NBA Christmas Games 2024: Schedule, teams, how to watch, analysis

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The NBA on Christmas has been a tradition since 1947 — it’s a showcase day everyone wants to be a part of

“It’s a privilege, for players and for teams organizations,” said Joe Dumars, the NBA’s Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, and a Bad Boy era Piston who played on Christmas four times. “We highlight some of the best teams in the NBA on Christmas Day, and so when you’re on, when you’re playing on that day, it’s an honor.”

When did the NBA start doing Christmas games?

The first NBA games on Christmas Day took place in 1947, the NBA’s second season, and have continued ever since. This year is the 77th time the NBA has had games on Christmas Day.

NBA Christmas games full schedule 2024

All games are broadcast on ABC and ESPN (all times Eastern).

San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks (Noon)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks (2:30 PM)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (5 PM)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors (8 PM)
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (10:30 PM)

NBA Christmas games analysis

“There’s some incredible matchups,” Dumars said. “You got last year’s Western Conference Finals. You got Wemby at the Garden. You got Sixers vs. Boston, Steph and LeBron. Then you have this kind of budding rivalry between Denver and Phoenix.”

Spurs at Knicks

The Knicks played on Christmas Day back in 1947 and have done so 56 times since (the most of any club), and the Christmas noon game at Madison Square Garden has become another New York holiday tradition. Victor Wembanyama is making his Christmas Day debut, but the last time he faced the Knicks (last season) he dropped 40 points with 20 rebounds on them — but the Knicks Jalen Brunson scored 61 in that game.

Wemby is the clear early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year — he had 10 blocks last week against Portland — but will be challenged by the Knicks, the second-best offense in the NBA. Can Karl-Anthony Towns, as a floor-spacing big, pull Wembanyama away from the basket? This is a fascinating tactical game, plus we find out how Wembanyama handles the Garden.

ALL TEN OF WEMBY’S REJECTIONS

30 points.
10 blocks.
7 rebounds.
4 threes.

The…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-christmas-games-2024-schedule-182723613.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-23 18:27:00

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