Every year, the NBA puts together one of the best line ups of matchups it can. This year, LeBron James makes his homecoming to Miami as a Cavalier; the Spurs meet Oklahoma City in a rematch of last season Western Conference Finals and that’s just the beginning.
We’ll be previewing all five of this year’s games closer to the merry day in our NBA section, so for now let’s backtrack to the five best Christmas games of all time. Who exactly are the most explosive players on Christmas Day? You can check out our top five players list here.
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Top Five Best NBA Christmas Games of All Time
No. 5 New York Knicks vs. Providence Steamrollers, 1947
[sc:NBA240banner ]Chances are you’ve never heard of the Steamrollers. They lasted only four years before folding in 1949. Why then are they on this list? The Steamrollers played in a 89-75 loss to the New York Knicks on Christmas Day in 1947. The game itself wasn’t much to write home about, but the ratings were good enough that the NBA realized it was on to something, and settled into the tradition we enjoy today. So here’s to you Steamrollers – you may not have lasted long, but your legacy will last forever…we hope.
No. 4 Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks, 1994
The Chicago Bulls had just lost to the Knicks in the 1994 Playoffs and Michael Jordan was out playing minor league baseball. However, no one gave Scottie Pippen the memo that they were supposed to lose.
Hubert Davis made a miracle shot to force overtime and Pippen scored all of Chicago’s seven overtime points for a 107-104 win. Pippen also blocked consecutive three-point attempts nearing the end of the extra period to seal the win.
No. 3 Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks, 2011
In a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks opened the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season on Christmas Day. LeBron James had 37 points and 10 rebounds leading the Heat to victory.
This game also marked the beginning of a career-year for James. He won the league MVP, Finals MVP, his first-ever NBA Championship and an Olympic gold medal, all in 2012.
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat, 2004
On Christmas Day in 2004, Shaquille O’Neal returned to Los Angeles, this time as a member of the Miami Heat. O’Neal scored 24 points and hauled in 11 rebounds against his former team before fouling out late in the fourth quarter trying to defend against Kobe Bryant.
The Heat managed to win the game in overtime, but not without a fight as Bryant scored a whopping 42 points.
No. 1 New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls, 1986
For the first time ever, Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing played against each other in the pros. The Jordan-Ewing rivalry would define the Eastern Conference for years, but Ewing drew first blood on Christmas Day 1986.
The Bulls led the Knicks 85-84 heading into the final possession of the game. Ewing rebounded a missed Knicks jumper and sank in the buzzer-beater to upset the Bulls, wasting Jordan’s 30-point performance.
