The NBA’s Christmas Day slate has been extremely anticipated because the 2024-25 schedule was introduced in August. The five-game schedule is crammed with celebrity matchups, extremely anticipated rivalries and some vacation debuts for some rising stars.
Victor Wembanyama, contemporary off a handful of history-making performances, makes his Christmas debut because the San Antonio Spurs tackle Karl-Anthony Towns and the new-look New York Knicks. Will the French phenom Dunk the Halls, or can Jalen Brunson & Co. get a win in entrance of the house crowd on the Garden? In a rematch of the Western Conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves go to the Dallas Mavericks of their second assembly this season. Will Anthony Edwards get the perfect of the Mavs this time?
The dominant Boston Celtics will tackle the struggling Philadelphia 76ers to kick off the night slate, whereas LeBron James and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers will face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. James is the profession chief in factors (476) and video games performed (18) on Christmas. Lastly, MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will tackle the host Phoenix Suns to wrap up the vacation festivities.
Which stars will shine the brightest this vacation season? What groups will want a Christmas miracle to spice up them to the postseason? Our NBA insiders preview all 5 matchups by answering a number of the greatest questions surrounding these groups.
What are the subsequent steps this season for the Spurs to change into playoff contenders with Victor Wembanyama?
In Thursday’s win over Atlanta, the Spurs lastly performed with the beginning lineup they envisioned at the beginning of coaching camp. Injuries to Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan saved them out for prolonged durations, thrusting rookie Stephon Castle into the beginning lineup together with sharpshooter Julian Champagnie. Now that everyone is wholesome, it is as much as the teaching employees to determine optimum lineups to play alongside the franchise centerpiece. Acting head coach Mitch Johnson stated it is a good downside to have, particularly contemplating all of the expertise gained by reserves taking part in extra distinguished roles earlier within the season. Wembanyama is already doing his part by progressively choosing up the varied methods groups are utilizing to defend him and studying the way to use teammates extra successfully in attacking them. — Michael Wright
Will the return of Mitchell Robinson be sufficient to provide the Knicks a deep postseason run?
With how the Knicks are taking part in (third within the East) — and with how a lot they invested in upgrading their beginning 5 this previous offseason, with trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges — they’ve expectations to make a deep postseason run no matter when Robinson comes again. The group is dominant offensively (second within the league) and has made appreciable strides on protection over the previous month regardless of a sluggish begin. A wholesome Robinson will give the group depth at middle (a should given Towns’ occasional foul troubles) and improved rim safety. — Chris Herring
What will Wemby’s Christmas debut in opposition to the Knicks appear like (KAT vs. Wemby)?
Dominant, if Wembanyama’s latest manufacturing is any indication. Over 5 video games since getting back from low again soreness, Wembanyama has averaged 29 PPG on close to 40% 3-point taking pictures in addition to 5.2 BPG, together with a career-high-tying 10 Saturday in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers. Because of Wembanyama’s harmful taking pictures, New York could put ahead OG Anunoby on him fairly than Towns. But that may give Wembanyama an enormous eight-inch top benefit that Anunoby will search to negate together with his decrease middle of gravity. Anunoby defended Wembanyama of their lone assembly in November 2023, when Wembanyama scored 20 factors on 7-of-16 taking pictures. — Kevin Pelton
What will it take for the Wolves to climb out of the play-in?
It’s a should for Minnesota to be an elite defensive group, which was the muse of the Timberwolves’ success final season. That has occurred in December, when the Wolves have had the stingiest protection within the NBA, permitting solely 108.2 factors per 100 possessions. Now, Minnesota has to work its manner out of the muck offensively, which probably requires Donte DiVincenzo busting out of an prolonged hunch. The Wolves anticipated that DiVincenzo’s quantity 3-point taking pictures would increase their offense after they acquired him as a part of the Towns commerce, however he has shot solely 37.3% from the ground and 33.1% from lengthy vary to date this season. — Tim MacMahon
What do the Mavs must have a second-half surge like they did final season?
