The NBA’s Christmas Day showcase featured five exciting matchups, with some teams delivering standout performances while others faltered under the spotlight. Here’s a breakdown of the winners and losers from the holiday slate.
Winners
Los Angeles Lakers
Despite Anthony Davis exiting early due to injury, LeBron James once again proved his dominance on Christmas Day. With a triple-double performance from Austin Reaves and key three-pointers from Rui Hachimura, the Lakers secured a thrilling 115-113 victory over the Warriors. The team’s ability to adapt without Davis and capitalize on three-point shooting was the difference-maker. Grade: A
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers pulled off a stunning upset over the Boston Celtics, thanks to an outstanding performance from Tyrese Maxey, who posted 33 points and 12 assists. Joel Embiid fought through injury to contribute 27 points, while Caleb Martin’s seven three-pointers helped seal the 118-114 win. With their recent resurgence, the Sixers look like a legitimate threat in the East. Grade: A
New York Knicks
The Knicks rallied late to defeat the Spurs 117-114, overcoming an explosive debut from Victor Wembanyama. Mikal Bridges had his best game in a Knicks uniform, dropping 41 points. Clutch shooting from OG Anunoby and Josh Hart kept New York in control down the stretch, proving their resilience on the big stage. Grade: A
Losers
Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry did all he could with 38 points, but the Warriors failed to support him offensively. Their defensive struggles and inability to capitalize on Anthony Davis’ absence cost them the game. With this loss, Golden State has now dropped 11 of its last 14 games, raising serious concerns. Grade: C
Boston Celtics
Boston has now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, slipping further behind Cleveland in the race for the top seed. Despite a strong performance from Jayson Tatum (32 points, 15 rebounds), their defense faltered, and their bench provided little impact. Grade: C
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas nearly completed a comeback against the Timberwolves but fell short. The bigger concern is Luka Doncic’s injury, which could sideline him for an extended period. Without him, the Mavs will rely heavily on Kyrie Irving, who scored 39 points in the 105-99 loss. Grade: C+
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 25 points and 15 rebounds, but Denver’s bench failed to step up. They struggled to maintain momentum when Jokic was off the floor, leading to a 110-100 loss to the Suns. Grade: C-
Final Thoughts
The Christmas Day slate showcased some thrilling games and standout performances. The Lakers, 76ers, and Knicks took full advantage of their moments, while the Warriors, Celtics, and Mavericks face concerns heading into the second half of the season. With the NBA season heating up, these matchups could have major playoff implications down the road.
Source: CBS Sports
Leave a comment