Every NBA Team’s Last Christmas Game

Christmas is the time of the year when the family gets together and partakes in the spirit of giving. With that said, it’s also one of the best days to watch the NBA. Ten teams and five games take up the holiday season. Families can get their presents opened up before the first contest takes place at noon eastern time.

The first NBA game was played on Christmas in 1947. Since then, the NBA has played a game on Christmas every year except in 1998 due to the lockout. This year, the NBA Christmas schedule features the 76ers at the Knicks (ESPN, noon), Lakers at Mavericks (ABC, 2:30 p.m.), Bucks at Celtics (ABC, 5:00 p.m.), Grizzlies at the Warriors (ABC and ESPN, 8:00 p.m.) and Suns at Nuggets (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). All games are eastern time zone start times.

The NBA is meticulous about who they choose to play on Christmas. It typically features the more successful teams in the league; however, it also considers large markets. Good or bad, the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers find their way onto the Christmas schedule. After all, the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans are leading the Western Conference but won’t participate in the Christmas games.

Some teams should be playing on Christmas, while other teams have never received the chance. This was the last Christmas game played for each franchise.

Atlanta Hawks – 2021

The Hawks own a 9-12 overall record on Christmas. Their last game was played last year because of the team’s memorable run to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2021 NBA playoffs. The battle of two teams featured two below .500 teams.

It was also lackluster for fans that wanted to see Trae Young, who did not play due to injury. Instead, the Hawks came up short in the second half, getting outscored 40 to 36. John Collins and Delon Wright each scored 20 points, while Skylar Mays added 11 points off the bench. 

Boston Celtics – 2021

Historically speaking, the Celtics own one of the most watched matchups on Christmas. The second-most frequent game on Christmas is the Celtics and Knicks. The two teams have played eight times, their last meeting coming in 2016. The Celtics lead the rivalry series 5-3.

The Celtics have played on Christmas 35 times and are 15-20 overall. Last year, the team played the Bucks, so the two teams got a second chance. The Celtics were 16-16 at the time last year and not playing like the NBA Finals version. Milwaukee won the game 117-113 despite 50 combined points from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Brooklyn Nets – 2021

After the 2021 offseason, the Nets were viewed as the team coming out of the East. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, it was supposed to be a three-headed monster that controlled the conference. The Nets were playing well at the time, 22-8 going into the game. However, neither Durant nor Irving played in the game.

Harden led the Nets to a 122-115 victory with a Christmas triple-double of 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Patty Mills was an unlikely hero as well, with 34 points. Overall, the Nets are 6-5 in 11 games on Christmas.

Charlotte Hornets – Never

The Hornets stretch back to 1988. The team was the Hornets from 1988 to 2002, and then the team became the Bobcats in 2004. In 2014, the team returned to being the Hornets. All of this change and years being around, the Hornets have never been asked to be on television.

You can’t blame the NBA for it, though. This team has never made it past the second round of the playoffs in team history. Since Michael Jordan purchased the team, the Hornets have made the playoffs a handful of times. Now, the team owns the worst record in the NBA too.

Chicago Bulls – 2016

One would think the third-largest market in the United States would be on Christmas more than they are. With that said, the team owns just 20 appearances but proves to be a winner as the Bulls are 13-7 overall. Unfortunately, the team’s mediocrity has been noticed, having not played on Christmas since 2016.

The Bulls were taken down by the Spurs 119-100. The team featured the one-year trial of Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rajon Rondo. Wade lived up to his status with 24 points, while Butler added 19 points. However, the Spurs improved to 25-6 and kept the Bulls below .500.

Cleveland Cavaliers – 2017

The final season of LeBron James in Cleveland was also the last time the Cavaliers were seen in the homes of fans on the holidays. It also featured an NBA Finals rematch with the Warriors. Both teams played very well, with the Warriors 26-7 and the Cavaliers 24-9. In the end, the Warriors took the game 99-92.

Kevin Love was the star of this game, with 31 points and 18 rebounds. James contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Jae Crowder added 15 points and six rebounds, while Dwyane Wade added 13 points off the bench. The Cavaliers are 7-7 overall on the holiday.

