His day Christmas It’s one of the big moments of the season NBA. The best teams on the most important stage the league has to offer. Games that matter with a lot of history involved and in 2023 its programming December 25 It comes loaded.
It will feature five meetings NBA Christmas 2023 with several points of attention for this Monday:
| Local | Visitor | Time (CDMX, ET, AR and ESP) |
|---|---|---|
| Knicks | dollars | 11:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 18:00 |
| Nuggets | Warriors | 13:30 | 14:30 | 16:30 | 20:30 |
| Lakers | Celtics | 16:00 | 17:00 | 19:00 | 23:00 |
| heat | 76 year olds | 19:00 | 20:00 | 22:00 | 2:00 |
| Suns | Mavs | 21:30 | 22:30 | 00:30 | 4:30 |
More | All the NBA Christmas records, numbers and stats
With that panorama, it’s time to review what are the most important storylines to follow for NBA Christmas 2023.
Fans in the United Statesyou can watch the best games of the 2023-2024 NBA season Sling TV. Register by clicking here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his chance to make history
Although it is known that the record for points by a player on Christmas Day is held by Bernard King, who as a member of the Knicks scored 60, it is less well known that the most by a visitor in Madison Square Garden. On December 25, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain I went to 59 points in one of the best duels in memory to that date and settled in double overtime.
During the Bucks’ visit to the Knicks’ home, John Antetokounmpo appears as a clear contender to break Chamberlain’s record. The Greek is having a stellar December in terms of points and this Christmas he could shine again.
Without going any further, at 13 the star went to 64 points, the franchise file and the staff. Now, without Mitchell Robinson available to the locals to stop Giannis, the star has an unbeatable opportunity to make history.
More | A Christmas Miracle Story: The Unexpected Performances
The last two champions, face to face
It seems like a century has passed since then Golden State Warriors They were declared champions in June 2022, but less than 600 days have passed. However, the Californians are having a difficult time interpreting it. Without the swinging Draymond Green, the Bay’s have taken a step forward on a competitive level, flourishing the Stephen Curry more effective and young people appear as X factor.
A very different situation from his Denver Nuggets, the league winners and perhaps the best team on the planet right now. Michael Malone’s men started the season strongly before starting to manage efforts, resources and adapt with the Playoffs already on their minds. The Coloradoans look like a solid team, capable of going up three gears at once and running over their opponent if they have the day.
Despite Denver’s supposed superiority, the Warriors already know what it’s like to get them in trouble. They did at the start of the season, when an unexpected burst from Reggie Jackson kept the Nuggets from losing. being Golden State at a good time it would not be strange to see those of Kerr surprise of the current champions.
Sign up to NBA League Pass to see all games: United States | The rest of the world
The first NBA Classic in 15 years
The last time Celtics and Lakers They saw each other on Christmas Day, the greens had only months ago become champions, Kevin Garnett He was the big star but Kobe Bryant He stole the limelight by shining as top scorer and duel winner.
Justin four times These two historic franchises met on December 25th, three of which occurred when the Lakers were in Minneapolis and two with the team already in Los Angeles. A historical anomaly that could have its reason in denial Red Auerbach to play on such an important date and which deprived fans of epic duels over the years 60 and 80.
Beyond that, the present sets the tone and right now the Angels are in a disadvantageous position to battle the Celtics. Boston appears in Hollywood as the best team in the East and a team with a top-five offense and defense in each category in the league overall.
Although the greens have been somewhat erratic on this trip to the West, when they have all their troops available, especially Porzingis, is one of the best teams in the entire league. His champions In-season tournaments They will have to work hard not to waste this opportunity to reverse the trend set by that success.
Embiid’s moment, tested
If there has been a team in recent years that has significantly reduced its performance Joel Embiid that’s it Miami Heat.
Those led by Erik Spoelstra were the pain for the African, who just left the interior Averaged 23.6 points in 17 games. That may not seem like a small number, but it’s the third lowest among the league’s 30 teams, a reflection of the impact Miami’s defense has had on the star.
Embiid is coming at a stellar time. The calendar gave the MVP a wonderful opportunity to look like a legitimate contender, shining against lesser opponents with stellar numbers. The combination of factors makes this Christmas match a critical moment on a narrative level for the Cameroonian.
If he gets past the Miami Heat defense, he will confirm that he is the frontrunner to win the award again, but if the opposite happens and in the context of tonight, other candidates could emerge strongly.
A new chapter in the Doncic-Booker rivalry
If there’s one pure rivalry, athletically speaking, in the entire NBA today, it’s the one they maintain Luka Doncic and Devin Booker. He pique between these two top-level stars goes back years, reaching its peak in the 2022 Playoffs when the Slovenian won the series against the Suns.
Since that moment, every duel between Dallas and Phoenix has become the game of the day. Both maintain a very intense face-to-face which is realized in the fact that both give their best level. But playing close to perfection isn’t just what draws the fans, it’s also the drama and the spectacle. And in that Luca and Booker were also some of the best with their special push and pull.
This will be the first time this season that the Mavs and Suns have met each other. Last season the balance was two wins for each team and all the duels were extremely competitive and exciting from the start. Although this Christmas will start a little late, it is probably the best meeting of the whole December 25th.
