The Top Ten NBA Christmas Day Games

There are five NBA games on the calendar for Christmas Day this season. The league permanently expanded to five Christmas games during the 2008-09 season, and we’ve had some great matchups in the past decade. However, some December 25th games stand out as classics.

Today, we’ll examine the ten best Christmas Day games in NBA history. Please remember that everyone can have their own list. Don’t take it personally if a showdown you loved doesn’t make an appearance. I’ve grown up on late 2000s and 2010s basketball, but I included games from different eras.

Games appear based on how competitive they were (buzzer-beaters, overtime, etc.) and how meaningful they were (rising teams upsetting champions, legends versus younger stars, etc.).

Feel free to check out the full archive of NBA Christmas Day games here.

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Top Ten NBA Christmas Games

10. 1984 Nets vs. Knicks

The high-scoring 120-114 affair that went New Jersey’s way is the oldest game I’ve included on this list.

Interestingly, neither team had a winning record entering the matchup, and both failed to win a playoff game in the 1984 season. However, it’s hard to ignore this offensive explosion, which featured three Nets with at least 24 points and a 60-point outing by New York’s Bernard King.

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9. 1999 Spurs vs. Lakers

You can’t tell the story of Christmas basketball without Kobe Bryant.

The 1990 season marked the beginning of a three-peat for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Fans got a preview of their future champions on Christmas Day when Los Angeles faced the reigning champion Spurs. Tim Duncan led a team featuring an aging David Robinson against Los Angeles’ dynamic duo.

The Lakers outscored San Antonio in each quarter to win 99-93, cementing themselves as title contenders.

8. 2013 Clippers vs. Warriors

The Lob City Clippers were at the peak of their powers when they traveled to Oracle Arena for a Christmas game eight years ago. Stephen Curry was in the midst of his first All-Star campaign, and the Warriors were only one season away from winning their first championship in about 30 years.

Jamal Crawford missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired, and Golden State defended its home court 105-103. Los Angeles got the last laugh. The Clippers beat the Warriors in a seven-game playoff series a few months later.

7. 2003 Cavaliers vs. Magic

LeBron James became a staple of Christmas basketball dating back to his rookie season when he led the Cavaliers in a valiant effort against Orlando. The rookie from Saint Vincent-Saint Mary led Cleveland with 34 points, but Orlando’s Tracy McGrady won the day. The future Hall of Famer scored 41 points on 51.7% shooting.

The Magic won 113-101 in overtime.

6. 2010 Heat vs. Lakers

In 2010, LeBron and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, continuing the modern arms race started by Boston. The trio entered Christmas 22-9 with a date at Staples Center against the 21-8 Lakers. Kobe and Los Angeles were only a few months removed from beating Boston in the NBA Finals.

Miami ultimately outscored Los Angeles in each quarter to win 96-80. James led the game with 27 points and went on to make eight consecutive finals appearances. Bryant never appeared in another championship game.

5. 1986 Bulls vs. Knicks

Michael Jordan was in his third season, and Ewing was in his second when the two future rival Eastern Conference teams clashed in 1986. Chicago vs. New York became one of the best rivalries in the NBA in the 1990s, and this game foreshadowed those matchups.

Jordan scored 30 points, but Ewing hit a hanging buzzer-beater to win 86-85.

Chicago and New York also played in a classic 1994 Christmas game where Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to victory in overtime.

4. 2000 Trail Blazers vs. Lakers

Kobe and Shaq combined for 61 points against Portland in 2000, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a deep Trail Blazers squad. Los Angeles trimmed the game to 104-106 with less than 40 seconds left, but free throws padded Portland’s lead to 104-109.

Many people forget the bad blood between the Lakers and Trail Blazers. Portland lost to Phil Jackson’s squad 4-3 in the 2000 Western Conference Finals before getting swept 3-0 in the first round in 2001 and 2002.

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3. 1985 Celtics vs. Knicks

The Knicks upset a loaded Celtics team in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 25, 1985. Boston entered the game with four future Hall of Famers in their starting lineup (Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish) and one on the bench (Bill Walton). However, rookie Patrick Ewing’s squad prevailed 113-104 in double overtime.

New York didn’t even make the playoffs that season, but Boston won the championship.

2. 2016 Warriors vs. Cavaliers

Curry and James have their legacies permanently intertwined because of the Golden State vs. Cleveland era that dominated the league for four seasons. The two future Hall of Famers found themselves face-to-face on Christmas Day in 2016.

The NBA sold crowds on the spectacle of watching the previous two champions (Warriors in 2015 and Cavaliers in 2016) clash. Golden State built a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but James and Kyrie Irving bounced back to win 109-108.

Kevin Durant failed to get a good look for the game’s final shot.

1. 2004 Heat vs. Lakers

Staples Center played host to some of the best Christmas Games in NBA history.

Bryant and O’Neal didn’t exactly go out on the best terms when the Lakers traded their superstar center to Miami. The two champions had one of the most notorious feuds in league history, making their Christmas showdown must-see television.

This game was the first time Kobe and Shaq faced each other since the breakup, and it didn’t disappoint. Los Angeles and Miami found themselves in overtime, where the Heat prevailed 104-102. Wade as a second-year guard scored 29, and O’Neal added 24 to overcome Bryant’s 42-point performance.

Kobe missed a potential game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. O’Neal fouled out before the game ended.

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