Have a holly jolly NBA Christmas
The NFL owns Thanksgiving, but Christmas is the NBA’s day to shine.
The league once again has an impressive quintuple-header of games for the holiday, highlighted by the Clippers and Lakers at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here are five storylines to watch while opening presents and binging NBA action:
WE FOUR KINGS
The battle for Los Angeles and the Western Conference will be waged at Staples Center in the night’s showcase game — the Clippers sit three games behind the Lakers (24-6) in the standings. LeBron James and company lost the season opener to Kawhi Leonard’s crew in a game Paul George did not play in for the Clippers.
“I think we’re good,” George said. “I think we’re good.”
The Lakers have lost just five times since then, but that includes the past three games. James and Anthony Davis only played together in one of those three losses, but both are expected to suit up.
This will be our first look at the two power duos against each other. The Clippers are 10-3 in games in which both Leonard and George start. Davis and James are one of two duos (Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins) in which both are averaging more than 25 points per game and have the Lakers excelling.
“We know what the end goal is,” Davis said. “And when you have guys like that, with veteran leadership, when everyone is locked in to our goal, it’s easy for us to jell together.”
SHARING HIS GIFTS
If you have yet to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, enjoy this Christmas treat against the 76ers (2:30 p.m., ABC). The Bucks superstar, making a bid to be a backto-back MVP, is having an even better season than when he won the award last season.
The Greek Freak is averaging 31 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and shooting 34.2 percent from 3-point range to have Milwaukee at 27-4 atop the East. He will test all of that against the 76ers, one of the top 10 defensive teams in the NBA.
“You’re always told that the best teams play on Christmas, the All-Star players play on Christmas and the whole world is watching this game,” Antetokounmpo said.
MERRY AND BRIGHT
The Celtics, second in the East, have won three straight, and Jayson Tatum appears to be hitting his stride. The thirdyear forward averaged 29.7 points (including a career-high 39 against the Hornets), 8.3 rebounds and shot 50.7 percent during the win streak.
The surge comes as they get set to face a Raptors team (noon, ESPN) dealing with the absence of Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell to injuries. The defending
NBA champions are 2-1 without Siakam, but can they sustain that with the trio facing extended absences? It is the Raptors’ first Christmas Day game since 2001.
“It’ll be interesting,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. “I wish we had more of our regular guys playing in it, but we’ve got to go play the game nevertheless. So we’ll see. I think it’ll be fun.”
GHOSTS OF XMAS PAST
A years ago, Rockets-Warriors (5 p.m., ABC) would have been the co-main event. Instead injuries have decimated the Golden State dynasty — a recent Christmas staple — and have the Warriors as one of the NBA’s worst teams at 7-24 with no Klay Thompson and no Stephen Curry.
If you haven’t watched “The Irishman” yet, this might be the time. Otherwise, you at least have the explosive Houston pair of James Harden and Russell Westbrook to enjoy. Who gets the triple-double first?
SILVER HELLS
While there is plenty to be excited about with this Christmas lineup, NBA commissioner Adam Silver most certainly is thinking about what could have been without the injuries. The Warriors-Rockets game already feels lost, and the nightcap between the Nuggets and Pelicans (10:30 pm., ESPN) feels the same, with New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson not yet having played this season.
The Pelicans are 8-23, one game better than the dreadful Warriors, going against a Nuggets team that, despite having no superstars, is in second place in the West. Injuries have certainly taken some juice out of these games.