Christmas Day Games Bring Tidings of Joy During Difficult Time
Not every star promised will be in the house, but a full NBA holiday slate is welcome viewing once again
We’re now approaching an third year enveloped in the scourge of COVID-19, complete with variants that are making us all more familiar with the Greek alphabet. As enriching as that may be, most of us would rather have our holiday seasons back to where they were pre-COVID.
The average family gathering hasn’t been the same and there’s the overall existential worry that comes with a society seemingly in crisis more and more each day. Elation can be hard to come by as we try to make the most of our traditional periods of celebration, like Christmas. However, bless the NBA, as we once again are going to benefit from the tidings of joy that comes with the renewal of the league’s annual Christmas Day games.
It may not be as festive as it once was, not all the stars the Association would like to showcase will be available thanks to COVID putting more than 90 players — including some of the league's best — in quarantine. But enough stars will be out to make your holiday season bright bright again, and if Christmas miracles are your thing, maybe a new star or two will shine high in the sky by the night’s end.
Hawks vs Knicks: Trae Young will not be able to clear COVID protocols in time to participate in this year’s opening Christmas game, but the Hawks still have a good chance to fly into the perceived “mecca of basketball” and steal a win against a struggling Knicks team who’s lost seven of their last ten games.
Knicks fans will miss the chance to boo Young in Madison Square Garden, but they can enjoy the re-emergence of Kemba Walker, who has come back with a vengeance this week after sitting out 10 games while not being in the Knicks’ rotation at all. With the lineup thinning due to injuries and COVID, Walker has played in the last 3 games and averaged over 31 points a game, his last effort was a season-high 44-point outburst against the Washington Wizards.
Derrick Rose (ankle surgery) is out for the next several weeks and Immanuel Quickley (COVID protocol, though he has been cleared as of this writing) will likely not be available as well, so Walker’s back-court scoring will still be of great need.
Celtics vs Bucks: Milwaukee had a rough start to the season but the defending champions have turned the tables as of late and are playing up to their reputation, now sitting third in the East as winners of six of their last 10 games. With the team getting Kris Middleton back from a knee injury and Giannis Antetokounmpo clearing protocols, the Bucks will look a lot like themselves in their showcase battle.
The struggling Celtics come into this game having lost six of their last 10, but they have defeated the Bucks in both games they have played this season. They’ll get a lot of good attention with a win this Christmas, such a result will likely need the leadership and skill of Jayson Tatum, who dropped 42 on the Bucks on Dec. 13.
Warriors vs Suns: The best of the West will battle it out once again in this Pacific division showdown. The Warriors have won seven of their last 10 games while the Suns have won eight of 10.
Arguably the Western Conference Finals match-up most would like to see, this battle should feature the top offensive and defensive teams in the league at their best if we can judge things by their two previous games the week after Thanksgiving.
Stephen Curry and the Warriors have played on Christmas Day nine straight times, while Chris Paul and Devin Booker will have the Valley rocking on Christmas Day for the first time in over a decade (12 years to be exact).
Nets vs Lakers: The Nets have won seven of their last 10 games and are sitting at the top of the East, all without one second of play from one of their superstar talents in Kyrie Irving.
Unfortunately, this marquee match-up will be missing more than even Kyrie — who despite a short window allowed to him to return as a part-timer, has still struggled with league COVID protocols — as Kevin Durant has officially been ruled out for the game as well.
However, James Harden has been cleared of COVID protocols and is available to play, countering some of the star-power the Lakers will offer. Speaking of the City of Angels, the Lakers will have the two-headed monster of Russell Westbrook and LeBron James to run Showtime, but its Big 3 won’t be complete either thanks to Anthony Davis being out due to injury.
The Lake Show has been mostly a flop this season, currently with a record under .500, including losses in six of their last 10 games. Not all the stars the NBA hoped to put together on this day will be doing their thing but there won’t be any lack of celebrities filling the seats in the newly christened Crypto.com Arena as once again the most-watched game of Christmas will be in Los Angeles.
Mavericks vs Jazz: Closing the night out, the struggling Mavs will have to make a go of things without superstar Luka Doncic, who will not be available for the big game due to COVID protocols.
Losers of six of their last 10, Dallas will need someone else to step up against the ever-steady Jazz, who solidly sit as the No. 3 team in the West. Utah is quietly cruising toward another playoff run and will look to make a Christmas statement with another win thanks to its top defense and a strong offensive system led by Donovan Mitchell.