On Christmas Day, the NBA showcased several exciting matchups, but one game that stood out was the thrilling contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. In a dramatic finish, Austin Reaves drove to the basket for a layup just as time expired, securing a 115-113 victory for the Lakers at the Chase Center.
For much of the game, it was a closely fought battle, with both teams exchanging leads. The Lakers pulled ahead with a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter, establishing a formidable 104-94 lead with only a few minutes left. However, the Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, mounted a furious comeback. Curry hit two back-to-back three-pointers in the final seconds, tying the game at 113 and showcasing his remarkable shooting ability. In total, he scored eight points in just 26 seconds, proving why he remains one of the game’s top players.
Reaves had an outstanding performance, finishing the game with a triple-double: 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Despite being underdogs going into the game, the Lakers relied on his skill and composure, particularly in crunch time. In contrast, the Warriors’ Curry led all scorers with 38 points and also made eight three-pointers, with Andrew Wiggins contributing 21 points to the Warriors’ effort.
While the Lakers celebrated their victory, they faced challenges as well. Dennis Schröder struggled with his shooting, finishing with only 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting. LeBron James had a quieter game down the stretch but still managed to score 31 points along with 10 assists, further solidifying his status in NBA history as he became the first player to score over 500 points on Christmas Day. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Anthony Davis suffered an ankle injury early in the game, playing only seven minutes before leaving the court and not returning.
In another game of the day, the Phoenix Suns grinded out a solid win against the Denver Nuggets, coming away with a 110-100 victory. Denver’s shooting from beyond the arc fell flat, hitting only 26.7% of their three-point attempts and contributing to 16 turnovers. Nikola Jokić did his best to lead the Nuggets with 25 points and 15 rebounds, though he was not at his peak performance. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray had a subpar showing, with just 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
For the Suns, both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal stepped up significantly, scoring 27 points each. However, Durant required a hefty 26 shot attempts to hit that tally, indicating he struggled with efficiency, particularly from three-point range, where he was 0-for-5. Despite these struggles, the Suns managed to hold on for the win.
In another matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers faced off against the Boston Celtics in a hard-fought game that ended with the 76ers winning 118-114. Despite securing more rebounds and a solid shooting performance from beyond the arc, the Celtics fell short due to critical turnovers and the impactful play of Tyrese Maxey, who excelled with 33 points and 12 assists. The Celtics struggled in the fourth quarter to close the gap, especially without the additional contributions from Jrue Holiday, who was sidelined with an injury.
Additionally, Victor Wembanyama, the rookie sensation for the San Antonio Spurs, was in the spotlight during the day’s early game against the New York Knicks. Wembanyama scored an impressive 42 points, nearly breaking the Christmas Day scoring record set by Wilt Chamberlain, but despite his efforts, the Spurs lost to the Knicks 117-114.
Finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to secure a 105-99 victory against the Dallas Mavericks, who played without their star player Luka Dončić due to a calf injury. This injury limited his impact on the game, and despite a late-game surge from the Mavericks, they could not overcome the Timberwolves’ strong performance.
As the NBA celebrated this holiday, fans witnessed a blend of skill, drama, and the holiday spirit that perfectly encapsulated the magic of Christmas Day basketball.
