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After a frantic condensed offseason, the NBA 2020-21 Season is set to tip off with two fascinating fixtures for fans to enjoy. There will be plenty of action over the festive period, including five NBA Christmas Day games.
The Miami Heat will tip off the night of NBA Christmas Day games against the New Orleans Pelicans while Eastern rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks, will play host to a rejuvenated Golden State Warriors.
The Brooklyn Nets will face the Boston Celtics. KD and Kyrie Irving playing together will be one of the standout moments of the day as they seek to get past Boston's astute defense.
Over in the West, both Los Angeles franchises will also play. Defending champions the LA Lakers will face the entertaining young stars of the Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers will have an opportunity for revenge as they face the scourge of their playoff hopes last season, the Denver Nuggets.
10 interesting facts about the 2020-21 NBA Christmas Day games
NBA Christmas Day games have been some of the most exciting throughout NBA seasons in recent years. With the upcoming schedule set for Friday, fans will be able to relax and enjoy watching some of the best players the league has to offer. Lets take a look at some of the fascinating facts that may be unknown surrounding the NBA Christmas Day fixtures.
#1 All four 2019-20 Conference Finalists will play in NBA Christmas Day games
The NBA Conference Finals were amazing spectacles last year with the LA Lakers and Miami Heat coming out on top against the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics respectively.
Each of the four teams will feature in the NBA's Christmas Day games and each with their own individual opponent. Furthermore, they will all host their game, the Lakers taking on the Mavs, Boston facing the tantalising new Brooklyn Nets side, Denver will battle against conference rivals the LA Clippers while the Miami Heat play the Pelicans.
#2 Five NBA MVP winners will face-off
On NBA Christmas Day, five of the league's greatest ever players will take part in the league schedule.
Steph Curry will face Giannis Antetokounmpo, both of whom have won the award on back-to-back occasions. LeBron James has won the award 4 times and will take on Luka Doncic of the Mavericks who is a favorite for the trophy this season. Kevin Durant has won it in 2014, while his coach Steve Nash was awarded MVP of the league consecutively in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
#3 LA Lakers have most Christmas Day wins
The LA Lakers have won the most NBA Christmas Day games in the history of the league with 23. In their game last season against their rivals, the Clippers, LeBron and co. fell to a 111-106 loss.
This year, the LA Lakers will play a Dallas Mavericks side who have every intention of disrupting the recent ruling elite of the Western Conference. The Lakers, however, have only gotten stronger over the offseason, and can be expected to add to their tally.
#4 Christmas Day games have global reach
The NBA Christmas Day games are expected to have one of the widest reaching audiences of the league season.
Games will be broadcast to 215 countries in 56 different languages. In America, ESPN and ABC have rights to the matchups, meanwhile international fans will be able to view the packed schedule via their national sports broadcasters or via the NBA League Pass.
#5 LeBron James is close to the top of the Christmas scoring list
Arguably the NBA's greatest-ever player, LeBron James is close to surpassing another record in his career as the all-time Christmas Day points scorer.
In order to do so, he will have to score 35 points to pass his dear friend, the late, great Kobe Bryant who currently sits top of the list. Oscar Robertson is in second position with 16 more points than LeBron.
#6 Dwayne Wade holds most Christmas Day victories
James has another opportunity to close in on surpassing a record if the LA Lakers were to triumph over the Mavericks. His former teammate, Dwayne Wade, sits atop a list of most NBA Christmas Day victories with 10. Both LeBron and the Heat's Udonis Haslem are currently tied in second position with 9 wins apiece.
#7 Erik Spoelstra seeks continuation of Christmas Day wins
Current Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has never lost an NBA Christmas Day game in his seven matchups. Against the New Orleans Pelicans with home court advantage on Christmas Day this year, Spoelstra can expect to eclipse Les Harrison, who he currently shares the record with.
#8 Five games becoming the norm
Fans are regularly treated now to a full day of basketball with one of the most entertaining schedules in the league calendar. This year will be no different and will mark the 13th in a row with five NBA Christmas Day games.
#9 NBA Cares Season of Giving
The NBA is one of the strongest platforms for players and franchises to promote charitable causes, social justice, and the work done in their communities to help others. As part of the league's Season of Giving, 25 community organizations will be highlighted on the NBA's social platforms.
In one of the strongest statements the league has ever seen, play was postponed during the bubble due to players protesting against social injustice across America and the World.
#10 35th anniversary of 1985 Christmas Day classic
In 1985, Madison Square Garden bore witness to one of the greatest NBA Christmas Day games.
After the New York Knicks trailed the Boston Celtics by 25 points, franchise legend Patrick Ewing stepped up to score 32 points and grab 11 rebounds. The rookie helped lead his side to a historic double-overtime victory at the beginning of his 15-year devotion to the Knicks.
Guess the Lakers players!
