The NBA 2023 Christmas Day slate marks the 76th version of video games on the vacation and the sixteenth yr in a row with 5 video games in in the future.
Two of the NBA’s winningest franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics — face off on Christmas Day for the primary time since 2008.
5 MVP winners will seem on the vacation: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant. The earlier 4 NBA champions are taking part in too: the Lakers (2020), Milwaukee Bucks (2021), Golden State Warriors (2022) and Denver Nuggets (2023).
Listed below are extra notable NBA on Christmas Day numbers.
55: Getting into Monday, the Knicks have performed essentially the most video games on the vacation with a 23-32 file. They defeated the Windfall Steamrollers on the primary Christmas Day slate in 1947.
Since 2010, the Knicks have three wins in eight appearances.
24: Although they’re second in video games performed (50), the Lakers have essentially the most wins out of each workforce. Los Angeles first appeared on Christmas Day in 1949 and have performed on the vacation for 25 straight seasons. Nonetheless, the Lakers have solely received eight of their final 25 Christmas Day video games.
31.3: Though he’ll miss Monday’s sport with an ankle harm, Joel Embiid has the very best scoring common (31.3) on the vacation amongst lively gamers with two or extra video games performed.
The 76ers star has 850 factors, 250 rebounds and 150 assists in 25 video games this season, the one participant to take action by way of his first 25 video games of a season. Embiid is averaging 40 factors on 60% taking pictures in a nine-game span this month, becoming a member of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the one different gamers to take action.
60: Bernard King’s file for many factors on Christmas Day has remained unchanged since 1984. The Knicks guard had 60 factors on 63% taking pictures, plus seven rebounds and 4 assists in a loss.
Solely two different gamers have scored 50 or extra factors — Chamberlain with 59 in 1961 and Rick Barry with 50 in 1966. Tracy McGrady’s 46 factors in 2002 is the highest-scoring output this century. McGrady additionally has the very best profession Christmas Day scoring common with 43.3 in three video games.
460: James has essentially the most whole factors, amassed in an all-time excessive 17 appearances. He is additionally tied with Dwyane Wade for essentially the most wins (10).
James is second in assists (119) behind Oscar Robertson (145), steals (26) behind Russell Westbrook (29) and 3-point area objectives (28) made behind James Harden (31).
Eight: The Warmth have the longest lively streak on Christmas Day with their final loss coming in 2007. Erik Spoelstra’s 8-0 file is essentially the most wins and not using a loss by an NBA head coach.
ESPN Stats & Data contributed to this story.