Stay wholesome. This is the perfect the roster has appeared throughout Luka Doncic‘s profession, as evidenced by the Mavs’ 6-2 document in video games missed by their celebrity. The Mavs would possibly improve their frontcourt depth earlier than the commerce deadline, however in contrast to the previous couple of seasons, Dallas would not have any evident wants. An opposing common supervisor advised ESPN final week that the Thunder and Mavs are clearly the 2 greatest West groups. After a comparatively sluggish begin, Doncic’s greatest is probably going but to return this season, and he is surrounded by a deep, well-rounded supporting forged. — MacMahon
Which duo dominates Christmas: Luka-Kyrie or Edwards-Randle?
First, we have to see whether or not Doncic returns to the lineup after lacking two video games with a heel contusion. Before the damage, Doncic delivered his greatest recreation of the season in opposition to the Warriors, a 45-point triple-double on 16-of-23 taking pictures. Having misplaced wing stopper Derrick Jones Jr. within the offseason, the Mavericks are now not as well-equipped to defend Anthony Edwards, who went off for a game-high 37 factors when these groups performed in Minneapolis in October. But it was Doncic and Kyrie Irving who walked away winners, combining for 59 factors and 13 assists. — Pelton
Should the 76ers rethink their technique and mark this season as a rebuild?
No, and for a wide range of causes. First, with the fully disastrous begin, the 76ers enter Christmas with the league’s twenty fourth worst-record with six groups behind them with higher lottery odds. Plus, the group in entrance of them within the Eastern standings, the Brooklyn Nets, simply traded their start line guard, and there is a probability they might play worse. Philadelphia has stabilized itself after its sluggish begin, and Joel Embiid has impressed in his previous couple of video games. If the 76ers can have any kind of wholesome stretch, they need to be capable to get themselves into the play-in, and if they will get into the playoffs wholesome — a few big ifs — they nonetheless consider they will make a deep run. — Tim Bontemps
How lengthy will this dominant Celtics run final?
This season will play a big half in figuring out that. In its try and change into the primary Celtics group to defend a title since Bill Russell was taking part in, Boston additionally has one of many league’s highest payrolls — and is on tempo to skyrocket to over $500 million in mixed payroll and luxurious taxes for the 2025-26 season. If the Celtics win the title, as they’re favored to do, it is just about unimaginable to see them making a cost-saving transfer going into subsequent season. But if they do not? Well, then the maths will get just a little extra attention-grabbing, particularly when factoring within the looming sale of the group, which is anticipated to be accomplished between now and the top of the common season. — Bontemps
What’s on the 76ers’ and Celtics’ want listing for this matchup?
For Philadelphia, it is continued well being for Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, who’ve performed collectively simply 5 occasions all season. The Sixers have outscored opponents by 13 factors per 100 possessions within the 71 minutes all three have performed, based on NBA Advanced Stats, however are 2-2 in these video games. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has already gotten his Christmas want: 51 3-point makes an attempt per recreation, eight greater than every other group, and two extra makes than the second-place Chicago Bulls. –Pelton
Can LeBron proceed to be the present that retains on giving via a postseason run for Los Angeles?
In the crowded Western Conference, the Lakers’ playoff projection has diverse vastly week to week. They ran out to a 10-4 document and had been in third place on Nov. 20. Losses in seven of their subsequent 9 video games dropped them to No. 10 on Dec. 6, with LeBron James showing ineffective at greatest and harmful at worst. James took benefit of the schedule to take eight days off to rehabilitate his left foot and solely missed two video games. With James again within the lineup, the Lakers gained three straight, climbing again to No. 5 within the West on Dec. 21. James was sensible in Saturday’s win over Sacramento, commanding the protection whereas punishing the Kings inside, scoring 32 factors on 13-for-24 taking pictures. L.A. shouldn’t want nor count on that model of James on a nightly foundation to qualify for the playoffs — not if they need James to have one thing left within the tank for the postseason. But getting that stage of engagement out of him, mixed with Anthony Davis returning to the MVP kind he confirmed to begin the season, will preserve L.A. on monitor for a playoff berth. — Dave McMenamin
How is Dennis Schroder becoming in with Stephen Curry & Co. to date?
