Hoops On Christmas: Lakers Win Wild One, Wembanyama Dominates, And More From NBA’s Big Day
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- William D
- December 26, 2024
One of the most eagerly awaited basketball season events is NBA Christmas Day, and the 2024 edition did not let fans down. Fans were treated to exciting finishes, memorable performances, and a plenty of drama in this year’s schedule of games.
Every basketball lover could find something to enjoy in the action on Christmas Day, from remarkable individual efforts to heroics at the last second. With its star-studded rosters and intense rivalries, the day’s games were a must-watch for basketball fans everywhere.
The matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers was one of the most thrilling. Stephen Curry tied the game with back-to-back three-pointers with less than ten seconds left, but Austin Reaves responded with a game-winning layup to give the Lakers a thrilling victory of 115-113.
With 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, Reaves finished with an outstanding triple-double. LeBron James, who finished with 31 points and 10 assists, also made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 500 career Christmas Day points.
With 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, Reaves finished with an outstanding triple-double. LeBron James, who finished with 31 points and 10 assists, also made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 500 career Christmas Day points.
The San Antonio Spurs’ close defeat to the New York Knicks included another outstanding performance from rookie wonder Victor Wembanyama, who lit up the court with an almost record-breaking 42 points.
Wembanyama’s outstanding effort, which included 18 rebounds and four blocks, demonstrated why he is a generational talent, even though he was unable to surpass Wilt Chamberlain’s Christmas Day rookie scoring record.
However, the Knicks won 117-114 thanks to strong performances from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, as well as a career-high 41 points from Mikal Bridges. This game demonstrated the NBA’s future.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 33 points and 12 assists in an exciting 118-114 victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Caleb Martin’s 23 points off the bench and Joel Embiid’s 27 points helped Philadelphia win.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum put up a great show, scoring 55 points between them, but the Celtics were unable to overcome their turnover issues and missed free throws. One of the day’s biggest surprises was the 76ers’ outstanding performance, which demonstrated that they can compete with the league’s best.
Game Recap: Lakers vs. Warriors (115–113)
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers faced off in an exciting and dramatic game on Christmas Day. Early on, the Lakers took charge and established a commanding lead with a powerful offensive outburst.
With just 3:27 left in the fourth quarter, they extended their lead to 104-94 after going on a 7-0 run. But the Warriors, under the leadership of the always dangerous Stephen Curry, weren’t going to let the game go without a fight.
The Chase Center crowd went wild as Curry, who had been having trouble shooting earlier, surged in the last minute, making two straight three-pointers, including one to tie the game at 113 with eight seconds remaining.
Curry’s heroics notwithstanding, the Lakers displayed composure in the closing seconds. Austin Reaves drove by Andrew Wiggins with a second remaining, giving the Lakers a 115-113 victory as the clock was running out.
Reaves became the first Laker to record a triple-double on Christmas Day with a final effort of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, which was rounded off with a clutch shot. In a high-stress scenario where the game appeared to be slipping away, his playmaking and scoring were crucial in ensuring the victory.
LeBron James, who became the first NBA player to reach 500 career Christmas Day points, was instrumental in the victory as well, scoring 31 points and dishing out 10 assists. Following Curry’s late tirade, his leadership both on and off the court helped the Lakers recover and weather the storm.
The Lakers did face some difficulties during the game, though. Early in the game, Anthony Davis, who had been playing well, suffered an ankle injury. The Lakers had a big void in their lineup as Davis was forced to depart the game after only seven minutes of play.
Thanks in large part to their offensive play and defensive tenacity, the Lakers were able to cling on despite Curry’s late surge. The Lakers tightened their defense in the closing seconds, forcing the Warriors to take hurried shots following Curry’s game-winning three-pointer, despite Curry’s impressive 38 points and eight three-pointers.
The Lakers were able to capture the victory and make it clear that they are a formidable team this season thanks to their ability to respond with a huge play from Reaves and keep their cool during a wild finish.
5'10" Kylian Mbappé links up with 7'5" Victor Wembanyama for the NBA draft lottery 😳🤝
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 17, 2023
(via @NBAFRANCE)pic.twitter.com/vnBnux1Lm7
Game Recap: 76ers vs. Celtics (118–114)
The Boston Celtics were taken by surprise when the Philadelphia 76ers defeated them 118-114 at TD Garden on NBA Christmas Day 2024. Even though they were 10.5 points behind, the 76ers prevailed because to Tyrese Maxey’s outstanding performance, which was among his best in his career.
Throughout the game, Maxey led Philadelphia and directed the attack, finishing with 33 points and 12 assists. His shooting and playmaking were crucial in holding the Celtics at bay, particularly when Boston attempted a late rally.
Joel Embiid also made a big difference, scoring 27 points and pulling down 9 rebounds in just 30 minutes of action. The big man was still able to dominate inside, drawing fouls and making important shots in the second half while the Celtics concentrated their defensive efforts on slowing down Embiid.
With 23 points, including many clutch three-pointers, Caleb Martin—often the 76ers’ unsung hero—stepped up and gave the team the much-needed scoring help they needed to win. Boston was unable to stop Philadelphia’s steady pressure and well-balanced attack, which proved to be too much for them.
Even though Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum had excellent individual games, the Celtics were unable to establish a rhythm, especially when it came to ball handling. Boston made 12 turnovers compared to the 76ers’ six, giving Philadelphia the opportunity to take advantage of fast-break opportunities and establish significant leads.
Despite scoring 55 points between them, Brown and Tatum’s performance was tainted by inconsistent play and a lack of timely output in the closing seconds of the game. In a game where execution was crucial, the Celtics also struggled at the free-throw line, making only 8 of their 13 attempts, which cost them dearly.
