The Top 10 NBA Christmas Games Of The Last 10 Years

Christmas Day in the NBA is more than just basketball—it’s a tradition, a showcase, a cultural moment. Every year, the league handpicks its marquee matchups, offering a stage for stars to shine, rivalries to ignite, and legends to be born. Over the last decade, the holiday slate has delivered unforgettable drama, shocking upsets, and moments that have shaped the sport’s narrative for years to come.

From the clutch heroics of Kyrie Irving to the seismic battles between LeBron James and Steph Curry, Christmas Day has become a measuring stick for contenders and a canvas for greatness. Let’s revisit the most iconic NBA Christmas Day games and moments from the past ten years, exploring not just the box scores, but the stories, emotions, and legacies they created.

2018: Uncle Drew’s Christmas Miracle

It was the year of high expectations in Boston. The Celtics, fresh off a deep playoff run without Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward, entered the new campaign with both stars healthy and a title contender label. Yet, the reality was far messier. By late November, Boston had hit a rough patch, dropping 7 of 10 and raising more questions than answers. A tense vibe hung over the team, but a rebound to 19-13 by Christmas offered hope.

Their opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers, arrived at 22-12, bolstered by the acquisition of Jimmy Butler and a recent win over Toronto. The setup was perfect: a rematch of their playoff duel, two teams with championship aspirations, and a national audience ready for fireworks.

Kyrie Irving delivered. He came out blazing, scoring 16 points in the first quarter—a foreshadowing of the clutch performance to come. Philadelphia answered with a 15-2 run in the third, carrying a slim lead into the fourth. Notably, Philly’s bench scored zero points in the first half, exposing a lack of depth that would haunt them in later years.

The drama peaked in the final moments. Wilson Chandler’s three put Philly up 108-106 with 37 seconds left, but the story was the return of “untucked Kyrie.” Between the fourth quarter and overtime, Irving dropped 14 points, including multiple clutch buckets and the three that sealed the win. It felt like a turning point—a reminder that Boston could still hang with the best in the conference. More importantly, it was a strong and iconic NBA Christmas Day moment, one that still resonates years later.

2021: Giannis and the Bucks Rise, Celtics Falter

By 2021, the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks were in Boston’s conference, but the Celtics were struggling, flat at .500 and plagued by Jaylen Brown trade rumors. The Bucks, fresh off their title, were navigating health and safety protocols, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was returning from a layoff. Brook Lopez was out, Demarcus Cousins was starting at center, and Boston had only eight active players.

Jaylen Brown started hot with 14 first-quarter points, and Boston’s lead grew to 19 early in the second. Giannis looked rusty, but the Celtics maintained control until the fourth. Then, the Finals MVP whipped back into form, scoring 29 of his 36 in the second half alone. Boston’s lead evaporated—something that would become a pattern in the years ahead.

Wesley Matthews, playing his first Christmas home game just days after his grandmother’s passing, nailed a three with 30 seconds left to give Milwaukee their first lead of the night. Giannis capped it off with a superstar defensive play, reminiscent of his title-securing block months earlier. The Bucks’ rise, powered by superhuman moments, contrasted sharply with Boston’s ongoing disappointment—a group overdue for bigger things, yet unable to deliver.

2021: Nets vs. Lakers—Duct Tape and Drama

On the same day, Brooklyn and Los Angeles presented a chaotic, duct-taped version of what many expected to be the 2022 Finals. The KD-LeBron reunion was postponed again; Harden was one of only three Nets stars available, and Brooklyn’s previous three games had been postponed due to COVID protocols. The Lakers were missing Anthony Davis, and Darren Collison—signed to a 10-day contract—logged his first NBA minutes since 2019.

Despite the patchwork rosters, the game turned into a classic. Brooklyn built a 20-point lead late in the fourth, but LeBron James, as usual, refused to go quietly. He scored 13 points and dished six assists in the final quarter, helping LA erase the deficit. In the final minute, Harden lobbed to Claxton for a dunk and a foul, one of the rare times LeBron was simply bodied at the rim. Westbrook missed a dunk on the next possession, sealing the Nets’ win.

Brooklyn improved to 22-9, still in contention despite endless drama. LeBron’s season-high 39 points went wasted, and LA looked every bit as miserable as their 16-18 record suggested. The finals matchup many anticipated had already fallen apart, a sign of the unpredictable times.

2022: Wembanyama and Bridges Shine in the Garden

The NBA’s global reach was on display as Victor Wembanyama made his Christmas Day debut at Madison Square Garden. New York, riding a 19-10 record and a four-game win streak, faced a San Antonio squad hovering near .500. Wemby seized the moment, posting 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks—the third-most points by an opposing player in the Garden on Christmas, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West.

Wemby’s dominance extended beyond the stat line, as he nailed six threes and set a Spurs record for points on Christmas Day. But the Knicks had an answer: Mikal Bridges, who dropped a season-high 41 on 17-of-25 shooting, including six threes. The game featured 20 lead changes, six in the fourth quarter alone, with Bridges scoring 15 in the final frame to serve as New York’s closer.

In the end, San Antonio was down three but couldn’t respond as the Knicks corralled two offensive rebounds. The spectacle hinted at the possibility of a future Finals matchup—a notion that would have seemed wild at the time, but not so much in retrospect.

2022: Gordon’s Dunk, Jokic’s Triple-Double, and the Nuggets’ Ascendance

The late Christmas nightcap delivered one of the decade’s greatest highlights. Phoenix, a year removed from their Finals appearance and still smarting from Luka’s humiliation, faced Denver, who were finally healthy and poised for a run. Devin Booker tried to return from injury but lasted just over four minutes, forcing the Suns to manufacture offense out of thin air.

