NBA Christmas 2023: what to know about this year’s quintuple-header
IIt's that time of year again. When people gather around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts and then gather around the big screen television to watch the NBA's annual games. This year, as in the past, Hoops Heads will be treated to a handful of excellent matchups. So below we wanted to dive into those matches to provide some perspective and some predictions.
Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks (12:00 PM EST/5:00 PM GMT)
Often the first game on the NBA Christmas Day calendar is just a teaser, but this one is packed with hearty interest. The Bucks got off to a somewhat slow start this season, but today quietly sit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings thanks to the play of big-name superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and the newly acquired Damian Lillard. The Knicks, a regular Christmas Day contender, are also in the thick of the playoffs thanks to team leaders Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson (and his cohort of Villanova University friends Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart). While Milwaukee is favored for its top talent, the plucky Manhattan team could steal it too late if Big Game Brunson becomes popular. Not to mention, the MSG crowd in New York City should be hyped for the match.
Prediction Bucks per four
X Factor Immanuel Quickley, the streaky bench slasher for New York
Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets (2:30 PM EST/7:30 PM GMT)
In recent years, the Warriors and Nuggets have played each other several times in the playoffs. But this latest tilt in the regular season puts the two teams in very different positions. While Denver, the league's reigning champions, is off to a strong start (despite the recent exclusion of Nikola Jokić), Golden State is faltering somewhat thanks to the indefinite suspension of trash-talking star Draymond Green, who in many ways is the heart of the team is. and soul. Still, the Warriors, coming off a big win at home against Boston on Tuesday, remain in the mix when it comes to a potential postseason appearance, thanks to red-hot sharpshooter Stephen Curry and a slew of improving youngsters. But since this game is set in Colorado's Mile High City, the edge goes to Jokić and his confident supporting cast, including guard Jamal Murray and power forward Aaron Gordon.
Prediction Nuggets by eight
X Factor Chris Paul, the cagey, veteran offensive initiator for Golden State
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers (5:00 PM EST/10:00 PM GMT)
These two teams will forever be linked in basketball history. Whether it's the battles between the squads of Bill Russell and Jerry West or the one between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson or, more recently, between Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, Lakers v Celtics remains the typical rivalry in NBA history. That's why the league placed this lavish game in the middle of the Christmas celebration. Featuring big names like the ageless LeBron James, Anthony Davis, MVP candidate Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, this game should be a back-and-forth slugfest with neither team looking to give up ground. Still, there has to be a winner (this isn't the NFL, after all). Although the Celts are at the top of the East and the Lakers are in the middle of the pack in the West, the game should remain close to the final buzzer. Edge for the purple and gold home team (after all, Boston has difficulty closing on the road).
Prediction Lakers by one
X Factor Austin Reaves, the sixth-place starter with a sense of the moment for LA
Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat (8 p.m. EST/1 a.m. GMT)
It's the Jimmy Butler Bowl! Yes, the current Heat star played for Philly several years ago and, as he has noted, the 76ers chose trade him away, for any reason. Today, the two teams show very different sensibilities both on and off the hardwood. The 76ers are flashier with reigning MVP Joel Embiid and rising star guard Tyrese Maxey. But Miami is more blue-collar and gritty, just a group of tough guys who, despite being from South Beach, bring their lunch pails to the construction site. Their hometowns are vastly different, as is the way they behave in uniform. Still, the two could easily be paired together in the first round of the playoffs this year when the season ends. With Embiid's size and the way Philly has been rolling lately, it's fair to predict a comfortable win for the boys from the chilly city of Brotherly Love.
Prediction 76ers at eight
X Factor Jaime Jaquez Jr, the rising do-it-all rookie for Miami
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m. EST/3:30 a.m. GMT)
The final game of the holiday evening pits two megawatt rivals from the Western Conference against each other. It was only a year ago that now-Suns star Kevin Durant and now-Mavs star Kyrie Irving were on the same roster in Brooklyn. But now, after that epic implosion, they find themselves miles away from the hippest city and the West, along with superstars like Devin Booker in Phoenix and potential MVP frontrunner Luka Dončić in Texas. Some years the late Christmas play is a bit of a throwaway, but it isn't. Unfortunately for Phoenix, their team has been bitten by the injury bug of late, with the 'Big Three' of Durant, Booker and newly acquired guard Bradley Beal having barely had any time together thus far. But Dallas isn't exactly healthy either, as the team has been missing its star rookie Dereck Lively II as of late. If he plays, the Mavs have a good chance to win. If not, it becomes everyone's competition.
Prediction Sunbathing at four
X Factor Grant Williams, the newly acquired strong forward for Dallas