By Brian Martin
The NBA on Christmas Day tradition continues this Wednesday with a five-game slate for the 12th year in a row.
MATCHUP NOTES
The action begins in Toronto as the defending champion Raptors host their first Christmas Day game when they take on the Celtics (12:00 ET, ESPN). Toronto is 0-1 on Christmas Day, while the Celtics are 14-18 as their 32 games are tied for third-most all time.
The second game on the docket features reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks visiting the Sixers in Philadelphia, which hosts its first Christmas Day game in 31 years (2:30 ET, ABC). In two Christmas Day games, Joel Embiid is averaging 29.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
NBA leading-scorer James Harden (38.6 points per game) and the Rockets take on the Warriors in San Francisco (5:00 ET, ABC). After meeting in each of the past two postseasons in seven-game and six-game series, respectively, the Warriors and Rockets meet on Christmas Day for the first time ever.
The second chapter in the battle for Los Angeles gets written on Christmas Day as the Clippers and Lakers clash at Staples Center (8:00 ET, ABC and ESPN). The Clippers took round one on opening night for both teams. Since then, the Lakers (24) and Clippers (22) have earned the most wins in the Western Conference heading into Christmas.
Christmas night is capped off with the Denver Nuggets hosting the New Orleans Pelicans (10:30 ET, ESPN). The Pelicans are searching for their first Christmas Day win in their third appearance, while Denver is looking for its first win on Christmas since 1994, the last time they hosted a Christmas Day game.
SCORING
LeBron James (338 points in 13 games) enters Wednesday’s game as the third-leading scorer on Christmas Day in NBA history – trailing only Kobe Bryant (395 in a record 16 games) and Oscar Robertson (377 in 12 games). LeBron would need a 40-point performance to pass Robertson for second place. If he did that, James would rank second all-time in both points and assists (87 entering Wednesday, trailing Robertson’s 145) in the history of Christmas Day games.
LeBron has yet to reach 40 points in a game this season; he posted a season-high 39 points in a win over Dallas on Nov. 3. Since joining the Lakers last season, LeBron has three 40-point games. LeBron’s highest-scoring game on Christmas Day is 37 points, which he accomplished in 2011 when his Heat faced the Mavericks.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Bernard King’s Christmas Day record 60-point performance for the New York Knicks against the New Jersey Nets back in 1984. King is one of three players to score at least 50 points on Christmas Day – along with Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain (59 at New York in 1961) and San Francisco’s Rick Barry (50 at Cincinnati in 1966).
So far this season, there have been two 60-point performances – one a piece by James Harden and Damian Lillard. Harden, who leads the NBA in scoring at 38.6 points per game, will be in action on Christmas Day and is the most likely candidate to challenge King’s mark. Among active players, Harden has the second-highest scoring game on Christmas Day with his 41-point performance last season. It was the first in a five-game streak of 40-point games for the two-time reigning scoring champ.
Highest Scoring Games on Christmas Day
60: Bernard King, 1984, New York vs. New Jersey
59: Wilt Chamberlain, 1961, Philadelphia at New York (2 OT)
50: Rick Barry, 1966, San Francisco at Cincinnati
47: Jerry West, 1963, L.A. Lakers at New York
46: Tracy McGrady, 2002, Orlando vs. Detroit
Highest Scoring Games on Christmas Day, Active Players
44: Kevin Durant, 2010, Oklahoma City vs. Denver
*41: James Harden, 2018, Houston vs. Oklahoma City
40: Kyrie Irving, 2018, Boston vs. Philadelphia
37: Carmelo Anthony, 2011, New York vs. Boston
*37: LeBron James, 2011, Miami at Dallas
*will play on Christmas Day 2019
One Christmas Day scoring record that should be safe for a while is Tracy McGrady's 43.3 points per game scoring average (41 points in 2003, 46 points in 2002 and 43 points in 2000). Among players that have appeared in at least three games, McGrady has an 11.1 points per game lead over second-place Jerry West (32.2 in six games).
Carmelo Anthony has the highest Christmas Day scoring average of any active player at 31.0 points per game over six games. He is followed by Kevin Durant (30.0), Joel Embiid (29.5), James Harden (26.3), Paul George and LeBron James (26.0 each).
3-POINT SHOOTING
Harden has a league-leading five 50-point games so far this season; the rest of the league has five combined, with no other player having more than one 50-point game. A key to Harden’s explosive scoring is his volume and proficiency when it comes to 3-point shooting. No other player makes (5.1 per game) or attempts (13.9 per game) more 3-point shots per game than Harden.
If there is one record to circle as the one most likely to be broken it would be six 3-pointers made, which is held by Kyle Kuzma (2017), Kevin Love (2017) and Ryan Anderson (2011).
So far this season, a player has made at least seven 3-pointers 58 times. Harden alone has a league-high nine such games in 30 games played this season (30% of his games).
Most 3-Pointers Made On Christmas Day (Single Game)
6: Kyle Kuzma, 2017, L.A. Lakers vs. Minnesota
6: Kevin Love, 2017, Cleveland at Golden State
6: Ryan Anderson, 2011, Orlando at Oklahoma City
5: Accomplished 14 times
Most 3-Pointers Made On Christmas Day (All Games)
22: Kevin Durant (9 games played)
*21: JJ Redick (9 games played)
*20: LeBron James (13 games played)
17: Klay Thompson (7 games played)
*17: James Harden (7 games played)
*will play on Christmas Day 2019
TRIPLE-DOUBLES
LeBron James (7), Russell Westbrook (6), and Nikola Jokic (6) rank second and tied for third, respectively, in the NBA this season in triple-doubles – all trailing Dallas second-year phenom Luka Doncic (8). Westbrook (144) and James (88) rank second and fifth, respectively, on the all-time triple-double list.
Westbrook (2013) and James (2010) are two of the six players to have ever recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day. Can Jokic expand the list to seven? Can Westbrook or James join Oscar Robertson as the only player to multiple Christmas Day triple-doubles? The Big O has four (1960, 1961, 1963, 1967).
STEALS
Westbrook will look to extend his Christmas Day lead in steals as he enters Wednesday’s game against Golden State with 28 steals in nine Christmas Day games. Westbrook is also tied with six other players for the second-most steals in a single Christmas Day game with six steals in 2015, trailing only Kyrie Irving’s seven from 2016.
Most Steals on Christmas Day
*28: Russell Westbrook (9 games played)
24: Scottie Pippen (7 games played)
23: Dwyane Wade (13 games played)
*20: LeBron James (13 games played)
17: Kobe Bryant (16 games played)
*will play on Christmas Day 2019
WINS AND APPEARANCES
The Lakers, who have the most wins on Christmas Day at 23, will play in their 21st straight Christmas Day game on Wednesday. During that game, LeBron James will appear in his 14th Christmas Day game, taking sole possession of second place behind Kobe Bryant (16) for most Christmas Day games played.
If LeBron and the Lakers are able to beat the Clippers, James would join former teammate Dwyane Wade for the most wins on Christmas Day with 10.
The 10 teams playing on Christmas Day this year feature 28 players that have been named All-Stars and have a combined 109 All-Star selections. The 2019 All-Star trio of Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and Boston’s Kemba Walker – will all make their Christmas Day debut on Wednesday.
The 72nd NBA on Christmas Day is full of star power and enticing matchups. With all five games on national television, the holiday spotlight is ready for more historic performances.