half to eliminate Auburn in the semifinals and the wild finish against Houston for Florida’s third national championship. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com.

Buy our Gators championship book now!

“RUN IT BACK! The Florida Panthers Repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.” This 144-page collector’s book relives another thrilling Final against the Edmonton Oilers, plus Sergei Bobrovsky’s mastery between the pipes, Sam Bennett’s scoring prowess in the playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk’s knack for agitating opponents and Brad Marchand’s goal in double overtime to prevent a 0-2 deficit in the Final. Details at Panthers.ChampsBook.com.

Buy our Panthers championship book now!

Music to your ears books!

“FULL CIRCLE: 100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry.” Celebrate a century of country music and its grandest stage. From Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Loretta Lynn to Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill! Packed with rare photographs, compelling stories and exclusive insights from The Tennessean in Nashville, “Full Circle” honors the legends who built the Opry stage, the stars who shine today and the rising voices shaping its future. Details at Opry100.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Grand Ole Opry anniversary book!

“FROM FREEHOLD TO E STREET: Six Decades of Bruce Springsteen.” Before his rise from the backstreets of the Jersey Shore to global superstardom, reporters and photographers from the Asbury Park Press chronicled the emergence of The Boss. After that, they kept right on covering New Jersey’s folk hero. This book includes rare photos, concert reviews and interviews from the early days. Details at Bruce.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Bruce Springsteen book now!

“THIS SWIFT BEAT: Following the Record-Shattering Eras Tour Around the World with Taylor Swift’s Most Devoted Fans.” Step into the whirlwind of sequins, screams and superstardom with a front-row ticket to the Eras Tour phenomenon, this century’s Beatlemania. Details at TSBeat.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Taylor Swift tour celebration book!

Tragedy-to-triumph books!

“KATRINA’S LEGACY: The Hurricane That Changed America.” Twenty years later, USA TODAY and news outlets across the country provide a comprehensive look at the disaster that revealed our deepest flaws and our greatest capacity for compassion. These 160 pages give voice to the survivors from New Orleans and coastal Mississippi who showed profound resoluteness in the face of overwhelming destruction, the evacuees who built new lives in new places, and the countless strangers who became family during America’s darkest hours. Details at Katrina20.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Hurricane Katrina remembrance book!

“MOUNTAIN STRONG: Tropical Storm Helene: Perseverance amid historic flooding, destruction in Western North Carolina.” Step into the heart of Appalachia, where the unyielding spirit of a community shines brighter than the darkest of storms. “Mountain Strong” stands as a poignant tribute to the strength and resilience of those who weathered the unimaginable. Details at Strong.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Tropical Storm Helene book!

Famous people books!

“POPE LEO XIV: The First American Pope.” For centuries, American Catholics dreamed of this moment. Now, preserve it forever. This magnificent coffee-table book captures Robert Prevost’s remarkable journey from Chicago to missionary work in Peru and ultimately to the Chair of St. Peter. These 128 pages of dynamic photography and insightful stories will be a treasured keepsake of faith, heritage and American pride at a pivotal moment in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Details at PopeLeo.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Pope Leo commemorative book now!

“JIMMY CARTER: Peanut Farmer, 39th President, Humanitarian.” From humble peanut fields to the highest office in the land, Carter’s extraordinary journey exemplifies the American dream. This 160-page tribute captures the life of America’s longest-lived president: from a Georgia farmer to the White House and his even more impactful post-presidency years as a Nobel Peace Prize winner and tireless humanitarian. Details at Carter.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our President Carter tribute book now!

“POPE FRANCIS: A Tribute to the First Latin American Pontiff.” Celebrate the late pope’s humble spirit, compassionate leadership, transformative papacy and historic significance as the first cleric from the Americas to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Looking for a thoughtful present for someone whose Catholic faith guides his or her life? Each of the 160 beautifully crafted pages offers a chance to reflect on his teachings and read his words that brought comfort and inspiration to millions around the world. Details at PopeFrancis.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Pope Francis tribute book now!

