Christmas day and the NBA go hand and hand. Every season, some of the most premier regular season games are scheduled on the holiday. This year, five matchups fill the day’s action. Here are the five things to look for while watching.
- How injuries will affect the day
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry have been ruled out for the day. Joel Embiid and J.J. Reddick have also been ruled questionable for the Philadelphia 76ers. Chris Paul is doubtful for the Houston Rockets. Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose are still out for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lots of points and star power are going to be in suits, but such is the case for any other day in the season.
- John Wall vs. Kyrie Irving
The Washington Wizards are visiting the Boston Celtics in a game with two of the best point guards facing each other at 5:30 p.m. ET. Recently returning from an injury himself, John Wall is averaging 18.5 points, 8.6 assists, and 1.1 steals. Kyrie Irving is considered an early MVP candidate for the East-leading Boston Celtics. He’s averaging 24.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Wall’s backcourt teammate Bradley Beal is having an exceptional season as well, averaging 23 points for the Wizards.
- Embiid vs. Porzingis
The first game of the day begins at noon ET when the Philadelphia 76ers take a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks. The premier matchup is with two of the best big men in the game today. Embiid is averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and two blocks a game. Kristaps Porzingis has also been discussed as an early MVP candidate. He’s averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and two blocks per game. The sensational rookie year of 76ers rookie Ben Simmons, and the hot hand of the Knicks Michael Beasley are other storylines of note for this game.
- The clock starts ticking on OKC
The Big 3 in Oklahoma City hasn’t gone according to plan quite yet. The Thunder are only three games over .500, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladpio is averaging six more points per game than the guy he got traded for, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony’s 40 percent from the field is short of his 45 percent career shooting average. The team is currently on a four-game winning streak, but the 8 p.m. ET matchup against the Houston Rockets is the squad’s most important game to date. The Rockets have the best winning percentage in the league and James Harden is currently on a two-game 50-point streak himself. Christmas is usually a benchmark where teams evaluate how the rest of the year is probably going to go. If the Thunder want to make a statement, this is the first game all season where they’ll be able to do so.
- The biggest rivalry in the NBA
Cleveland and Golden State meet again. Yes, the Warriors won’t have Curry, but the Cavaliers won’t have two of their key point guards either. Last year’s mid-day tipoff ended in Irving knocking down a game-winner in the last seconds. Today’s game is the first with Nick Young and Dwyane Wade in the mix. These two teams have been the ones who everyone else is chasing for four consecutive years, and the latest chapter of their recent rivalry begins at 3 p.m. ET.