Dallas Mavericks – 2021

As long as Luka Doncic plays in Dallas, the Mavericks will be featured every simple. Doncic is a star, and the league loves stars on Christmas. Even before Doncic, the Mavericks had a star with Dirk Nowitzki, but the team was not asked to be on Christmas very frequently. The team has made just five appearances on Christmas, owning a 2-3 overall record.

Last year, the Mavericks came up just short of the Jazz 120-116. Doncic did not play in the game, so it was a minor inconvenience. Instead, Kristaps Porzingis had one of his best games of the year with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 27 points himself. This year, Doncic will get his chance to shine on Christmas.

Denver Nuggets – 2020

Christmas is not the best holiday for the Nuggets. It might be grand if the team doesn’t play, but it’s not a happy ending if the team is featured. In seven appearances, the team is 1-6. With two-time MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way, the team will be the main attraction, but it will be difficult to get their second Christmas win as the team will take on the Phoenix Suns.

When the Nuggets played in 2020, the team battled the Clippers but were upended 121-108. Jokic nearly had a triple-double but finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Murray also had 23 points. Last year, Murray was hurt, so the Nuggets were left out. With the team healthy, the Nuggets should be fun to watch. 

Detroit Pistons – 2005

By this time, the Pistons were wrapping up the final years of their dynasty run. Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, and Ben Wallace were about to be broken up for good. It was a good run for the core as the team made two NBA Finals appearances. Even before that group, the Pistons were a favorite to be on Christmas. The team has made 32 appearances but has not been a proven winner, with a 10-22 overall record.

It’s been a long time since Detroit was asked. The glory days of the 80s and 2000s are long gone. Their last game featured an 85-70 victory, with Billups leading the way with 20 points, while Wallace, Wallace, and Hamilton all scored in double figures.

Golden State Warriors – 2021

Dating back to their days in Philadelphia and San Francisco, the team has been a frequent participant in Christmas. The team has made 31 appearances but owns a 14-17 overall record. With the Warriors back to full strength last year, the team was brought back after a brief absence.

The Warriors (26-6) took on the Suns (26-5) in a battle between two of the top teams. The Warriors used 33 points from Stephen Curry to lead a 116-107 win. Otto Porter Jr. added 19 points, while Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, and Nemanja Bejelica scored in double figures.

Houston Rockets – 2019

From Hakeem Olajuwon to James Harden, the Rockets had a nice run of playing on Christmas. The team owns 12 appearances and an even 6-6 record. Since Harden was traded, the Rockets have not been brought back. That would make sense as the team continues to rebuild, but if these players pan out, Houston could make a return in the future.

The last appearance for Houston featured the Rockets losing to the 7-24 injured Golden State Warriors. Russell Westbrook shined with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Harden added 24 points and 11 assists. However, Damion Lee, Draymond Green, and D’Angelo Russell combined for 62 points to lead the surprise win.

Indiana Pacers – 2004

In 2004, the Pacers and Pistons were battling for the Eastern Conference crown. This was just a preview for the eventual Eastern Conference Finals, anyway. Unfortunately, it was also the final season for Reggie Miller. The Pacers have not been brought back despite having some studs in Jermaine O’Neal and Paul George, and own a 2-2 overall record.

The last appearance featured a 98-93 loss to the Pistons. Miller scored 24 points while O’Neal added 21 points, but Richard Hamilton matched the performance with 25 points, and Chauncey Billups scored 20 points.

Los Angeles Clippers – 2020

If the Clippers would stay healthy, the team would have made the slate. Unfortunately, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have not been reliable in staying on the court, which is why the team was probably not asked to come back this year. With that said, the Clippers own a surprising 16 appearances on Christmas and an 8-8 record.

In 2020, both stars were present for the game and shined the way we thought they would. George led the team with 23 points and nine assists, while Leonard added 21 points. Nicolas Batum had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds in the 121-108 win over the Nuggets.

Los Angeles Lakers – 2021

Like the Nets, the Lakers were pegged as the favorite to make the NBA Finals in 2022. Instead, the team went into this game 16-17 and a lot of questions. The addition of Russell Westbrook was not working. With that said, it doesn’t matter who is playing because the Lakers will be asked every year. After all, they are a historic franchise. The team owns 48 appearances on Christmas and a 24-24 overall record.

The team’s main star, LeBron James, put up a great Christmas stat line with 39 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Westbrook added a triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Carmelo Anthony had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds in the 122-115 loss to the Nets.

