The holiday season has arrived early! The NBA piqued fans’ interest this past week by revealing the matchups for both the start of the season and the Christmas Day games, both of which are filled with high-profile players befitting of such important events. Once more, there will be a total of five games played on Christmas, offering audiences a chance to witness the talents of star players such as LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Victor Wembanyama.
Truly, a joyous holiday season indeed.
Each individual game boasts unique and exciting factors, but there are invariably a couple of matchups that generate more buzz than the others. It goes without saying that circumstances are likely to evolve between now and December 25th — particularly in a league where player movement and injuries can dramatically alter the competitive balance. The best we can do is evaluate the teams based on their current lineups and hope that all players remain in good health.
Bearing that in mind, we have opted to preview and analyze all five of the NBA’s scheduled Christmas Day games.
In theory, this particular contest has the potential to be the most compelling game of the entire day. Regrettably, its appeal is somewhat diminished by its late scheduling, as it is set to be the final game played on a day when a significant portion of the country will be heading to bed. This factor somewhat dampens what would otherwise be an extremely enticing matchup between Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić.
There remains a distinct lack of fondness between these two teams following the Timberwolves’ surprising victory over the Nuggets in a Game 7 played on Denver’s home court just two postseasons prior. Expect to hear Edwards engaging in his characteristic brand of trash talk, with Jokić likely to respond in his typically understated manner. Denver has been actively engaged in acquiring talent through the recent offseason additions of Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valančiūnas. This Christmas Day game presents an ideal opportunity to assess the cohesion and impact of these new players.
The return of Klay Thompson to the Bay Area is always a noteworthy event. However, there is also the possibility that neither of these teams will be particularly impressive this season. The Warriors experienced a surge in performance following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler last year, but there is no guarantee they can sustain that level of success with an aging roster and without making any major additions during the offseason — at least not yet. If Steph Curry remains healthy, he is undoubtedly worth watching while you enjoy the holiday feast.
Moreover, this game marks the potential Christmas Day debut of franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg, and the dynamic between him and Anthony Davis will be a key aspect to observe. While a potentially exciting matchup, it doesn’t quite measure up to the appeal of the other games on the slate.
The confrontation between two of the NBA’s top five offensive teams from the previous season should generate the necessary excitement for a highly anticipated Christmas Day showdown. The teams also appear to be well-matched, with individual player battles such as Jalen Brunson versus Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns versus Evan Mobley poised to take center stage.
The Cavaliers were victorious in all four of their games against the Knicks last season, contributing to the narrative that New York struggles against elite teams. This backdrop should provide an extra layer of intensity to this particular matchup. This game has the potential to be the most exciting of the entire day, but its likely early start time on the West Coast may affect viewership. Let’s disregard the East Coast centric scheduling this time.
Wemby facing off against the reigning champions? Sign me up. Victor Wembanyama is arguably one of the most captivating players in the league, and he will be challenged by what is expected to be the NBA’s premier defense once again. Furthermore, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s tendency to drive into the paint will be severely tested by the presence of the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama protecting the rim.
Beyond the star power, this game should serve as a significant benchmark for the Spurs, who are anticipated to improve substantially in the upcoming season, assuming a healthy Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and promising prospect Dylan Harper. Their performance against the Thunder on the NBA’s grandest regular-season stage (with all due respect to the NBA Cup) will provide valuable insights into their progress and playoff aspirations.
I can sense the skepticism emanating from the audience. Some may (unfairly) accuse us of favoring the Lakers and (justifiably) argue that other games might feature a higher quality of basketball. However, this is Christmas in the National Basketball Association. We require marquee players, and this game is overflowing with them.
LeBron. KD. LaRavia. Luka. What more could one ask for in a high-profile holiday game?
While both teams have weaknesses, they are expected to be vying for the second spot in the Western Conference standings behind the Thunder by Christmas — particularly if Dončić maintains his current level of physical conditioning. Ultimately, however, we cannot be certain how many more opportunities we will have to witness LeBron James and Kevin Durant compete against each other, so it is important to savor this one.
