The NBA finally announced the five games that will be played on Christmas Day so let’s rank these matchups.
The Christmas Day games are truly special for the NBA fans, because it’s a day with family, presents and good basketball. There are games from the time you wake up all the way past dinner. It features the best teams in the NBA with the best players.
These five matchups have different storylines; they’re rivalries that make them all interesting in their own way. Let’s rank the games that are being played on December 25, starting with the least interesting matchup all the way to potentially the best game of the day.
5. Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
Probably the worst matchup of the day will be between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks. Typically, the Western Conference does better in terms of rating than the Eastern Conference and that pattern should continue here.
Yes, the 76ers do have a young core with Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. But with constant injury concerns to Simmons and Embiid, will they even suit up in this game?
The Knicks, on the other hand, have a terrible roster from top to bottom, except for Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony. But by Christmas Day, will ‘Melo even be in New York? He could be in Houston or Cleveland playing in another matchup on Christmas Day.
It’s an early start with two potentially non-playoff teams, with no real superstar. This game definitely ranks fifth on our list of the Christmas Day games.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Again, similar to what was said about the Knicks and the 76ers could be said about the Timberwolves and the Lakers. The T’Wolves are a team on the come-up. They will throw out Jimmy Butler alongside Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins. That has the potential to be a bottom-tier playoff team in the West.
On the other hand, the Lakers feature Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and some other young pieces. With Wiggins being the only true superstar, along with Lonzo — and LaVar — Ball’s natural pull, this game could draw a lot of eyeballs.
A lot of people will definitely be interested to see the appeal of these young teams, but given the timeslot, a lot of fans don’t watch the game at this time.
But if they both have a poor start to the season, this game could definitely turn into a snooze-fest. Maybe Christmas Day 2021 this becomes the featured matchup, but in 2017, it lands in the No. 4 spot ahead of the Knicks-76ers.
3. Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics
The Eastern Conference Semifinals was everything that we could ask for. The Wizards have a core of Bradley Beal and John Wall, while the Celtics feature team-oriented basketball like we’ve never seen before.
In May, these two teams dueled it for seven games, refusing to lose on their respective home floors. It took Boston seven games but they were able to advance. Both of these teams will look to take the next step in the Eastern Conference, as they look to dethrone LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This game has the superstar potential with Beal, Wall and Isaiah Thomas. It will also feature Celtics’ new superstar, Gordon Hayward, in his first Christmas Day game with Boston.
This matchup could feature a lot of physical, tough basketball similar to what we see in May for the playoffs. These two teams have bad blood, don’t like each other very much and want to show who’s No. 2 in the Eastern Conference.
On a Christmas Day matchup, you can’t really ask for more than that.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Surprised, eh? But let’s be honest, when the Cavaliers and the Warriors play in the regular season, it becomes somewhat of a blow out.
Last Christmas, the Cavaliers came back late against the Warriors and won on a Kyrie Irving game-winning shot over Klay Thompson. But will Irving even be at this game? Will he be playing for another team?
That widens the gap potentially between these two teams in the regular season. Yes, the Cavaliers could get better by trading Irving, but it’ll take a while to find their chemistry and I doubt it’ll all come together by December.
The Warriors reloaded and are back to defend their crown. Although this game has all the NBA’s biggest stars, I feel like it will be a huge letdown. It has the potential to be a complete blowout in the favor of the Golden State Warriors.
Last year or the year before, the Warriors-Cavaliers would have been the no-brainer option to be at No. 1, but with all of the dominance Golden State has shown, it falls to No. 2.
1. Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Here we go, here’s the No. 1 matchup on Christmas Day. The Houston Rockets heading to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. They played in the Western Conference Semifinals, with the Rockets taking the series in five games.
It also features the top-two MVP candidates from a season ago in Russell Westbrook and James Harden. But wait, the teams also re-shaped their rosters in their attempt to take down Golden State. The Rockets added Chris Paul and the Thunder added Paul George.
Both teams seem evenly matched on paper and this has the potential to be a huge rivalry in the Western Conference. The NBA has placed this game in the evening, allowing for a lot of fans to watch it as well.
With a lot of intrigue on both sides with new superstars, a lot of fans will probably tune in to catch this game. It may not have the best players, but it seems to be the most evenly matched game with new stars and a budding rivalry.
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The NBA has announced its five Christmas Day games, and here is a power ranking of these games, with the Rockets-Thunder having the potential to be the best one.