“DONALD TRUMP: The Road to a Historic Second Term.” This 160-page hardcover volume captures the electrifying journey of President Trump’s unprecedented return to the White House. From the campaign trail to the debates, multiple assassination attempts and Inauguration Day, every pivotal moment of Trump’s remarkable political comeback is immortalized in vivid detail and with striking photography. Own a piece of American history — a collector’s item to save for future generations. Details at Trump.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our historical President Trump book now!

Sports legacy books!

“ROAR OF 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers.” This archival-quality, 208-page hardcover chronicles 125 seasons of Tigers baseball. Al Kaline. Miguel Cabrera. Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg. Tram & Lou. Sparky. Verlander & Scherzer. Prince Hal. Galarraga’s 28-out perfect game. Wire-to-wire and Gibby’s homer in 1984. McLain’s 30 victories, Lolich’s three in the World Series and Horton’s throw to nab Brock in ’68. The Corner. The CoPa. It’s all there, plus an all-time Tigers team picked by the Detroit Free Press. Details at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Tigers 125th anniversary book now!

“BIG RED MACHINE: Cincinnati’s Dynasty 50 Years Later.” Until the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 and 2025, no National League team had won back-to-back championships since the Reds in 1975-76. With this 160-page 50th anniversary book, Reds fans can step back to a legendary period in Major League Baseball history. Every page from The Enquirer immerses fans in the era’s defining moments and personalities. Every Reds fan recalls the “Great Eight:” Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, George Foster, Ken Griffey, Dave Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo. Feel the roar of Riverfront Stadium echo through these pages and reconnect with the pride and passion that made the Big Red Machine a force unlikely any other in baseball. Details at Reds.PictorialBook.com. Also available: “Pete Rose: A Tribute to a Baseball Legend,” this 160-page hardcover chronicles the career of baseball’s all-time Hit King. Details at Pete.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Big Red Machine anniversary book! Buy our Pete Rose tribute book now!

And even more sports books!

“DAWN OF THE DUCKS: The Inside Story of Oregon’s Epic March to the Big Ten Championship in Season One.” In 2024, the Ducks finished the regular season unbeaten and ranked No. 1 after beating Penn State in the Big Ten championship game. Details at Oregon.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Ducks commemorative book now!

“CULTURE SHOCK: The Inside Story of the Best Football Season in Indiana History.” In 2023, the Hoosiers lost nine of their 12 games. In 2024, new coach Curt Cignetti inherited a team picked for 17th in the Big Ten but finished 11-2 and reached the College Football Playoff. Details at Indiana.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Hoosiers commemorative book now!

“GOLD RUSH! How the Indiana Pacers claimed their first Eastern Conference title in 25 years.” Boom, Baby! With a series of late-game heroics, Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers to Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder only to suffer a torn Achilles tendon in the first quarter. Details at Pacers.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Pacers commemorative book now!

“INSPIRING WOMEN OF INDIANA SPORTS: They Changed the Games We Love.” The Hoosier State has produced champions across every sport imaginable — from Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performances to trailblazers in track and field, swimming and diving, gymnastics, soccer, cycling and beyond. Read how they have inspired generations of athletes to chase their dreams. Details at WomenIN.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our book on inspiring Indiana women now!

“THE BIG HOUSE: Celebrating 60 years of high school basketball championships at State Fair Arena.” This 144-page keepsake from The Oklahoman celebrates the six decades high school basketball teams chased glory and fans roared with pride at an Oklahoma City arena nicknamed The Big House. The book includes coverage of all the state champions from 2025, the arena’s final season. Details at OKBigHouse.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our book celebrating OKC’s Big House now!

From our vault books!

Looking for other gift options? We have much, much more from years gone by.

“NICK SABAN: A Career That Changed Alabama Football Forever.” With a foreword by Miss Terry. Saban won seven national championships, including six with the Crimson Tide, before retiring after the 2023 season. Details at SabanBook.com.

