The Nets, Lakers, Bucks, Celtics, Warriors and Mavericks all played on Christmas last season. The Jazz last played on Christmas in 2018.īoth NBA Finalists will play on Christmas, as the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors. 1 seed last season on the backs of All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and a balanced roster flush with high-end talent. The nightcap pits odds-on MVP favorite Luka Doncic and the Mavericks against the Jazz, who earned the Western Conference's No.
That dishonor will now belong to the Sacramento Kings, who last played on Christmas in 2003. Atlanta has not played on Christmas since 1989, the longest active gap between being featured on the holiday. Hawks star Trae Young will return to Madison Square Garden after villainously shushing New Yorkers, getting spit on by a fan and vengefully eliminating the Knicks in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The meeting also features two more former MVPs ( Russell Westbrook, James Harden), another pair of All-NBA talents (Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving), a host of former All-Stars ( Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin) and some of the best value signings of the summer ( Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, Patty Mills, Bruce Brown), all chasing rings. The NBA scheduled these two teams because of Trae. Each after making the postseason in 2020-21, the Hawks defeating the Knicks in five games in the first round.
The Lakers and Nets are a dream NBA Finals Matchup, respectively featuring LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the league's two biggest media markets. Both the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are dangling at the edge of the playoff picture heading into Christmas Day. LeBron James and Kevin Durant will meet on Christmas for the first time since 2019.