Top 5 Christmas Day Games

There is something magical about basketball on Christmas Day. Since the New York Knicks defeated the Providence Steamrollers on December 25, 1947, NBA fans have spent the day unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday dinner, and watching some of the most memorable games in league history. 

Entering their Christmas Day matchup, the Bulls and Knicks were both hovering around the .500 mark just 25 games into the season. With Michael Jordan playing baseball, Scottie Pippen stepped up to be the Bulls' leader, proving to be more than just a sidekick. The Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, were expected to be legitimate title contenders. This showdown was typical of the ’90s NBA, with every possession contested, every basket earned. While the rivalry was without its biggest star, Pippen grabbed the spotlight in a 107–104 overtime barnburner with 36 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, and three assists.

A Finals rematch with serious implications. Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway were hungry for revenge after getting swept by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets just months earlier. The young Magic were trying to prove they belonged among the league’s elite, while Houston wanted to show their championship pedigree wasn't a fluke. The back-and-forth battle showcased two completely different styles in Orlando's athletic dominance versus Houston's veteran approach. O’Neal and Hardaway would team up for 44 points, 25 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 92–90 victory.

The return of Shaquille O’Neal to the Staples Center for the first time since the dramatic divorce from the Lakers brought all the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster. The tension in the arena could be felt through televisions around the world as O’Neal and his former teammate Kobe Bryant squared off. While Miami would win an overtime thriller 104–102 with O’Neal dropping 24 points and 11 rebounds, the fact that Bryant (42 points) was able to carry a team that started Lamar Odom (his only real threat of a teammate), Jumaine Jones, Chucky Atkins, and Chris Mihm was clearly a gift from Santa.

This matchup gave us a preview of where the NBA was heading. Stephen Curry (15 points) and Klay Thompson (23 points) were just young Splash Bros getting their feet wet, while Chris Paul (26 points, 11 assists) was orchestrating Lob City with Blake Griffin (20 points, 14 rebounds) throwing down highlight-reel dunks. The pace was frenetic, the three-pointers were flying, and the athleticism was off the charts. It was entertaining, modern basketball that signaled the end of the grind-it-out era. Unfortunately, the entertaining 105–103 Warriors victory would be capped off by an uneventful final two minutes.

After halting a historic NBA regular season in which Golden State finished with a 73–9, LeBron James and the Cavaliers were still celebrating their historic comeback championship. Adding Kevin Durant (game-high 36 points, 15 rebounds) in the offseason, the Warriors were out for revenge and did not want to wait until June. Holding a 14-point advantage entering the final quarter, the Warriors looked to silence the Cleveland crowd. However, Kyrie Irving would spoil the Warriors' Christmas with 14 of his 25 points in the final quarter, including the game-winning bucket with 3.4 seconds left on the clock to send Quicken Loans Arena into a frenzy with a 109–108 victory.