Our five favorite games in NBA Christmas history
We take a look back at some of the most entertaining NBA games that have ever been played on Christmas Day — a tradition that began in 1947.
New Jersey Nets at New York Knicks (1984)
In what still stands as the greatest individual scoring performance in Christmas Day history, Hall of Fame forward Bernard King dropped 60 points on 19-for-30 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and tallied four assists, but it wasn’t enough to get the win at Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks fell to the Nets 120-114. King became the third player in NBA history to score at least 50 points on Christmas Day, joining Wilt Chamberlain (59 in 1961) and Rick Barry (50 in 1966).
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks (1986)
Michael Jordan’s first Christmas Day appearance (30 points, five assists and six steals) was spoiled by Patrick Ewing (28 points and 17 rebounds), who hit a fadeaway put-back at the buzzer to give the Knicks an 86-85 victory. Little did we know that these two teams would end up forming one of the fiercest rivalries in NBA history for years to come.
Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic (1995)
For the first time in NBA history, the teams from the previous season’s Finals met on Christmas Day. Superstar big men Shaquille O’Neal (22 points, 18 rebounds and five assists) and Hakeem Olajuwon (30 points, 12 rebounds and six assists) stole the pregame headlines, but Magic guard Penny Hardaway played the role of hero, knocking down the eventual game-winning jumper with three seconds remaining to give the Magic a 92-90 victory.
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Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers (2004)
For the first time since being dealt to the Heat, O’Neal went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant and a Lakers squad with whom he had spent the previous eight seasons and won three consecutive championships. O’Neal tallied 24 points and 11 rebounds but fouled out late in the fourth quarter (on a Bryant drive, nonetheless), while Bryant had 42 points but missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer, giving the Heat a 104-102 overtime win.
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers (2008)
In this best-in-the-East vs. best-in-the-West rematch, the Celtics (27-2) entered the Staples Center on a 19-game winning streak to match up with the 23-5 Lakers six months after beating them in a six-game Finals series. It was sweet, sweet revenge in Laker Land, as Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists to lead L.A. to a 92-83 victory.
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