You got enough of your family on Thanksgiving. You don’t need to spend time with them on Christmas, too. Seriously, how selfish can they be?
No, Christmas is for basketball. Everyone knows this. That’s why you’re here, frantically searching for how hoops can distract you from Uncle Jerry’s beer breath and Aunt Loretta’s strong opinions on vaccinations.
Look no further. We here at Nothing But Nylon know a thing or two about having an addiction to basketball, annoying relatives, and both. That’s why we’ve compiled a basketball guide to get you through your Christmas.
Now, the only major hoops that will be available to you is the NBA. YouTube and other sources can provide you with a seemingly unlimited amount of highlights and even full-game videos, but if it’s live action you’re after, the NBA has a monopoly. There are five games set for a staggered schedule on the day, and we’ve put them in order of importance so you know when is more okay to show your face in the living room and when to slink away for private viewing and reprieve.
NBA Christmas Schedule
5. New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets
Details: 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
When the NBA decided to put New Orleans on Christmas Day, it probably expected Zion Williamson to be in the team’s lineup. Instead, a knee injury has kept the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft on the sideline for eight weeks and counting, and he’s still “a ways away” from actually suiting up and entering a game.
As such, the Pelicans are one of the worst teams in the entire league, and their chances against the Nuggets don’t seem too high. Without the allure of Williamson and the imbalance between these two teams, a lopsided victory is highly possible. Denver is a fun team to watch, particularly on offense, but that’s just about the only draw to this one I can think of.
4. Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
Details: 5 p.m. EST on ABC/ESPN
The Warriors were expected to take a step back from their dynastic level of success, but it has been significantly worse than that. Golden State has been one of the worst teams in the NBA so far this season, with an exodus of talent and injuries to major remaining players the culprits for the collapse. If you tune in, you won’t see the Warriors you’ve become accustomed to the last few years but rather a shell of what was.
Conversely, the Rockets have had a very positive start to the 2019-20 campaign after adding serious ability to its roster in the offseason. Russell Westbrook has been a huge addition, and James Harden is putting up almost 40 points per game. Houston is the much better team, and this game is likely to go its way. But at least the storylines are marginally better than in the Nuggets-Pelicans matchup, so it’s not last on the list.
3. Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers
Details: 2:30 p.m. EST on ABC
The Bucks have been an absolute force to in the opening months of the season, boasting the best record in the league nearing the New Year. Giannis Antetokounmpo is solidifying himself as one of the best players in the world, with a second-straight MVP award seems very possible so far, and the rest of his supporting cast, lead by Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, are doing a great job in their roles.
The 76ers have been good, too, although not necessarily as good as expected. A recent three-game skipped was snapped with a win over Washington, though the challenge from Milwaukee will be much greater. Joel Embiid is averaging a double-double, and Tobias Harris is scoring almost 20 per contest. Philadelphia has the means to pull off the upset, and this one should be dramatic one way or another.
2. Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors
Details: 12 p.m. EST on ESPN
The entire basketball world knows what the Raptors did last season, knocking off Golden State in the NBA Finals in dramatic fashion to win their first-ever championship. After Kawhi Leonard’s departure in the offseason, Toronto wasn’t thought to be one of the top contenders for the East this time around, but thus far, it has been just about as good as anyone not named Milwaukee. The Celtics have also been better than expected, and both teams are currently neck-and-neck for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
This game will feature some intriguing matchups, with Kyle Lowry versus Kemba Walker the one that pops out the most on paper. Lowry is posting 20.2 points and 7.5 assists per game, picking up where he left off in the playoffs, while Walker is averaging 22.6 points and 5.4 assists as he has made a huge impact on his new team. Some injuries will keep a couple of major players out of this game unfortunately, but its importance in the standings, the point guard matchup, the storylines and the rivalry make this the second-best game of Christmas to me.
1. Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
Details: 8 p.m. EST on ABC/ESPN
Could it anything else? Two of the best teams in the league, with some of the biggest names and best players in the sport, and not only do they share a city but an arena, too? You know this one is going to be personal and make for some must-watch television no matter how the game goes. This could very well be a preview of the Western Conference Finals, which would be incredible if the LA teams had to go through each other to secure the ultimate prize. Expect there to be some real intensity to this game, more than your average middle-of-the-season NBA regular season showdown.
The Lakers have dropped three in a row ahead of this game, and the Clippers haven’t been on a winning streak themselves, either. An injury bug has kept LeBron James and Anthony Davis out of games recently, and if one of neither of them are able to suit up on Christmas, it would deflate this game a little bit. But even without them, you’re still talking about Kawhi Leonard and Paul George playing against the Lakers on Christmas. It’s tough to top that.
