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The NBA has stood tall through this challenging year. From organizing the Orlando bubble to making sure all the people who work in the NBA arenas are taken care of, the league has been a perfect example of how to deal with things during tough times.
Looking back at the top 5 NBA Christmas Day games of all time
Now, just 71 days after the end of last season, the NBA is back with its brand new season. Like every year, the league has announced a list of blockbuster games for Christmas. You can find the list of 2020 NBA Christmas Day games and predictions below.
To mark the delayed start of the NBA 2020-21 season, we look back at the top 5 NBA Christmas Day games of all time
1961: Wilt Chamberlain setting all time NBA records
In the 1961 Christmas game, Wilt Chamberlain put up 59 points and grabbed 36 rebounds in a 135-137 2OT loss against the Philadelphia Warriors. That night, he set the record for most points and rebounds in an NBA Christmas game. His points record was broken 23 years later by Bernard King but the rebound record still stands and will probably never be broken in the NBA.
2004: Kobe vs Shaq
After their infamous falling out that led to Shaquille O'Neal being traded away to the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers faced off against Shaq and Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat in the 2004 NBA Christmas game.
The match between the two superstars tuned out to be a blockbuster as the Heat defeated the lakers 104-102 in overtime. Shaq put up 24 points (11-19 FG), 11 rebounds, three blocks, three assists.
Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant also turned in a stellar performance, dishing out 42 points (12-30 FG, 5-13 3PT, 13-13 FT), six assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
1986: Patrick Ewing's last-second heroics against Michael Jordan
Patrick Ewing pulled off a miracle as he grabbed a rebound and, in mid-air, floated in a shot in the dying moments of the game. The game-winner was the culmination of a comeback that handed Michael Jordan a defeat in his first-ever NBA Christmas game.
The Knicks star tormented the young Chicago Bulls with 28 points (13-29 FG), 17 rebounds, and two blocks. Ewing was pushed to the brink by Jordan, who put up 30 points (10-18 FG, 10-12 FT), six steals, five assists, three rebounds, and two blocks in his NBA Christmas game debut.
2008: NBA Finals rematch
On Christmas day in 2008, the LA Lakers met the Boston Celtics for the first time since losing to them in the 2008 NBA Finals.
With the memory of the defeat still fresh on their minds, Kobe Bryant and co. beat the Celtics with the Mamba leading the way with 27 points, as the Lakers prevailed 92-83.
Kevin Garnett put up a fight with 23 points and nine rebounds but had no support from his team on the big day.
2016: Kyrie Irving recreates the NBA finals moment
In December 2017, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against the Golden State Warriors, who had added Kevin Durant, for the first time since the legendary 2016 NBA Finals.
The Warriors went into the 4th quarter with a 13 point lead, but Kyrie Irving had other ideas. He took over and scored 14 of his 27 points in the 4th quarter to lead a comeback. The point guard also hit the game-winning shot with 3.7 seconds to go, beating the Warriors 109-108 on Christmas day.
Kevin Durant put on a show, scoring 36 points and 15 rebounds but could not outduel LeBron James, who stuffed the stat sheet with 31 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block.
Guess the Lakers players!
