NBA Releases Christmas Day Schedule, Nets vs. Lakers Highlighted

NBA Christmas Day will feature the Lakers and Nets

The NBA has released a five-game Christmas Day schedule for the upcoming 75th anniversary season on Tuesday.

The marquee matchup of the day to be featured is the Brooklyn Nets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers

Here is the full slate of games for Christmas Day (all times Eastern):

Noon: Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks (ESPN)

2:30 p.m.: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks (ABC)

5 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns (ABC)

8 p.m.: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers (ABC and ESPN)

10:30 p.m.: Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz (ESPN)

Lakers vs. Nets presents itself as a chance to present a dream NBA Finals matchup, with names like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, etc.

Not only that, but a game between teams in two of the biggest media markets is always good for business.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young gets to return to Madison Square Garden after famously shushing them in their first-round matchup this past postseason.

He was spat on by a fan but got his revenge after the Hawks bounced the Knicks and bowed out after their performance.

The Hawks have not played on Christmas Day since 1989, the longest active gap between appearances on the holiday.

The evening will end with MVP caliber star Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks taking on last season’s Western Conference No.1 seed in the Utah Jazz, powered by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

Utah last played on Christmas in 2018.

The league first played on Christmas Day in 1947 when the Knicks and Providence Steamrollers played in just the league’s second year of existence.

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Every Christmas since 1947 featured at least one NBA game, with the exception of 1998 when the NBA lockout shortened the season.

Last season the condensed schedule rushed the start of the season, and play began on December 22.

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