The Warriors have solely had three video games with Dennis Schroder to date nevertheless it hasn’t taken him lengthy to point out flashes of what he can do. During Saturday’s win at Minnesota, Schroder displayed a number of the management qualities he’ll carry past his play, initiating participant huddles regardless of it being simply his second recreation. Having one other level guard can be going to profit youthful gamers like Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. Podziemski had maybe his greatest recreation of the season in Minnesota with 12 factors and 7 rebounds. The Warriors will want Schroder to make some outdoors pictures and rating, and it’ll take a while for Schroder to adapt, however he is already proven why Golden State wants him. “That [Minnesota] recreation was so illuminating for me,” Kerr stated. “Watching Dennis, his management, after we discuss level guard, it is not simply the way to run choose and roll or guarding the ball, it is management. What he did in that recreation, his second recreation with us, barely understanding anyone, pulling younger guys apart, pulling the entire group collectively. He’s a real chief and that is one of many causes we needed him.” — Ohm Youngmisuk
LeBron or Steph: Which celebrity could have a greater Christmas Day efficiency?
I’m betting on Curry partly as a result of he will get to play in opposition to the weaker protection. The Lakers rank twentieth in defensive ranking this season, 11 spots behind the Warriors. Curry averaged 33 PPG as Golden State gained the season sequence 3-1 in 2023-24, his highest scoring common in opposition to any opponent he confronted greater than twice. Of course, James was even higher in opposition to the Warriors, placing up 36.3 factors, 11.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists within the three video games he performed head-to-head. — Pelton
What do the Nuggets want earlier than the commerce deadline to construct round Jokic?
The Nuggets are now not a top-two group within the Western Conference however three-time MVP Nikola Jokic continues to be taking part in like the perfect participant on the planet. Jamal Murray is choosing up his scoring these days, scoring 24 or extra factors within the three video games previous to Monday evening. Michael Porter Jr. (18.4 PPG) and Christian Braun (15.0 PPG) have been stable, in addition to Russell Westbrook off the bench, however the Nuggets are in critical want of one other dependable outdoors scorer who can create his personal shot if they’re to contend. On protection, additionally they want one other perimeter stopper to assist Aaron Gordon, Braun and Westbrook. Nuggets common supervisor Calvin Booth would not have a ton of assets to work with, though Porter would probably should be dealt in any commerce for a big participant. But what their document would not essentially present is the championship chemistry between Porter, Jokic and Murray. — Ohm Youngmisuk
What are the largest components holding the Suns again this season and might they overcome them for the postseason?
Just like final season, the largest issue preserving Phoenix from coalescing is cascading accidents suffered by their stars. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have every performed solely 17 video games apiece this season. The 36-year-old Durant has been sensible when he is been on the courtroom — averaging 27.4 factors on 52/42/83 splits — and the Suns have been dreadful with out him, going 1-9. While Phoenix has been linked to the Miami Heat‘s Jimmy Butler as a possible commerce vacation spot, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 35-year-old Butler comes together with his personal sturdiness issues. He’s missed 65 video games over the previous three seasons. On the plus aspect, even with the time their stars have missed, the Suns nonetheless have the No. 8 offense within the league below new coach Mike Budenholzer. If they will maintain their well being — with Butler included or not — the Suns might nonetheless make a push from their No. 11 spot within the Western Conference standings by unleashing that offense on the remainder of the league. — McMenamin
How do the Suns cease Jokic from crashing their Christmas?
Phoenix’s recreation plan in opposition to Jokic was stable final season. Although Jokic averaged a triple-double in opposition to the Suns, Jokic’s 21.1 common recreation rating was his second lowest in opposition to any West foe. Phoenix gained two of these three video games, which isn’t any shock. When opponents maintain Jokic under a recreation rating of 25 this season, Denver has gone 2-3. Familiarity is a plus for the Suns: not solely did beginning middle Jusuf Nurkic play alongside Jokic to begin their careers with the Nuggets, so too did new backup Mason Plumlee. — Pelton