Memphis Grizzlies – Never

The Grizzlies were one of two teams that played on Christmas. The team dates back to being in Vancouver from 1996 to 2001. The team has since moved to Memphis but has never made the NBA Finals. Plus, the team is a smaller market.

With that said, the Grizzlies are contending for the top spot in the conference this season. Thanks to Ja Morant’s rise to stardom, the Grizzlies will finally break their spell this season, leaving the Hornets as the only team never to play on Christmas.

Miami Heat – 2020

When the Heat gets asked, the team delivers. In 13 appearances, the team owns an 11-2 overall record. Even when James left the Heat in 2014, the team featured stars like Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler to keep the team relevant. In 2020, the team was coming off of an NBA Finals appearance.

The debut of Zion Williamson on Christmas was spoiled by the Heat with a 111-98 victory. Duncan Robinson led the team with 23 points, while Goran Dragic nearly had a double-double with 18 points and nine assists. Bam Adebayo contributed 17 points as Butler had a low-scoring effort of four points in 16 minutes.

Milwaukee Bucks – 2021

Expect the Bucks to be a Christmas game with former two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo playing at a high level. The Bucks own eight appearances and a 5-3 overall record on the holiday. This team, the 2021 champions, looked like their product last year.

The Bucks defeated the Celtics 117-113, with Antetokounmpo leading the way with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton each scored 17 points, while Bobby Portis added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota Timberwolves – 2017

Even with Kevin Garnett on the team, the Timberwolves were not a prestige pick. The group owns just two appearances on Christmas with a 1-1 record. The last appearance featured the trifecta of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Jimmy Butler.

The big three played extremely well in the 121-104 win over the Lakers. Butler scored 23 points, Wiggins had 16 points, and Towns had 21 points and 10 rebounds. The player that stood out the most was Taj Gibson, who added 23 points and nine rebounds, while Jamal Crawford added 19 points.

New Orleans Pelicans – 2020

Since coming into the league in 2002, the team has made four appearances on Christmas with a 1-3 record. The years of Chris Paul and Anthony Davis were enough star power to bring the team back. With Zion Williamson healthy, his stardom was the main reason New Orleans was added to the slate in 2020.

Williamson delivered in his moment with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Brandon Ingram also scored 28 points, but the rest of the supporting case laid an egg. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 111-98 despite the 60 combined points from their two young stars.

New York Knicks – 2021

When it comes to Christmas, the New York Knicks are a necessity. At least, that is what history says. The Knicks and 76ers have the most frequent matchup on Christmas with 12 games played. Their last game played was in 2017. The Knicks own the most overall appearances on Christmas with 54 games with a 23-31 overall record.

Last year was a special moment. Kemba Walker looked like he was going to be out of the league soon. Instead, he had one of the best overall Christmas games with a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Julius Randle added 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Knicks defeated the Hawks 101-87.

Oklahoma City Thunder – 2018

When Russell Westbrook left the team, it quite literally took the thunder out of the team playing on Christmas. Quite frankly, the team has tremendously struggled to play on Christmas, owning a 6-14 record in 20 appearances. With that said, the last season of Westbrook also featured the last year of Paul George.

Both players lived up to star status. Westbrook finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. George had 28 points and 14 rebounds in the team’s 113-109 loss to the Rockets. It will be a long time before the Thunder make it back on television.

Orlando Magic – 2011

Between Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard, the Magic had numerous seasons to back up the Magic on the grand stage. The team owns nine appearances on Christmas with a 5-4 record. Howard has been off of the team for over a decade. A replacement star has not filled his shoes, but that hope will be Paolo Banchero.

Eleven years ago, the Magic came up short against the Thunder. Ultimately, this game was the first game of the 2011-12 season due to the season being shortened. The Thunder took the final score 97-89 despite 25 points and 10 rebounds from Ryan Anderson. Howard had 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Philadelphia 76ers – 2019

As mentioned, the 76ers own one of the most frequent meetings on Christmas with the Knicks. The 76ers lead the series 7-5 in 12 matchups. It’s only fitting that the 76ers play the Knicks once again this time around. The 76ers are also involved in a rivalry game with the Washington Wizards. Their six Christmas matchups are tied for third most. However, the two teams have not played each other on Christmas since 1988. Altogether, the 76ers own 32 appearances on Christmas and an 18-14 record.

