By Matija Šerić
Unlike most sports leagues that take a break during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the NBA never stops. On the contrary, basketball fans in the U.S. and around the world are treated to a spectacle. Christmas is not a day of rest for players and coaching staffs, but a date reserved in the calendar for a showpiece – several clashes between the league’s most popular teams. This Christmas, we had the chance to enjoy five top-class games that thrilled audiences everywhere. At Madison Square Garden, New York defeated Cleveland 126–124; San Antonio beat Oklahoma City on the road 117–102; Golden State defeated Dallas at home 126–116; Houston won in Los Angeles against the Lakers 119–96; and Denver edged Minnesota 142–138 after overtime at Ball Arena.
Knicks from the brink to triumph
Year after year, it becomes clear that after winning the NBA Cup, teams often struggle due to emotional exhaustion. However, the Knicks have shown resilience and continued to rack up wins. With their victory over the Cavaliers, they improved to a 3–2 record after lifting the trophy. They snatched victory from what looked like certain defeat. At the start of the fourth quarter, the visitors led by as many as 17 points (103–86), but on Christmas, miracles are possible.
The comeback was orchestrated by bench players Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Mitchell Robinson. The reserves took matters into their own hands as stars Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were below their usual level. Towns scored just 11 points, while Anunoby added eight. Clarkson poured in 25 points when no star wanted to take responsibility, Kolek recorded 16 points and nine assists (literally feeding his teammates with perfect passes), and Robinson grabbed 13 rebounds, crucial for maintaining possession. Captain Jalen Brunson lived up to his name with 34 points. A very important and inspiring 126–124 victory for New York, one that will help them carry the Christmas spirit into the coming period.
Spurs “shock” the Thunder again
The reigning champions faced the Spurs at their Paycom Center. It was their third meeting in two weeks. As in the previous two encounters, the Spurs emerged victorious once again. Expectations were high that OKC would get revenge on San Antonio (especially after the NBA Cup semifinal loss), but it became clear that Christmas simply wasn’t their day. From the opening tip, the visitors looked better. They won the first quarter 41–36 and led 69–60 at halftime. Playmaker De’Aaron Fox shone with 29 points, Stephon Castle added 19 points and seven assists, while sensation Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to record 19 points and a very important 11 rebounds. Harrison Barnes also stood out with 15 points and six rebounds. It was a true team victory.
In contrast, little went right for the Thunder. From the start, their energy was off. They shot just 39% from the field, 25% from three-point range, and 68% from the free-throw line. Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played well in the first half but almost disappeared in the second, finishing with just 22 points and missing several easy looks. Luguentz Dort was a major disappointment with only eight points and a dreadful 2–7 from three. Jalen Williams, still not fully recovered from injury, also struggled, while Chet Holmgren (overmatched by Wembanyama) and Alex Caruso faded into the background. The 117–102 scoreline reflects San Antonio’s clear dominance, a team capable of achieving big things this season.
Warriors display impressive skill
In the third Christmas matchup, Golden State defeated Dallas 126–116. The Warriors led from start to finish, building a 12-point advantage as early as the first quarter (40–28), which proved insurmountable for the ambitious visitors. Stephen Curry delivered some Christmas magic with 23 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Although he shot just 2–10 from three, he hit a crucial triple with 3:45 remaining. Jimmy Butler was the Warriors’ most valuable player with 14 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Bench players De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski were excellent: Melton scored 16 points with three rebounds and three assists, while Podziemski added 13 points, four assists, and eight rebounds.
For the Mavericks, rookie Cooper Flagg dominated in his Christmas debut, posting 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Thanks to him, Dallas avoided a blowout and settled for a “respectable” ten-point loss. Brandon Williams also deserves mention for scoring 26 points off the bench. Klay Thompson, despite wearing a Dallas jersey, received applause from the Chase Center crowd, which remembers his 13 seasons of contributions to the Warriors.
Rockets rout the Lakers with ease
Whenever the Lakers play on Christmas at Crypto.com Arena, a victory is expected. Unfortunately for many Los Angeles fans, that did not happen. Houston controlled every aspect of the game and claimed a convincing 119–96 win. Even with the star trio of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves, the hosts were not competitive. In fact, the Lakers appeared more effective while LeBron was sidelined with injury. It seems the King may actually be slowing them down. He scored 18 points on 7–13 shooting, committed three turnovers, added five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Dončić scored 25 points, and Reaves added 12. The rest of the team underperformed badly: Rui Hachimura scored zero points in 28 minutes, Jake LaRavia five points in 23 minutes, and Marcus Smart six points in 29 minutes. Very poor.
The Rockets, meanwhile, dominated the floor. Six players scored in double figures. Amen Thompson led with 26 points, Kevin Durant added 25, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16, with others contributing solidly as well. Turkish center Alperen Şengün grabbed 12 rebounds. Ten steals, 48 rebounds, and six blocks underline Houston’s strong performance as they continue to raise their level as the season progresses.
A Christmas classic at Ball Arena
The final game of the night between Denver and Minnesota ranks among the best Christmas NBA games of all time in terms of quality, intensity, individual performances, and excitement. The home team secured a 142–138 victory only after overtime. Nikola Jokić once again proved he is a modern NBA phenomenon, delivering a breathtaking triple-double. He scored an incredible 56 points (18 in overtime), along with 16 rebounds, 15 assists, and two blocks. In overtime, the Serbian star was sensational: he went 3-for-3 from the field, including two three-pointers, and made 10 of 11 free throws. Jokić thus broke Stephen Curry’s famous record of 17 points in overtime from 2016, becoming the player with the most points ever scored in overtime across both the regular season and playoffs.
Of course, Jokić did not beat the Timberwolves alone. He had strong support from a powerful roster, despite three key starters being sidelined by injury: Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun. Canadian guard Jamal Murray scored 35 points, added 10 assists, and grabbed two rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. also played very well, contributing 19 points. For Minnesota, standouts included Anthony Edwards with 44 points, Julius Randle with 32, and Jaden McDaniels with 21.
Results promise excitement
At the end of Christmas Day, the Thunder remain atop the Western Conference with a 26–5 record, followed by the Spurs (23–7), Nuggets (22–8), Lakers (19–10), Timberwolves (20–11), and Rockets (18–10). Competition in the West is truly fierce. In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons lead at 24–6, followed by the Knicks (21–9), Celtics (18–11), Raptors (18–13), 76ers (16–12), and Magic (17–13). Exciting days and weeks lie ahead in the NBA.
