The NBA could be trapped in its summer crisis at this time, but it is never too early to think about Christmas. The Christmas Day Calendar of the League leaked was leaked on Friday afternoon thanks to the privileged information of ESPN Charania, and the list of five games is emerging as another fantastic basketball day.
The NBA had to bring heat for these Christmas day clashes, because the NFL is violating its territory. The NFL could say that they see Apple and Google, not the NBA and the MLB, as its main competition, but on December 25 it has always belonged to basketball children. With the NFL carrying the bosses of Kansas City, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions to its Christmas day schedule, the NBA continued with its own historical franchises and global stars. Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, Rookie Hot Shot Cooper Flagg, and many more will be exhibited on Christmas Day for the NBA.
Let’s classify the five games that we will see on December 25 for whose most you need to see.
5. Dallas Mavericks in Golden State Warriors
This confrontation is the last one who speaks of how strong the Christmas list of the NBA is. The Warriors are a blockade to play every December 25, provided that Steph Curry is still Steph Curry. I am a little surprised from the Cooper Flagg League immediately as a rookie, especially when your team partner Kyrie Irving will be marginalized while recovering from a torn acl. FlagG will be the young NBA player this year while he turns 19 a few days before Christmas. It is a great place for him, but I really think it will be one of the faces of the League one day soon, and it is a great movement to start building its brand with marquee games like this from the jump.
I see the Warriors in the seed range No. 6-8 in the West this year. I doubt that Dallas can do better than the game without irving. This is a solid game, but everything is great to omit it for additional socialization with friends and family on vacation.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers in New York Knicks
The first game of the day presents the two leaders in the east. Madison Square Garden is a classic backdrop for Christmas Day in the NBA, and this has two very good teams in a Stick game for what many expect to be the confrontation of the Eastern Conference finals.
So why is the number 4? There is simply much new in any of these teams, unless you are making you go through the minutes of Lonzo Ball or Guerschon Yabusele in the eighth man of the Knicks. Both teams face a certain pressure to finally advance this year in a season in which the Celtics and the Pacers are effective to Alrerery thanks to the injuries of the seasonal loans of Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Halibton. I can’t wait to see these two teams play in May, but there is not so much sense of discovery here compared to the rest of the list.
3. Houston Rockets in Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers get a full season from Luka Magic this year, and having LeBron James as a partner is still quite good, even a week, without his 41st birthday, when this confrontation will be played. The Lakers will go as far as Luka can take them, but there are even reasons to be optimistic about rockets. Houston won 52 games and obtained NO. 2 seeds in the West last year with nothing that looks like a main score option. He entered Kevin Durant, the 37 -year -old sniper finally ready to win again after a failed period in Phoenix. With a team of rabid athletes and defenders around him, Durant should enter an easy role as a shooter and scorer outside the ball that does not need to be Superman for his team to win every night.
Rockets are the deepest and most athletic team. The Lakers still have the best individual player on the floor, and maybe even the two best depending on how much LeBron wants to overcome the regular season. I like that the rockets win more regular seasonal games than the Lakers this year, but I would not be surprised if Doncic uses this stage as an opportunity to shoot for its first MVP trophy. This will be high -level basketball with two good coaches and future halls of families on both sides.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves in Denver Nuggets
The Nightcap presents the best rivalry in the NBA at this time. The Nuggets eliminated the wolves on their way to the first championship in the history of the franchise in 2023. The wolves ended their repetition chans next year with an impressive victory of the game 7 that coined Anthony as a superstar of Chip Blue Aldraady. It is an essential television every time two teams play, and this confrontation will not be the exception.
Why see the best player in the world? Nikola Jokic retains that title for the sixth consecutive season. Why to see the most exciting American player in the game, the guy who has the closest resemblance to MJ and Kobe? That would be Minnesota Stud two guards Anthony Edwards, who continues evidence that he is ready for the moment. Denver was loaded during the low season to finally improve Jokic’s support cast, while the wolves expect their young players to take another step forward and surpass them. Minnesota has won six consecutive games against Denver, which is wild. Nuggets feel like the greatest threat of championship for Thunder this season, and can try it against the wolves.
1. San Antonio Spurs in Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder won the NBA 2025 championship, and could improve this year, since Nikola Topic joins the rotation and all its key players approach another year to their best moment. If any team is going to build a dynasty in the era of the second Aper, the Thunder are the obvious bet to do so. Spurs could be their largest long -term challenger. Victor Wembanyama already feels like one of the 10 best players in the world when he enters this third season, and still has a lot of space to grow. The Spurs finally gave Wemby a decent support cast this year when De’aaron Fox brought together with a massive extension, and the fate of the lottery rewarded the team with Dylan Harper.
Thunder are on the mountain. Wembanyama wants to lead the Spurs there, and simply reaching the playoffs in a western loaded would be a step in the right direction this year. Wembanyama was incredibly incredible at Christmas last season, and is only improving. This may not be the confrontation to decide West yet, but it is likely to be possible, and that makes it the most exciting Christmas game of the NBA.