NBA · 1 year ago

Unwrapping the Best NBA Christmas Games: Superstars & Rivalries

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

1. Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
Few NBA rivalries have more history and hatred than the battle between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, and now, both teams are arguably the two best teams in the sport entering this season. The Celtics will aim to protect their NBA title, while the 76ers will aim to clinch their first one in the Joel Embiid era with Paul George's arrival and Tyrese Maxey's ascension. This will be a great matchup; every basketball fan must tune in. It could very well wind up being an Eastern Conference Finals preview.

NBA Finals Odds: 76ers +900 | Celtics +320
5. Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns
What have the Phoenix Suns done to earn a home game on Christmas Day? Yes, the star power is undeniable for both the Suns and Denver Nuggets, but they were the most underwhelming team in the NBA last season, and few are confident that they'll be able to bounce back this season. Part of this could be that the NBA needed a west-coast city to fill the late slot, but this matchup would be much more palatable if it were held in Denver. Still, this could be a fun GAME, but not one many will go out of their way to tune into.

NBA Finals Odds: Suns +2400 | Nuggets +900
4. San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
Getting Victor Wembanyama in front of a national television audience had to be a priority for the NBA but in Madison Square Garden? What history do the New York Knicks and the Spurs have against each other? Sure, there is no bigger stage for Wemby to play on, but this matchup doesn't appeal much. An in-state matchup between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks would have made more sense to get Wemby on the national stage while bringing forth more rivalry. Still, the New York Knicks deserve a home-court Christmas Day game. I just hoped it would have been against a deserving team like the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA Finals Odds: Knicks +900 | Spurs +15000
3. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
Neither the Golden State Warriors nor the Los Angeles Lakers have championship expectations this season. Still, you can't fault the NBA for gifting us another battle between LeBron James and Stephen Curry on the NBA's biggest day. It doesn't feel like Christmas basketball unless these two are set to take the floor. They always give us great battles, which will be no different this year.

NBA Finals Odds: Warriors +4500 | Lakers +3500
2. Minnesota Timberwolves @ Dallas Mavericks
As the Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks were getting a home Christmas Day game, but that didn't mean it needed to be against the team they faced to go to the Western Conference Finals. Looking back on the Western Conference playoffs, the matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets was far more memorable and should've been a Christmas Day matchup. A Spurs-Mavericks clash would have made much more sense, but regardless, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic will give us a great show.

NBA Finals Odds: Timberwolves +1000 | Mavericks +10
1. Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
Few NBA rivalries have more history and hatred than the battle between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, and now, both teams are arguably the two best teams in the sport entering this season. The Celtics will aim to protect their NBA title, while the 76ers will aim to clinch their first one in the Joel Embiid era with Paul George's arrival and Tyrese Maxey's ascension. This will be a great matchup; every basketball fan must tune in. It could very well wind up being an Eastern Conference Finals preview.

NBA Finals Odds: 76ers +900 | Celtics +320
5. Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns
What have the Phoenix Suns done to earn a home game on Christmas Day? Yes, the star power is undeniable for both the Suns and Denver Nuggets, but they were the most underwhelming team in the NBA last season, and few are confident that they'll be able to bounce back this season. Part of this could be that the NBA needed a west-coast city to fill the late slot, but this matchup would be much more palatable if it were held in Denver. Still, this could be a fun GAME, but not one many will go out of their way to tune into.

NBA Finals Odds: Suns +2400 | Nuggets +900

Unwrapping the Best NBA Christmas Games: Superstars & Rivalries

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