Wemby’s Christmas Day Highlights:
— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) December 25, 2024
42 PTS | 18 REB | 4 AST | 4 BLK | 6 3PM pic.twitter.com/ycUQWCvdX1
In an exciting game that went right down to the wire, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 117-114 on Christmas Day. With an outstanding 42-point performance that almost broke Wilt Chamberlain’s Christmas Day rookie scoring record, Victor Wembanyama was without a doubt the game’s standout.
Wembanyama further cemented his position as one of the NBA’s most exciting young players by grabbing 18 rebounds and blocking four shots. His outstanding play on the rim and in the paint demonstrated why he is regarded as the league’s future star.
But Mikal Bridges, the Knicks’ own scoring sensation, answered Wembanyama’s genius with a career-high 41 points, including six three-pointers.
The Knicks were able to stay in the game thanks in large part to Bridges’ effective scoring and ability to generate offense for both himself and his teammates, particularly during periods when San Antonio appeared to be gaining ground.
The Knicks’ triumph was also greatly aided by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who combined for 41 points to help New York weather the storm and win.
Despite Wembanyama’s indisputable individual skill, the Knicks’ well-rounded and effective offensive strategy won this hotly contested game. Both Brunson and Towns made crucial plays in crucial situations as New York disseminated the ball well and shot a strong 48.6% from the field.
Conversely, the Spurs were unable to take advantage of Wembanyama’s dominance and struggled with shooting efficiency in the closing minutes. Even with his outstanding effort, the Spurs were unable to gain adequate support from other players, which let the Knicks win in the closing seconds.
Wembanyama’s talent was evident, and his capacity to dominate on both ends of the floor raises the possibility that he will be considered for an NBA MVP in the future. However, the Knicks’ offensive execution was more successful overall, driven by Bridges’ explosive shooting and Brunson and Towns’ playmaking.
Wembanyama’s individual genius was thwarted by New York’s offensive balance, which ultimately resulted in a tense 117-114 triumph. The Knicks’ effective team play and offensive depth proved to be too much on this Christmas Day, despite the Spurs’ promising future with Wembanyama.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-99 on Christmas Day, overcoming a late comeback by the Mavericks in a game that was marred by Luka Dončić’s tragic injury. The Mavs put up a strong fight in the fourth quarter when Dončić had to leave the game due to a strained calf, but the Timberwolves dominated the game for the most part.
Prior to the injury, Dončić was playing well, putting up 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists in the first half. However, Dallas was unable to regain their rhythm without their best player.
In spite of Dončić’s absence, the Mavericks put up a fierce fight and defeated the Timberwolves 31–15 in the last quarter. However, it was impossible to overturn Minnesota’s early lead. Julius Randle contributed 22 points, including a number of crucial baskets in the closing minutes, while Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 27 points.
Despite the Mavs’ late surge, Minnesota was able to keep control of the game thanks to their combined 49 points. Randle’s expertise paid out in the end when he made clutch shots that held the Mavericks at bay, while Edwards’ playmaking and scoring were crucial.
Kyrie Irving, who finished with a team-high 39 points, was the Mavericks’ only bright spot without Dončić. Throughout the game, Irving displayed aggression by making a number of long shots and setting up his teammates for opportunities.
The Mavericks struggled to find a reliable offensive source following Dončić’s injury, and despite his best efforts, Irving was unable to bear the weight alone. As the Mavs attempted to rally back into the game, the Timberwolves were able to take advantage of Dallas’s lack of offensive depth and kept their cool.
Because of their excellent play early in the game and the timely contributions of Edwards and Randle, the Timberwolves were able to hold on and win. Despite a late comeback sans Dončić, the Mavs were unable to overcome Minnesota’s early dominance.
The Mavericks now have to deal with the uncertainty around Dončić’s calf issue and how it might affect their season going forward, while the Timberwolves will be relieved with the win.
On Christmas Day, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-100 thanks in large part to the 54 points scored by Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Beal finished with 27 points, while Durant, despite his poor shooting efficiency, contributed 27 points of his own.
They worked in tandem to propel the Suns’ attack and keep Phoenix ahead of the competition for the most of the game. The Suns repelled the Nuggets’ attempts to rally thanks to Durant’s all-around play, which included making key baskets and reaching the free-throw line.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets with a strong outing, scoring 25 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Even with Jokić’s outstanding double-double, Denver’s attack found it difficult to match Phoenix’s.
The Nuggets just made 8 of 29 three-point tries, shooting a meager 26.7% from the field. The Nuggets were unable to stretch the floor or create the necessary spacing to penetrate the Suns’ defense, thus their poor shooting from beyond the arc proved costly.
16 turnovers further hampered Denver’s offense, giving Phoenix the opportunity to take advantage of fast-break opportunities and keep a lead the entire time.
The Nuggets’ incapacity to perform effectively from the perimeter was one of their most obvious problems. Phoenix continuously responded with scoring runs in the second half, and Denver’s poor three-point shooting prevented them from reducing the deficit.
Jokić did his best in the paint, but the Nuggets’ attack became predictable in the absence of a steady external threat. Denver’s problems were further made worse by the turnovers, as the Suns were able to turn a lot of these errors into baskets and prevented the Nuggets from gaining any traction.
The Nuggets made an attempt to rally, but Phoenix’s potent defense and effective scoring were sufficient to prevail. Beal and Durant led the Suns’ charge, and Denver’s poor shooting and turnovers ultimately proved to be their undoing.
If the Nuggets hope to stay competitive in the future, they will need to fix their three-point shooting issues and poor ball handling skills. With both players stepping up to lead the team to a crucial Christmas Day victory, Phoenix’s triumph demonstrated the potential of their star tandem in Beal and Durant.