From Bernard King‘s historic 60 points to the epic Shaquille O’Neal vs. Kobe Bryant showdown and Kyrie Irving‘s dagger, NBA Christmas Day games deliver unmatched drama, with classics like the 2004 Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers feud, the 2016 Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers rivalry, and Nikola Jokic‘s 2022 triple-double cementing their legendary status, showcasing peak rivalry, individual brilliance, and iconic moments that define holiday basketball.
The Five Best NBA Christmas Day Games of All Time
5. Jokic’s Triple-Double Perfection (2022): Nuggets vs. Suns
Jokic delivered a performance for the ages in 2022, leading the Denver Nuggets to victory over the Phoenix Suns. The two-time MVP recorded a stunning 41-point, 15-rebound, 15-assist triple-double, a feat that had only been achieved three times before in NBA history. Playing nearly the entire game, Jokic’s masterful all-around play secured a narrow win, proving his ability to elevate his game on the biggest stage and cementing his status as one of the best ever.
4. The All-Star Showcase (2018): Celtics vs. 76ers
This game was a testament to star power, featuring the Boston Celtics‘ dynamic duo of Irving (40 points, 10 rebounds) and Jayson Tatum against the Philadelphia 76ers‘ formidable frontcourt of Joel Embiid (34 points, 16 rebounds) and Jimmy Butler (24 points). The Celtics, with strong support from Marcus Morris Sr., overcame a star-studded 76ers team, winning 121-114 in a contest brimming with young talent and future playoff implications, showcasing the league’s rising stars.
3. The Ultimate Rematch: Irving’s Dagger (2016): Cavaliers vs. Warriors
This game was a sequel to one of the greatest NBA Finals ever. The 2016 Christmas Day clash saw LeBron James‘ Cavaliers facing Stephen Curry‘s Warriors, just months after Cleveland’s historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The game was a seesaw battle, culminating in Irving hitting the decisive shot with seconds left, a jumper that mirrored his Finals-winning shot. It was a statement victory for the Cavs, solidifying their reign and one of the most thrilling modern-era Christmas classics.
2. The First Feud: Shaq vs. Kobe (2004): Heat vs. Lakers
The anticipation for the first matchup between former championship teammates O’Neal and Bryant as opponents was colossal. The 2004 showdown between the Lakers and Heat was electric, fueled by their rocky off-court split. Bryant dropped 42 points, while Shaq countered with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but Dwyane Wade (29 points, 10 assists) led the Heat to a tight 104-102 victory in overtime, marking a bitter, yet thrilling, beginning to a new era of rivalry.
1. Bernard King’s 60-Point Masterpiece (1984): Knicks vs. Nets
No Christmas Day performance has ever matched King’s scoring explosion. In a classic New York setting, King poured in 60 points for the New York Knicks against the New Jersey Nets, a record that still stands as the highest single-game point total on the holiday. While the Knicks lost, King’s sheer offensive dominance against a formidable Nets squad etched his name in history, proving that individual brilliance could transcend the final score, a truly iconic moment of the early NBA Christmas tradition.
Will a 2025 NBA Christmas Day Game Join the List?
The 2025 NBA Christmas Day features five marquee matchups showcasing top talent and exciting rivalries across the league, available to watch on ABC and ESPN. The holiday slate begins at noon E.T. and features key players like James, Curry, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The action tips off with a clash of Eastern Conference point guards: Donovan Mitchell versus Jalen Brunson. The Knicks, holding the record for most Christmas Day games played, look to defend their home court at Madison Square Garden against a talented Cavaliers squad making their first Christmas appearance since 2017.
The next game features a battle between two of the leagues most exciting young stars: Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Christmas Day debutantes Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, will host Wembanyama, who had a standout 42-point, 18-rebound performance in his Christmas debut last year and has been giving the Thunder problems recently.
The third game has the Dallas Mavericks traveling to face Curry and the Warriors in a highly anticipated Western Conference matchup. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg will be the youngest player to play on Christmas Day since James in 2003, adding another layer of intrigue to this first-time Christmas matchup.
A star-studded affair is set for Los Angeles in the fourth game as the Houston Rockets, led by Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, face James and the Lakers. This game is historically significant as no two opposing players have ever entered a game with more combined career points than James and Durant, and James looks to extend his record for most Christmas Day wins.
The night concludes with a rematch of a recent playoff series, as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves visit Jokic and the Nuggets. The Nuggets, playing in their sixth Christmas game in seven years, will be looking for a little bit of redemption. With so many talented stars playing this Christmas, don’t be surprised if at least one of these games joins the list as one of the best Christmas Day games ever.
Main Image: Â Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