Buy our Nick Saban tribute book now!

“MAIZE & GRAND: Michigan’s Epic March to the 2023 National Title.” The Wolverines also won their 1,000th game — the all-time record — and handed Saban a loss in his final game. Details at Michigan.ChampsBook.com. Also available: “HAIL, YES! 25 Years Later,” the amazing story of the 1997 Wolverines, who ended a 49-year national championship drought. Details at UM.PictorialBook.com.

By our 2023 Wolverines championship book now! Buy our 1997 Wolverines championship book now!

“WHERE LEGENDS ROAM: The Greatest Players, Coaches and Teams to Play at Lambeau Field.” From Starr to Farve to Rodgers. From Lombardi to Holmgren. From the Ice Bowl to the Lambeau Leap. Details at LambeauBook.com.

Buy our Lambeau Field commemorative book now!

“150 YEARS OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Through the Lens and Voice of The Courier Journal.” From Aristides to War Admiral to Citation to Secretariat to Seattle Slew to Justify to Mystic Dan. All the drama, all the glory, all the hats! Founded in 1868, The Courier Journal is only seven years older than the Kentucky Derby and has covered all the races at Churchill Downs. Details at Derby150.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Kentucky Derby anniversary book now!

“DOMINANT DAWGS: Georgia’s Journey to the 2021 National Championship” AND ‘GLORIOUS: Georgia Secures its Second Consecutive National Title with a Perfect Season’ AND “DAWGS RISING: How Kirby Smart Transformed Georgia into a Perennial Contender.” These books from the Athens Banner-Herald commemorate the Bulldogs’ national championship seasons of 2021 and 2022 and Kirby Smith’s accession to the top of his profession. Details at UGA.PictorialBook.com, ABHbook.com and Smart.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Georgia 2021 national championship book! Buy our Georgia 2022 national championship book! Buy our Kirby Smart commemorative book now!

“BOB KNIGHT: On the Record: The Story of a Complex Character and Hall of Fame Coach.” With a foreword by Steve Alford. Details at Knight.PictorialBook.com.

Buy our Bob Knight tribute book now!

“UNMATCHED: Caitlin Clark’s Remarkable Journey, From Her Iowa High School Career to Breaking Collegiate Records and Captivating the Nation.” Details at Caitlin.PictorialBook.com. AND “FEVER PITCH: How Caitlin Clark Captivated the Basketball World and Won Rookie of the Year.” Details at Clark.PictorialBook.com. Experience the phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark with two hardcover books — one from The Des Moines Register and one from the IndyStar — totaling 304 pages filled with photos from her life and stories of her exploits.

Buy our book about Caitlin Clark at Iowa Buy our book about Caitlin Clark with the Fever

Deck your walls!

The USA TODAY Network also has a series of page prints for fans looking to adorn their walls with memorable moments, including the Dodgers, Eagles, Thunder, Panthers and Aces celebrating 2025 pro championships and Ohio State (football), UConn (women’s basketball), Florida (men’s basketball), Wisconsin (women’s hockey), Texas (softball) and LSU (baseball) celebrating college championships.

Other page prints commemorate the winners of the Kentucky Derby (Sovereignty), Indianapolis 500 (Alex Palou) and U.S. Open (J.J. Spaun and Maja Stark). There’s a page print of Lee Corso making his final headgear prediction: Brutus rules! And there’s a page print of Pope Leo XIV: America’s turn!

These color, full-page prints come in a variety of sizes and styles. Go to usatodaystore.com and search for the team’s name, the two-legged or four-legged athlete’s name, or the broadcaster’s or pontiff’s name.

Buy our commemorative page prints now!

Contact Gene Myers at gmyers@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @GeneMyers. After nearly a quarter-century as sports editor at the Detroit Free Press, Myers unretired to coordinate book and page print projects across the USA TODAY Network. Check out more books and page prints from the USA TODAY Network coming every month.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Bowl games today: Previewing the three matchups set for Tuesday

We’re still a few days from peak bowl saturation on college football’s postseason calendar. But Tuesday offers a triple header of contests to help pass the time between holiday shopping and entertaining everybody who is home from school this week.

