The 5 NBA Christmas games this year are particularly rich in superstars, stories to follow and players expected for their performances, including great rookies and veterans at their umpteenth Christmas Day on the parquet. Let's go and discover them!
In the first game at 6:00 pm Italian time, at Madison Square Garden Victor Wembanyama debuts in Natale against i New York Knickswith his San Antonio Spurs. What to expect? New York is one of fittest teams in the NBA with 4 victories in a row, Karl-Anthony Towns is playing All-NBA and is the best rebounder of the season and will be faced with a rapidly growing Wembanyama.
Wemby he placed 18 blocks in the last two games played, and in the last three matches he travels with almost the 50% three-pointers. Against the Knicks, it will be marked by Towns and OG Anunoby and the last time the Spurs and Knicks played each other, Wembanyama didn't shoot well, going 7 of 16 from the field for 20 points. And if we put the pressure on ourselves to play at Madison on Christmas… The data: in the last two games, the Spurs they were able to deploy theirs ideal starting quintetcon Wembanyama, Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell e Jeremy Sochan.
In the Knickspay attention to AND Anunoby which comes from a test from 31 points against the Raptors. In addition to Towns we advise you to keep an eye on the three-pointers by Mikal Bridges who runs with an accurate 50% in the last 3 games.
The second match is between Dallas Mavs e Minnesota Timberwolves at 8.30 pm Italian time. THE Twolves arrive poorly at the Christmas game with 3 defeats in a row and a Anthony Edwards which is pulling very badly. The two teams are full, for the Mavs he has returned Luka Doncicwith 27 points against Portland. What to expect? A game of high score if we play at the pace of the Mavs, who almost never lose when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponents, Dallas travels at 13.6 turnovers per game, tenth in the NBA.
Minnesota will have to win with the defense: In the last 10 games the Wolves' opponents have barely scored 99.8 points of average, but i Mavs they are fifth in points per game with 118.8.
The third match is between Boston Celtics e Philadelphia 76ersand at the TD Garden in Boston it seems like an impossible challenge for Joel Embiid and his companions. Embiid he will play though limited dal knee sinister and annoying mask protective, provided that the NBA does not suspend him after the expulsion for protests against San Antonio…
I Celtics they slowed down a bit, in the last 10 games they have a record of 6-4 while Philadelphia did better with 7-3. Jayson Tatum he didn't play against the Magic due to a flu condition but will be there at Christmas. If you want to take a risk, Paul George he is looking for redemption after a difficult start to the season, he is shooting with 41% from the field but who knows if the atmosphere of Christmas Day might inspire him? THE Celtics are still favoriteswith a gap of at least 10 points.
At 2:00 am it goes on stage Lakers-Warriors and yet another challenge between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Let's say it right away, Curry it's not in a great time and is pulling with the 38% from the field in Decemberand the Lakers are effective defensively in allowing fewer 3-pointers on average to their opponents, just 11.5 per game.
It will be one balanced challenge between two teams that are equally matched, and with no last minute absences other than that of Gary Payton II for Golden State. And it will be a point-to-point match, the precedents show the Lakers as underdogs, the yellow and purple are in fact 1-3 in matches decided by 3 points or less. For Golden State, special observation Dennis Schroder playing against his former team. For the German it will be the fourth match in the Warriors shirt.
The last match of Christmas Day will be in Phoenix Suns e Denver Nuggetsand here we tell you to focus on Denver. The Suns are in a negative period, they have lost the last three games played and Devin Booker will not play due to injury. Will be difficile per i have Nuggets Kevin Durant under 30 points but just two days ago Denver won by 27 points against KD and his teammates.
Jamal Murray will return on the other side, and Nikola Jokic he will once again face his old rival Jusuf Nurkic. It usually ends badly for Nurk, and Jokic he reported two triple doubles in the last 4 games. There is a good chance of seeing it in the Christmas match too, provided there is a match between the two teams…
