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A tentative NBA Christmas schedule has been released and, as always, we will see some interesting matchups. Moreover, intriguing topics will always come out of the NBA Christmas games 2020.
Here, we will take a look at five things to watch out for in the NBA Christmas games 2020.
NBA Christmas games 2020: 5 things to watch out for
The LA Lakers will play again on December 25th, but they will not be facing expected rivals.
A matchup between the LA Lakers and the fresh Golden State Warriors team was something NBA fans wanted to see. However, the NBA Christmas schedule will have the reigning champions playing Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
Meanwhile, the LA Clippers will face their nemesis Denver Nuggets, while Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will play reigning Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat.
Stephen Curry and his Warriors will meet with two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The NBA Christmas games 2020 will also provide us with a battle of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference as the revamped Brooklyn Nets will visit the TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics.
Without further ado, let us take a look at five talking points ahead of the NBA Christmas games 2020.
#5 Warriors 'return' and big-market teams not present in NBA Christmas schedule
Though the Golden State Warriors did play in the NBA Christmas schedule last year, the team was plagued with injury. The Warriors' matchup with the Bucks in NBA Christmas games 2020 would be their eighth straight appearance in the NBA Christmas schedule.
On the other hand, the New York Knicks play in the NBA Christmas schedule year after year. However, they will not be part of the NBA Christmas games 2020.
The NBA Christmas games 2020 will not feature the Knicks, and it will only be the third time since 2008 that the franchise will not play on December 25th.
The Knicks played in the first NBA Christmas schedule back in 1947 and defeated the Providence Steamrollers.
The Houston Rockets will also not play in the NBA Christmas games 2020 for the first time since 2016. The Rockets are still involved in rumors about trading superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook, which could have had an impact on this choice.
#4 Zion Williamson will make his debut in NBA Christmas day
The New Orleans Pelicans will play last season's East champions Miami Heat on NBA Christmas games 2020. The game would be Zion Williamson's first appearance in the NBA Christmas schedule.
Zion was the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft and has been tipped to become a superstar in the league. In accordance with his status, New Orleans had a spot in last year's NBA Christmas day schedule but Williamson was out with a knee injury.
Williamson averaged 23 points per game last season and showed his potential in just 24 regular-season games. This year, he will have the spotlight on him as his team fights with Miami in the NBA Christmas games 2020.
#3 Kyrie and KD return to NBA Christmas schedule
With the Brooklyn Nets expected to visit the Boston Celtics during the NBA Christmas games 2020, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant will return to the center-stage of the NBA.
The Nets will be an interesting team to watch in the upcoming NBA season and are clear contenders in the East.
Irving and Durant will play in the NBA Christmas schedule for the first time as teammates. This will also be their first time playing at Christmas since 2018 (Irving with Boston and Durant with Golden State).
Boston and Brooklyn played in the NBA Christmas schedule back in 2012, with the Celtics winning 93-76.
Brooklyn's last appearance on Christmas Day was in 2013.
#2 LA Clippers will look for revenge during NBA Christmas games 2020
The LA Clippers are expected to play against their nemesis from the 2020 NBA Playoffs: the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers had a 3-1 lead before losing three consecutive games to see their season end at the hands of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
With a new coach and some tweaks to their roster, Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers will look for revenge against Denver in NBA Christmas games 2020.
On the other hand, the Nuggets would like to follow last year with another huge season. Beating one of the main contenders of the West in NBA Christmas games 2020 would be solid for Denver.
#1 The King will face the future face of the NBA
LeBron James and the LA Lakers will try it all on their quest for back-to-back titles. The King remains the star in today's NBA, and his throne does not look threatened for next year.
However, there is a young pretender who could become the NBA's face in a short time and will want to show his talent in NBA Christmas games 2020.
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will visit the reigning champions LA Lakers on NBA Christmas games 2020.
The matchup will be extremely fun because we might see three contenders (including Anthony Davis) for NBA MVP battling in NBA Christmas games 2020.
The LA Lakers are clearly ahead of the pack in the Western Conference. However, the Dallas Mavericks are one of the main threats to the current champions. Moreover, our ranking of five challengers to the Lakers in the West has the Mavericks as the best rivals LA could have this year.
The Lakers played in the NBA Christmas schedule last year and lost to the LA Clippers.
The LA Lakers have played in every Christmas Day since 1999.
Guess the Lakers players!
