The NBA Christmas Day games have become a tradition in the league, with some of the biggest teams and stars facing off against each other. This year's Christmas Day games did not disappoint, with thrilling matchups and great performances from some of the league's top players. Let's take a look at some of the highlights from the 2021 NBA Christmas Day games.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers faced off in a highly anticipated matchup that lived up to the hype. The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, came out on top with a 138-115 victory over the Clippers. James had a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Davis scored a game-high 43 points. The Clippers, who were without star player Kawhi Leonard, struggled to keep up with the Lakers' offensive firepower. Despite the loss, Paul George had a solid performance with 23 points and 8 rebounds.
The Milwaukee Bucks took on the Boston Celtics in another exciting Christmas Day matchup. Reigning NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with a dominant performance, scoring 36 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Khris Middleton also had a strong game for the Bucks, contributing 20 points and 7 rebounds. The Celtics, who were missing star player Jayson Tatum due to health and safety protocols, struggled to keep up with the Bucks' offensive firepower. Marcus Smart had a solid game for the Celtics, scoring 19 points and dishing out 6 assists.
The Golden State Warriors faced off against the Phoenix Suns in another highly anticipated Christmas Day matchup. While the Suns came out on top with a 116-107 victory, the highlight of the game was Steph Curry's record-breaking performance. Curry broke Ray Allen's record for the most three-pointers made in NBA history, finishing the game with 2,974 career three-pointers. Curry had a strong performance overall, scoring 33 points and dishing out 7 assists. However, the Suns' Chris Paul proved to be too much for the Warriors, scoring 15 points and dishing out 12 assists.
The NBA Christmas Day games are always a highlight of the season, and this year's games did not disappoint. From the Battle of LA to Steph Curry's record-breaking night, there were plenty of exciting moments and great performances from some of the league's top players. As the season continues, it will be interesting to see how these teams and players continue to perform and compete for a spot in the playoffs.