The six teams taking the field represent five different Bowl Subdivision conferences, with a pair coming from the Mid-American. It’s a spotlight day for programs that don’t get as much attention during the fall, as Louisville is the lone member of a so-called power-four league in action. Here’s a look at the matchups, taking place today in southern state locales.

Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo

Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN in Boca Raton, Fla.

Why watch: Kicking things off Tuesday are the Rockets, who had to say goodbye to long-time coach Jason Candle who is bound for Connecticut, and the Cardinals, who were a banged-up bunch by the end of the season but managed to close on a high note with a win against in-state rival Kentucky. Toledo will be led by quarterbacks coach Robert Weiner on an interim basis, which should be good news for veteran QB Tucker Gleason and top WR Junior Vandeross III. Louisville QB Miller Moss has been among the many Cardinals who missed time with injuries, but is expected to play.

Why it could disappoint: The interest level for both teams is difficult to gauge. As viewers, we’ll just hope for more than a sleepy performance in this weekday afternoon time slot.

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Western Kentucky

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in New Orleans.

Why watch: These teams weren’t conference runners-up per se, but both were just a win away from playing for their respective championships. The Hilltoppers were outscored 37-34 by Jacksonville State in their Conference USA finale, while the Golden Eagles dropped their last three Sun Belt contests and were overtaken by Troy. Southern Miss will look to well-traveled QB Braylon Braxton to end the skid, with help from WRs Elijah Metcalf and Carl Chester. The WKU attack is now under the direction of QB Rodney Tisdale Jr., who will look to RBs La’Vell Wright and Marvis Parrish for ground support.

Why it could disappoint: It’s been a rough bowl season for the Sun Belt thus far, and this is not the strongest Golden Eagles’ team. The Hilltoppers, who were in a four-quarter fight with LSU last month, might be stronger on the defensive side.

Frisco Bowl: Ohio vs. UNLV

Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN in Frisco, Texas.

Why watch: The MAC once again is represented to wrap up the Tuesday lineup, as this time the Bobcats will meet the runner-up from the Mountain West. UNLV is still smarting after being bested by Boise State for a second time and will look to close out the year on a brighter note. Ohio enters in a state of coaching turmoil in the wake of Brian Smith’s termination. Defensive coordinator John Hauser is running the program for now, and it is his side of the ball that figures to have the biggest challenge containing UNLV QB Anthony Colandrea and RB Jai’Den Thomas. The Bobcats do their best work on the ground with RB Sieh Bangura and QB Parker Navarro.

Why it could disappoint: Navarro can throw if he has to, but that’s often when mistakes happen for the Bobcats. If UNLV can grab a lead early, things could snowball quickly.

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NBA on Christmas Day picks, predictions, odds for all five games

Christmas in the NBA isn’t just a holiday about gifts. It’s a time when the entire league can look around and take stock. This, the biggest NBA fans often say, is often when the crux of the season really begins, when the contenders and pretenders have had a couple months to sift through the new pieces on their roster and figure out what works best. This year, in the aftermath of the NBA Cup, it feels especially true.

It starts with a Madison Square Garden matchup between the two preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference, and then the defending NBA champions get a chance at revenge against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Stephen Curry will be action with the Golden State Warriors facing Cooper Flagg in his first NBA Christmas appearance, while Kevin Durant plays his first Christmas game with the Houston Rockets against Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The fun all wraps up with a nightcap featuring Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards.

Buckle up and get ready for a full day of NBA action. Here are the five games slated for Christmas Day, with times, TV and streaming info, odds and predictions from USA TODAY Sports’ NBA experts.

Stream NBA games on Fubo

(All odds according to DraftKings as of Dec. 22)

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks

Time: Noon ET | TV: ABC and ESPN

The Knicks and Cavaliers remain the two favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season. Cleveland has dealt with a slew of injuries early on and is hovering around .500 after racing to the best record in the East last season, but Donovan Mitchell is still one of the league’s leading scorers.