Landry Shamet stepped up with a career-high 31 points and seven threes, but Nikola Jokic stole the show. The reigning MVP posted a staggering 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists on 64% shooting—his 83rd career triple-double and only the fourth 40-15-15 game in NBA history.

Aaron Gordon’s fast-break dunk in overtime, initially called an offensive foul but overturned on review, was the exclamation point. The play would become a top highlight of the decade, and Denver’s victory foreshadowed their healthy finish and eventual championship run. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s loss was a harbinger of roster upheaval, injuries, and a slide into obscurity.

2015: Warriors vs. Cavaliers—Birth of a Rivalry

As we enter the top five Christmas games, stakes and narratives deepen. The 2015 Warriors-Cavaliers matchup was the first “run it back” chapter of their Finals saga, with Golden State undefeated at home and chasing the unbreakable 72-10 Bulls record. Cleveland, riding a six-game win streak, was reintegrating Kyrie Irving after his Finals injury.

Both teams played with playoff-level intensity, flexing their defensive versatility. Curry posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists—just the fourth game that season he scored under 20. LeBron erased a fourth-quarter deficit, but missed two free throws late that could have made it a one-possession game. Curry responded with a dagger sequence, and the Warriors stayed perfect at home.

The rivalry’s weight was palpable. Kyrie wasn’t fully back, and Cleveland came within a hair of handing Golden State their second loss. The rematch would come in June, but this Christmas duel set the tone for years of Finals battles.

2023: Luka’s Farewell, Kyrie’s Rally, and the Trade That Shook the League

The Wolves and Mavericks met on Christmas after their conference finals clash, expected to be a showcase for two of the West’s best. Minnesota had swapped Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, producing a middling record, while Dallas was strong but dealing with Luka Doncic’s heel injury.

Late in the second quarter, Luka grabbed his leg and exited, posting 14 points in 16 minutes. Unbeknownst to fans, it was his final game as a Maverick. Minnesota built a 28-point lead, but Kyrie Irving poured in 39 to drag Dallas back. Klay Thompson passed Reggie Miller for fifth all-time in career threes during the rally.

Minnesota survived, and a month later, management used injuries and Luka’s conditioning to justify trading him to the Lakers—a move that shocked the basketball world and reshaped the league.

2023: Steph vs. LeBron—Legends Endure

Nearly a decade after their rivalry began, Steph Curry and LeBron James were still the NBA’s headline act. LeBron, in his 19th Christmas Day game, became the all-time leader in Christmas wins, passing Dwyane Wade. Steph joined the elite group with 11-plus Christmas starts.

The game mirrored their playoff battles, with younger stars like Austin Reeves making headlines. Reeves posted a triple-double, foreshadowing his future as a 28-point-per-game scorer. Curry finished with 38 points and eight threes, tying the Christmas Day record.

The closing moments were pure theater: Curry hit a baseline three under pressure, then another from 31 feet to tie the game. Ultimately, Austin Reeves drove past Andrew Wiggins to seal the win, as Golden State’s last-second heave nearly drew iron. The game drew over 8 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season and Christmas Day game in five years.

2019: Battle of LA—Beverley’s Block, Kawhi’s Statement

The Lakers and Clippers, sharing a building and championship dreams, squared off on Christmas. The Clippers had already won the opening night duel, and this game offered a more complete picture of a playoff matchup.

The Lakers took a double-digit halftime lead, powered by Kyle Kuzma’s 25 points. But they went ice cold from deep in the third, allowing Kawhi Leonard to lead the Clippers back. Leonard posted 35 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, joining Scottie Pippen and Oscar Robertson as the only players to post 35-10-5 on Christmas.

The lasting image was Patrick Beverley’s block on LeBron’s final shot, flipping possession with three seconds left and sparking controversy. Beverley finally got the best of LeBron, setting the tone for the new year as the Clippers took a 2-0 series lead.

2016: Kyrie’s Christmas Dagger—Cavs vs. Warriors

2016 was a special year for the NBA, and Christmas Day delivered a spicy sequel to the Finals myth. After the Cavs’ 3-1 comeback, Golden State added Kevin Durant, becoming an unbeatable juggernaut. Yet, for a split second, the rivalry still felt alive.

Cleveland, trolling Golden State by making them walk past a photo of LeBron’s Finals block, fought from behind all afternoon. Durant finished with 36, proving the Warriors’ new strength, but the Cavs rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth.

LeBron posted 31 points and 13 rebounds, Kyrie added 25 and 10, and Kevin Love dropped 20. Steph Curry struggled again, held to 15 points and benched for the final play. With Kyrie going head-to-head with Klay Thompson for the dagger while Curry sat with a towel over his head, the optics favored Cleveland.

Kyrie’s spinning shot with 3.4 seconds left sealed the win, while Durant stumbled coming off a screen and couldn’t get off a final shot. For a moment, it seemed Cleveland had solved the Warriors, providing hope for another Finals clash. It was also the last Christmas with actual themed jerseys—a detail that added to the experience and nostalgia.

Conclusion: The Meaning of Christmas Day in the NBA

For over a decade, Christmas Day has been a microcosm of the NBA’s drama, evolution, and spectacle. It’s where stars become legends, rivalries are cemented, and the course of seasons—and sometimes careers—can shift in a single game. From Kyrie Irving’s clutch heroics to Giannis’ defensive dominance, from LeBron and Steph’s enduring rivalry to the emergence of global icons like Wembanyama, these games have given fans memories to last a lifetime.

As the league moves forward, new stars will rise, new rivalries will form, and Christmas Day will continue to be the NBA’s most magical stage. Whether you’re reminiscing about untucked Kyrie, debating Beverley’s block, or marveling at Jokic’s video game numbers, one thing is clear: on Christmas, basketball is always a gift.