Christmas comes with traditions. As the New York Knicks play at Madison Square Garden. OR LeBron James tying up his sneakers and going to work. And the defending NBA champions get into the holiday game action.
All of these things are happening this year.
And this holiday season ushers in a new twist: Memphis, welcome to the holiday scene.
The NBA’s Christmas quintuple lot will be this Sunday with the Grizzlies and Ja Morant set to play on Dec. 25 for the first time in that franchise’s history.
They earn the distinction of going to Golden State and taking on the defending, albeit lately weakened and struggling champions, in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals, which the Warriors won in six games.
It is the fifteenth consecutive year with five games at Christmas. A few things to know about all five matchups.
Philadelphia to New York, 1pm
The Knicks are adding to their record holiday attendance, having been picked to play during the holiday for the 55th time, including 47 at home.
It is the 13th game between the Knicks and 76ers this Christmas, neither team having played each other to date. And it features two of the best teams in the NBA right now: The Knicks are 8-2 in their last 10 games and the 76ers are riding a seven-game hitting streak. Joel Embiid leads the NBA in scoring with 33 points per game.
Fact: 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has played in four Christmas games, including one when he was with the Knicks, and all four games were on the road. Throw in his years as manager, and this is the 17th time Rivers has featured in a Christmas game, the 15th which will be an away game.
LA Lakers to Dallas, 3:30pm
Apparently, LeBron James shows up for Christmas as often as Santa Claus. If James plays, it will be his 17th Christmas appearance, breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history.
If he plays and the Lakers win, it will be the 11th time James has been victorious on Christmas, another record for NBA players.
And the Lakers show up for Christmas for the 24th consecutive year. They enter with an all-time record as of Dec. 25, 24-24, the most vacation wins in NBA history, one ahead of the Knicks.
It will be Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s second Christmas game after he and Dallas lost a road game to the Lakers in 2020. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd has played on this date four times, including a loss to James and Miami Heat in a rematch of the NBA Finals, to open the 2011-12 season.
Fact: The Mavericks will unveil the statue of Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dirk Nowitzki in their stadium a couple hours before the game.
Bucks and the Celtics, 6pm
It’s double revenge, after Milwaukee beat Boston at Christmas last year and the Celtics beat the Bucks in seven games in last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Before Giannis Antetokounmpo came along, the Bucks had only played Christmas four times in their history. They are now playing during the holidays for the fifth straight season, although Antetokounmpo appeared to have injured his right hand in Friday night’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Celtics aren’t exactly hot. They have lost five of their last seven games, after an incredible 21-5 start to the season, but are pulling off an impressive 121-109 victory over Minnesota on Friday.
Fact: This is Boston’s 36th Christmas game, but only their fourth at home. The Celtics, for decades, have insisted that they didn’t want arena workers and others away from their vacationing families.
Grizzlies at Warriors, 9 p.m
Stephen Curry is injured and will not play for Golden State, which is 2-7 in its last nine games. This matchup is an eight-game home opener for the defending champions, who are 15-18 and right now out of the Western Conference playoff picture.
“Obviously, we have to turn things around,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “The good news is that the rankings are pretty close together in the West. Despite our track record, we are not in dire straits. We have to become solid. We need some kids to be healthy. And we need to start playing better, of course, and gain some momentum.”
For Morant and the Grizzlies, this was the setting and matchup they wanted. Morant tweeted his excitement to Warriors forward Draymond Green when the NBA announced its holiday schedule in the summer; Green responded by inviting Morant and his family to Christmas dinner.
Fact: Now that Memphis is in a Christmas game, Charlotte is the only active franchise that has yet to play during the holiday season.
Suns en Nuggets, 11.30pm
Denver is looking for its first Christmas win since 1994 and two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is playing like someone worthy of consideration to once again win the award.
The Suns did not play Christmas games from 2010 to 2020, but returned to the Christmas shootout for the second straight season. They lost to Golden State last year on Christmas.
Fact: Phoenix is 12-7 at Christmas, the fifth-best record in the league.