The 76ers make their return to the holiday special after a brief hiatus. With Joel Embiid playing like an MVP, it’s only natural that the team returns. In 2019, Embiid scored 31 points and 11 rebounds in their 121-109 victory over the bucks. Tobias Harris added 22 points as six players scored in double digits.

Phoenix Suns – 2021

The Suns are an interesting team these days. The Suns made the 2021 NBA Finals and then led the league in wins last season. Altogether, the Suns own 19 appearances on Christmas and are tied for third with the most rivalry matchups. The Suns and Lakers have played six times, with the Lakers owning a 4-2 advantage. The last time the two teams played was in 2007.

In a matchup with the Warriors, the Suns came up short 116-107. In a balanced scoring effort, Chris Paul led the team with 21 points. Deandre Ayton added 18 points, while Mikal Bridges scored 17 points. Devin Booker was held to 13 points in 40 minutes.

Portland Trail Blazers – 2018

In 18 appearances, the Trail Blazers own a 14-4 record. Maybe, it’s time to bring Portland back? Even with Damien Lillard, the team has not been on the schedule since 2018. The team is tied for third with the most matchups, with six meetings with the Warriors. In six appearances, the team is 5-1 against Golden State, with their last appearance coming in 2010.

The last appearance was a blowout loss to the Jazz, though. The team did not get a star game from Lillard and CJ McCollum. The two players combined for 31 points, with Lillard scoring 20 of those points. Evan Turner outscored McCollum with 12 points.

Sacramento Kings – 2003

The franchise dates back to when the team was based in Rochester in 1948. It’s been almost 20 years since the Kings played on Christmas, but the team owns 29 appearances. The Kings are 18-11. If it were up to the kings, the team should always want to play on Christmas. If every game was on Christmas, this might be a playoff team.

In 2003, the Kings played the Mavericks, where Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead the Mavericks to a 111-103 win. Mike Bibby and Vlade Divac each scored at least 20 points. The Kings were without Chris Webber, who did not play this game.

San Antonio Spurs – 2016

It’s possible that the Spurs fell victim to the market game. The Spurs won five championships between 1999 and 2014. For 20 years, the team had a marquee players in David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Despite that, the Spurs own just 10 appearances on Christmas day with a 4-6 record. Given how successful the team was, the Spurs should have more appearances.

Since Kawhi Leonard left the Spurs, the team has struggled to be relevant. The 2016-17 season was the last truly successful season for Leonard and the Spurs. The combination of Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge dominated the Bulls in 2016. Leonard scored 33 points and nine rebounds, while Aldridge had 25 points and 10 rebounds in the 119-100 victory.

Toronto Raptors – 2019

After the Raptors won everything in 2019, the team was brought to the Christmas schedule. The Raptors didn’t have Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green, but the team had Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Pascal Siakam on the roster. The Celtics dominated the Raptors with a 118-112 victory.

Fred VanVleet went from sub to starter and put the world on notice. VanVleet scored 27 points to lead the team in scoring. Chris Boucher added 24 points as well. The team played without Siakam and Gasol, who would have made a tremendous impact. It was the second appearance for Toronto at the time. The team is still searching for a Christmas win, as the team is 0-2 overall.

Utah Jazz – 2021

After rising to the top of the Western Conference in 2020-21, the Jazz had to be added last year. After all, they led the league in wins. The Jazz had another strong roster with All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Before Mitchell and Gobert, it was John Stockton and Karl Malone. The team owns eight appearances on Christmas with a 6-2 record.

Mitchell led the Jazz to a 120-116 victory over the Mavericks with 33 points. Gobert had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The supporting cast played well too. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 points, while Mike Conley Jr. added 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Washington Wizards – 2017

Once upon a time, the Wizards were a no-brainer for Christmas. The team owns 23 appearances, and the team produced at a high level with a 16-7 overall record. The Wizards own six matchups, tied for third most with the 76ers, and are tied 3-3. That last rivalry matchup came in 1988, though, and their last Christmas game came five years ago.

The demise of John Wall was the main reason for that. That is why it hurts more when you look back to 2017’s game. Wall led the Wizards with 21 points and 14 assists in a 111-103 victory over the Celtics. Bradley Beal scored 25 points and eight rebounds, while Otto Porter Jr. scored 20 points himself.

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