It’s an NBA Christmas with a full slate of games.
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks – 12:00 PM EST
Two young, athletic teams–led by Embiid and Porzingis, respectively–will meet for the first time this season. Porzingis’ injury is listed day-to-day and Embiid is likely to play after suffering a sore back. This should be a fun Christmas Day game in The Garden.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors – 3:00 PM EST
We’re going to have a Finals rematch on Christmas Day for the third straight time, The Cavaliers will visit the Warriors, but Curry and Thomas will be out with injuries. But these two teams still have enough stars to make the game a Christmas Day treat.
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics – 5:30 PM EST
This could be one of the most interesting games of the day. For sure, Kelly Oubre will have a long night playing in front of the Celtics’ crowd. Irving and Wall, the top point guards in the East, should exchange gifts. Look for this to be an exciting game.
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8:00 PM EST
MVP candidates will go at it on Christmas Day. Led by James Harden and newly acquired Chris Paul, Houston is off to a historic start (25-4 currently). They’ll visit OKC to face the struggling Thunder. Expect these two rivals to play a grind-it-out game.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 PM EST
This is a game between two young teams that are still finding their groove. The Lakers stand 10-18 (as of Dec 20, 2017), while the Wolves are 18-13. The Wolves are healthy but inconsistent, and they keep losing to below .500 teams. The Lakers are also inconsistent, especially in close games. We’ll see what unfolds when these two teams get together at The Staples Center.
____________________
Statistics: Basketball-Reference.com, MSN Sports
