No major sport has embraced playing on Christmas as a tradition more than the NBA, which will again feature some of the most captivating match-ups this season on the holiday.
Here are the five best Christmas Day games in history to have spread some cheer.
1. Lakers v Heat, 2004
The intrigue doesn’t get higher than this: Shaq’s first return to LA to take on Kobe Bryant’s Lakers. O’Neal’s new team had the last laugh.
2. Lakers v Heat, 2010
This time the storylines were focused on LeBron and Miami’s Big 3 in this first season together. The superteam would dominate though.
3. Lakers v Celtics, 2008
Not only was this a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, but it had Boston coming in having won 19 straight and LA sitting at 27-2. Lakers prevailed.
4. Knicks v Celtics, 1985
Rookie Patrick Ewing would announce his stardom by going against Boston’s Big 3 and leading a 25-point comeback in a 2OT win.
5. Knicks v Bulls, 1986
Ewing again took on one of the league’s giants in Jordan and the Bulls and came out on top on his game-winning putback at the buzzer.