Ranking all 5 NBA Christmas Day Games by Watchability

For NBA diehards, Christmas is the best time of the year. That’s because Christmas Day is the premier basketball day on the regular-season calendar, and every year the league office does their best to create a lineup full of quality games from early morning through to well after the last bite of turkey is finished. In practice though, not all of the games can be winners, and not everyone has time to watch 13 straight hours of basketball.

So, for those of you who are making Christmas plans but don’t want to miss a second of critical action (or just want to know when to strategically plan your midday nap), we’re here to rank all five NBA Christmas Day games by watchability.

5. DALLAS MAVERICKS VS. UTAH JAZZ, 10:30 P.M. ET (ESPN)

If this were last year’s Dallas Mavericks, this ranking would be criminally low. But the Mavs have underperformed across the board under Jason Kidd, and it’s hard to imagine a greater contrast in teams when it comes to offensive process. The Mavericks are hesitant, undisciplined, and reliant on Luka Doncic to get much of anything going. The Utah Jazz, meanwhile, are a well-oiled soul-crushing machine that relentlessly generates good looks.

The Jazz don’t just have the best offense in the NBA, they are nearly 7 points per 100 possessions clear of the Warriors in second place. That margin is nearly as great a gap as between the Warriors and the 27th ranked New Orleans Pelicans. 

There’s always the chance that Luka conjures up something magical to make this more of a game than it appears on paper, but if we’re making predictions, this one has the best chance of becoming a first-half blowout of any on the board.

4. ATLANTA HAWKS VS. NEW YORK KNICKS, 12:00 P.M. ET (ESPN)

After Trae Young took a bow in MSG as the Atlanta Hawks unceremoniously dispatched the New York Knicks in the five games last year, this rematch was inevitable. It was feeling juicier before the Hawks and Knicks got off to such collective slow starts, though. The Knicks are in a complete nosedive, having lost seven of their last eight, and the Hawks are currently treading water at 14-14.

Still, their game earlier this season was evenly matched and entertaining, and the Garden’s atmosphere on Christmas Day is undefeated. Trae Young is a showman, and the Knicks will be highly motivated to deny him another win on their home court. 

3. BOSTON CELTICS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS, 2:30 P.M. ET (ABC)

It’s tilted heavily in favor of the Milwaukee Bucks in recent years, but these two teams have one of the better rivalries going in the entire NBA. And after the Boston Celtics stifled Giannis Antetokounmpo and romped to a 117-103 victory on Dec. 13, the Bucks will be looking for revenge.

The Celtics have disappointed so far, yes, but they’re finally rounding into form as Jayson Tatum begins to rediscover his shooting touch. Giannis entered health and safety protocols on Dec. 14, so assuming good health he should be back just in time for this grudge match. If he’s not, this game tumbles down the rankings.

2. BROOKLYN NETS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS 8:00 P.M. ET (ABC/ESPN)

Admittedly, this game sounded better on paper prior to the Los Angeles Lakers’ slow start than it does right now. But even given that, the potential for fireworks here is just too high. The storylines write themselves. Westbrook vs. Durant. Harden vs. Westbrook. Durant vs LeBron.  And maybe, just maybe, Kyrie vs. LeBron too. 

There have been reports that Kyrie Irving has increased his engagement with Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in recent days, and that the possibility that he returns soon has not been ruled out. Just imagine if it's for Christmas Day against LeBron and the Lakers.

But even without a Kyrie return, the sheer amount of Hall of Fame former teammates now made rivals promises to make this a can’t miss matchup.

1.  GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VS. PHOENIX SUNS, 5:00 P.M. ET (ABC)

The Golden State Warriors return to the Footprint Center attempting to avenge their recent loss there against the Phoenix Suns. The two teams are jockeying for the best overall record in the NBA, and have a combination of depth and star power that has already made for two dynamite matchups in the last month.

The first Warriors vs. Suns game is an early contender for game of the year. This one has added the potential of being one of the first games that Klay Thompson plays in almost a thousand days. Christmas Day Klay just sounds right, and it gives the Warriors another option on Chris Paul or Devin Booker without compromising their offense. 

This game has the potential to become an all-time Christmas Day classic. Don’t miss it.