The 2021 Christmas Day slate features five blockbuster matchups to keep you entertained once the presents are opened, with Madison Square Garden tipping off the action at lunchtime.
Will LeBron James claim the record for most wins on Christmas Day? Can the Knicks avenge their playoff defeat to the Hawks? Five members of our Sporting News Staff give their predictions for all five games across the marquee day.
MORE: 2021-22 NBA Christmas Day guide | List of players in NBA’s health and safety protocols
Two Eastern Conference teams with differing fortunes this season collide on Christmas Day.
The Celtics have hovered around .500 all season but have received a big boost with Jaylen Brown returning to the lineup after an extended absence with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo has cleared the league’s health and safety protocols, with optimism growing that he could play on Christmas Day. The Bucks have been ravaged by injuries and absences this season, with 13 different players starting for them at some point this season. Milwaukee is 3-4 in 2021-22 without Antetokounmpo. Who will step up for them against the Celtics?
Staff Predictions
Scott Rafferty
Carlan Gay
Benyam Kidane
Kyle Irving
Nick Metallinos
Celtics
Celtics
Bucks
Celtics
Celtics
Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns
Game time: 5:00 PM ET | 2:00 PM PT
Warriors ML: +145
Suns ML: -160
Spread: Suns -3.5 (-110); Warriors +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 227.5 (-110)
On paper, the Nets and Lakers is the marquee game of the day, but Phoenix and Golden State have been the two best teams in the league this season.
They’ve already played twice this season, each winning on their home floor, setting the stage for what will be the best quality game of basketball on Christmas with both teams largely escaping the health and safety protocols.
For the Warriors, they will be without Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, while the Suns have a clean bill of health.
History beckons for LeBron James, who is just 13 points shy of eclipsing Kobe Bryant on the all-time Christmas Day scoring list. A win against the Nets would give LeBron his 11th on Christmas Day, clearing Dwyane Wade (10) for sole position of the record.
Christmas Day top 5 scorers
1. Kobe Bryant — 395 points in 16 games (24.6 ppg on 40.8 FG%) 2. LeBron James — 383 points in 15 games (25.5 ppg on 48.4 FG%) 3. Oscar Roberson — 377 points in 12 games (31.4 ppg on 47.0 FG%) 4. Dwyane Wade — 314 points in 13 games (24.1 ppg on 45.7 FG%) 5. Kevin Durant — 299 in 10 games (29.9 ppg on 51.7 FG%)
With James Harden cleared of health and safety protocols, the Nets receive a huge boost ahead of the game, however, they will be without Kevin Durant, who is currently in the league’s health and safety protocols. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis (knee) will miss the game due to injury.
Staff Predictions
Scott Rafferty
Carlan Gay
Benyam Kidane
Kyle Irving
Nick Metallinos
Lakers
Lakers
Lakers
Lakers
Nets
Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz
Game time: 10:30 PM ET | 7:30 PM PT
Mavericks ML: +175
Jazz ML: -205
Spread: Jazz -5.5 (-110); Mavericks +5.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 222.5 (-110)
The final game of the day will see the Mavericks travel to Utah, but they will be without Luka Doncic, who has missed their past eight games with an ankle injury. He is the most recent player to enter the health and safety protocols, making a win on the road all the more difficult for Dallas.
Without Doncic, it will be the battle of the bigs that takes center stage between Kristaps Porzingis and Rudy Gobert.
Staff Predictions
Scott Rafferty
Carlan Gay
Benyam Kidane
Kyle Irving
Nick Metallinos
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz
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