There’s at least one NBA MVP playing in every Christmas game Monday: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant.
The past four NBA champions are also featured: Denver, Golden State, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has not lost in eight Christmas Day games.
It’s the Knicks playing on Christmas for the 56th time and 48th time in New York City. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style.”
James is the all-time leading scorer in Christmas games with 460 points and can break a tie with Dwyane Wade for most Christmas victories. They have 10 though Wade has the better winning percentage – .769 to James’ .588. With his 119 assists on Christmas, James can also get closer to Oscar Robertson’s record of 145. With three steals, he can tie Russell Westbrook (29) for No. 1 on Christmas, and with three 3-pointers he can tie James Harden (31) for most Christmas 3s.
Let’s look at the matchups with times, TV info and predictions:
Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Madison Square Garden
Why you should watch: Bucks stars Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard help form one of the best offenses, and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored a career-high 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15, is headed toward his first All-Star appearance.
Prediction: Knicks
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ABC, ESPN
Where: Ball Arena
Why you should watch: It’s Curry and Jokic – two of the game’s best players who each have two regular-season MVPs and a Finals MVP. Both are shotmakers and playmakers extraordinaire – basketball wizardry at its finest.
Prediction: Nuggets
Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV channel: ABC, ESPN
Where: Crypto.com Arena
Why you should watch: It’s Lakers-Celtics, two of the league’s storied franchises – each with a league-best 17 NBA titles. LeBron James. Anthony Davis. This is just the fifth time the Lakers and Celtics have met on Christmas (2018, 1970, 1955, 1951).
Prediction: Celtics
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Kaseya Center
Why you should watch: Joel Embiid is dominating and having a better season (league-best 34.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, a career-best 6.0 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game and 53.4% from the field) than he did in 2022-23 when he won his first MVP.
Prediction: Sixers
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Footprint Center
Why you should watch: With better shooting around him, Mavs guard Luka Doncic is putting together his best all-around season and is right alongside Embiid as one of the top MVP candidates. Plus, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could put on a show for Phoenix.
Prediction: Mavericks
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
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