Only Two NBA Games Have Ever Been Played On Christmas Eve: December 24, 1960, Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics & December 24, 1967, San Francisco Warriors

The NBA has a rich tradition of having games played on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve, on the other hand, has only seen two games played on that date in league history. Find out which two games were played on December 24.

Jul 23, 2023

5 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

When you think of basketball and Christmas, it’s easy to conjure up images of NBA games played on December 25th. This has become a tradition in the NBA schedule, as fans cannot wait to watch the games after opening their presents on Christmas Day.

Contents

December 24, 1960: Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics
December 24, 1967: San Francisco Warriors vs. Seattle SuperSonics

The NBA also places the best teams against each other on December 25, which makes it even more exciting for the fans.

However, what many people might not realize is the NBA does not play games on Christmas Eve… Well, almost.

In this article, we will take a look back at the only two games that were ever played on Christmas Eve. Join us as we at Fadeaway World celebrate Christmas in July by exploring the NBA games played on Christmas Eve.

December 24, 1960: Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics

The first game to be played on Christmas Eve, which is December 24, was back in 1960. It featured the defending champion Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, who were one of the weakest teams in the league.

The Celtics were led by the greatest winner in NBA history, Bill Russell, while the Pistons were led by Gene Shue and Bailey Howell. In this game, the better team would jump out to a huge lead and never look back.

The Celtics outscored the Pistons 38-22 in the first quarter. Detroit wouldn’t win a single quarter in the game as they fell 150-106 to Boston.

Bill Russell proved why he’s one of the greatest to ever play, as he dropped 15 points on 7-13 shooting while grabbing 29 rebounds. Russell didn’t do it alone, as he had help from Sam Jones, who recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Bob Cousy led the Celtics in scoring with 25 points on 11-20. Cousy also recorded 7 assists in the game. Boston proved while they were the dominant team of the 1960s.

The Celtics also recorded an NBA record in the game that still stands today. Boston recorded 112 rebounds in the game.

For the Pistons, Bailey Howell led the team in scoring with 18 points on 7-15 shooting. Gene Shue struggled for Detroit, scoring just 12 points on 5-14 shooting.

It would be fitting that the mighty Boston Celtics would become the first team to record a win on Christmas Eve. When it comes to winning, nothing stopped the great Bill Russell.

December 24, 1967: San Francisco Warriors vs. Seattle SuperSonics

The second and final time the NBA had a game played on Christmas Eve was back in 1967 when the San Francisco Warriors battled the Seattle SuperSonics. The Warriors were led by Nate Thurmond and the SuperSonics were led by Walt Hazzard.

Hazzard and his SuperSonics were toward the end of the standings during the season, finishing with just a 23-59 record. The Warriors were a tough team that finished the season with a 43-39 record.

San Francisco would go on to make the playoffs as the third seed, but on December 24, 1967, the Warriors attempted to defeat the SuperSonics. The Warriors didn’t have much of a problem as they took the game 127-113.

Nate Thurmond led the Warriors with 18 points and 29 rebounds. He also added 6 assists in the game, as well. For the SuperSonics, they got 20 points from Walt Hazzard, but he shot just 7-20 from the field.

There you have it, the list of NBA games played on Christmas Eve, December 24, has ended. The NBA has never given a direct reason why they don’t schedule games on Christmas Eve, but people believe it’s to give their players time to spend with their families since many games are played on Christmas Day.

Will we see another game played on December 24 in the near future? It’s highly likely, but it’s something all NBA fans will have to keep their eyes open for.

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ByTitan Frey

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Titan Frey is the editor-in-chief and a staff writer for Fadeaway World from York, Pennsylvania. Titan blends his deep passion for basketball and storytelling to oversee the content at Fadeaway World. A prolific writer, Titan has authored several novels, including the award-winning "Players Path." This experience has honed his ability to weave compelling narratives, a skill he applies to his editorial role, ensuring that every piece resonates with basketball lovers and maintains high journalistic standards. His passion for basketball was sparked by Michael Jordan's return to the NBA in 1995, and his allegiance to the Chicago Bulls often inspires his contributions to "Pippen Ain’t Easy," a website dedicated to Bulls-related content. Titan’s specialization in player biographies and retro basketball content allows him to offer unique insights, often reaching out to key sources to secure exclusive information not available elsewhere. One of Titan’s proudest achievements is the biography of Chuck Cooper, the first African American drafted by an NBA team. By collaborating directly with Chuck Cooper III, Titan was able to present a nuanced portrayal that enriched the basketball community’s understanding of Cooper’s impact on the sport. Titan also extends his storytelling prowess to his YouTube channel "HoopsHistory26", where he uses archived footage to bring historical basketball stories to life, engaging a broader audience with his vivid storytelling and authoritative content.Titan's bold predictions and memorable basketball moments also reflect his deep involvement in the sport. He boldly predicts that the Phoenix Suns will part ways with their Big 3 and focus on building around Kevin Durant. Among his cherished memories is attending the unforgettable 2004 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers in Philly, where he witnessed Allen Iverson make his first career game-winning shot. These experiences and insights continue to enrich his contributions to Fadeaway World, connecting with readers on a deeply personal level.