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Christmas Day is one of the most exciting days of the NBA season, and we now know which teams will face off on Dec. 25.
Per The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics vs. the Philadelphia 76ers will highlight this year’s NBA Christmas Day games. Other matchups include the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns.
LeBron James vs. Steph Curry became a staple of NBA Christmas games for a while, as the two faced off for four straight years from 2016 to 2019. Now, five years later, the two legends will square off again in what is sure to be an exciting game.
The Celtics will take on one of their divisional rivals, the 76ers, and will look to get a statement win before the playoff race picks up. Assuming both teams stay healthy, the Christmas Day matchup could be an Eastern Conference Finals preview, as both teams are sure to be contenders this year.
The Knicks vs. Spurs should be an enticing matchup, though there isn’t much of a rivalry between the two squads. Jalen Brunson and New York are hoping to continue their momentum after a big year, and getting a win on Christmas could give them some added confidence. The game will also be the first of likely many Christmas Day showings for rising star Victor Wembanyama.
Minnesota vs. Dallas made for an exciting Western Conference Finals last season, and a matchup on Christmas Day should bring a similar intensity. The two squads could very well square off again in this year’s conference finals, so the Christmas Day game could serve as an early look at how things could go later in the year.
The same can be said for the Denver vs. Phoenix matchup. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Suns are looking for redemption after last year’s first-round exit, while the Nuggets are hoping to once again compete for a title. The two teams’ matchup on Christmas Day should be an interesting one.