The NBA has traditionally staged games on Christmas Day, typically showcasing marquee matchups between the best teams in the league, as well as bitter rivals.
Some of the NBA's most unforgettable regular-season matchups have taken place on Christmas Day, and we're about to highlight a few of them.
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5 Best NBA Christmas Day Games Ever
5. Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers, 2010
While the Miami Heat secured a decisive 96-80 victory at the Staples Center, the significance of this matchup was amplified by the intense anticipation leading up to the game.
Then-reigning MVP LeBron James was fresh off his infamous decision to "take his talents to South Beach," joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. Meanwhile, the Lakers aimed to reaffirm their status as the NBA's reigning champions and the league's dominant force.
In the end, James finished with a triple double of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Bryant had 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
4. Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks, 1986
One of the best NBA Christmas Day games happened in 1986 at the Madison Square Garden.
With the Bulls holding a slim 85-84 lead in the waning seconds, a missed jump shot by the Knicks left players scrambling for the loose ball. Seizing the opportunity, Ewing grabbed the rebound and swiftly made a buzzer-beating jump shot, leaving the Bulls shell-shocked.
Michael Jordan's first Christmas Day game did not go exactly to plan, and this was the beginning of a rivalry that would define the Eastern Conference in the coming decade.
3. Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic, 1995
Coming off a bitter ending in the 1995 NBA Finals, where they got swept, the Orlando Magic were looking to get revenge against their tormentors Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile, the Rockets' championship had an asterisk attached to them due to Michael Jordan's two-year retirement, and they were eager to prove that their title runs weren't a fluke.
The Magic came out on top of a highly-exciting match up, with Penny Hardaway nailing a jumper that bounced off the rim to give them a 92-90 lead with three seconds left.
2. Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers, 2004
One of the most anticipated regular season games of the century, this game was the first matchup between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant against each other.
The duo won three NBA titles with the Lakers in the early 2000s, but a bitter feud caused O'Neal to be traded to Miami in the summer of 2004.
The game went into overtime, but O'Neal fouled out of the game in the latter stages. Despite Bryant's season-high 42 points, the Heat took the narrow 104-102 overtime win led by rising star Dwyane Wade.
1. Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016
Perhaps the best NBA Christmas Day of all-time occurred in 2016 between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena.
These two teams have a lot of history, with the Cavaliers claiming the 2016 NBA Championship over the Warriors after being down 1-3 in the series, ruining their record-breaking 73-9 win season.
On the other hand, the Warriors added star Kevin Durant in free agency, forming a squad regarded by many to be the greatest team of all-time.
The matchup did not disappoint, and it went down to the wire. Cavs star Kyrie Irving nailed a difficult fadeaway shot over Klay Thompson with 3.4 seconds left, and that proved to be the game-winner as the defending champs came away with a 109-108 win.
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