The Knicks have lost just twice in the past month. They are coming off an NBA Cup championship win over the San Antonio Spurs and a 47-point performance by star Jalen Brunson on Dec. 21. The game will also be shown via an alternative ‘Deck the Halls’ broadcast on ESPN2 with an animated special featuring Disney characters.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds

Line: Knicks -5.5
Over/under: 234.5

Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions

Scooby Axson: Knicks 121, Cavaliers 118
Mark Giannotto: Knicks 119, Cavaliers 110
Jon Hoefling: Knicks 124, Cavaliers 111
Lorenzo Reyes: Knicks 130, Cavaliers 101
James Williams: Knicks 117, Cavaliers 113

San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN

The defending NBA champions take on one of the three teams to actually beat them already this season in what will be the two teams’ second game in three days and third meeting in less than two weeks. Wembanyama has picked up where he left off, averaging a double-double and 2.5 blocks per game despite a minutes restriction since returning from injury.

The Thunder lost twice in three games earlier this month after starting the season 24-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in the NBA in scoring and Oklahoma City has the league’s best defense. Don’t look now, but the Spurs entered these back-to-back matchups trailing only the Thunder in second place in the Western Conference standings.

Spurs vs. Thunder odds

Line: Thunder -10.5
Over/under: 233.5

Spurs vs. Thunder predictions

Scooby Axson: Thunder 128, Spurs 117
Mark Giannotto: Thunder 110, Spurs 107
Jon Hoefling: Thunder 116, Spurs 102
Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs 107, Thunder 105
James Williams: Thunder 125, Spurs 119

Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors

Time: 5 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN

Flagg’s first Christmas appearance in the NBA arrives right as he’s playing the best basketball of his rookie season for the Mavericks, who have improved with the return of Anthony Davis to the lineup following a rough start.

It hasn’t been as smooth for the Warriors with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green as it was after the trade deadline last season, but Curry is playing well since he recently returned from injury and there is likely to still be some emotions with Dallas guard Klay Thompson playing at Golden State over the holidays again.

Mavericks vs. Warriors odds

Line: Warriors -7.5
Over/under: 226.5

Mavericks vs. Warriors predictions

Scooby Axson: Mavericks 115, Warriors 110
Mark Giannotto: Mavericks 120, Warriors 118
Jon Hoefling: Warriors 125, Mavericks 123
Lorenzo Reyes: Mavericks 106, Warriors 98
James Williams: Warriors 115, Mavericks 113

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN

Durant and James are playing against one another on Christmas for the fifth time in their NBA careers, and each has plenty of help this time around. Luka Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring, though his status for Thursday’s game is up in the air after he exited Saturday’s game against the Clippers early with a leg contusion. Alperen Sengun, meanwhile, continues to be a force inside for Houston, which is the best rebounding team in the league this season.

Rockets vs. Lakers odds

Line: Rockets -2.5
Over/under: 230.5

Rockets vs. Lakers predictions

Scooby Axson: Rockets 122, Lakers 114
Mark Giannotto: Rockets 124, Lakers 115
Jon Hoefling: Lakers 120, Rockets 113
Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers 112, Rockets 108
James Williams: Rockets 120, Lakers 114

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | TV: ABC and ESPN

Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the season and Edwards is on pace to set new career highs in scoring and 3-point shooting. They will provide plenty of star power to close out Christmas in the NBA, as two of the top Western Conference contenders behind the Thunder meet again. Both teams have lost just twice since the start of December.

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds

Line: Nuggets -4.5
Over/under: 237.5

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions

Scooby Axson: Nuggets 124, Timberwolves 107
Mark Giannotto: Timberwolves 122, Nuggets 117
Jon Hoefling: Nuggets 136, Timberwolves 115
Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets 118, Timberwolves 116
James Williams: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 117

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