The NBA’s Christmas Day showcase delivered big time with five high-quality games, four of which went down the wire. The New York Knicks’ 117-114 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs started things off, while the Phoenix Suns’ 110-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets ended the showcase.
The middle three games were special, as this recap will show:
Lakers Edge Warriors in Christmas Thriller
Austin Reaves scored the game-winning lay-up with 1.0 second remaining to help the Los Angeles Lakers edge the Golden State Warriors, 115-113, at Chase Center.
Reaves’ heroics came after the Warriors (15-14) tied the game at 113 thanks to back-to-back triples from Stephen Curry, who scored a game-high 38 points on 8-for-15 from downtown. Reaves finished with a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Lakers (17-13), who also got 31 points and 10 dimes from LeBron James.
(Up next: Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings, Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers on December 28)
Sixers Stun Celtics Behind Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
Joel Embiid shook off a pregame fall to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an upset of the Boston Celtics, 118-114, at TD Garden.
Embiid had 27 points—including the game-sealing two free throws—and 9 rebounds for the Sixers (11-17) who have now won six of their last seven games. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 33 points and 12 dimes and had 13 of the Sixers’ 36 fourth-quarter points. Jayson Tatum’s 32 points and 15 rebounds led the Celtics (22-8), who have lost back-to-back for the first time this season.
(Up next: Sixers vs. Utah Jazz on December 29, Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers on December 28)
Wolves Handle Mavs After Wild Second Half
The Minnesota Timberwolves nearly gave up a 28-point lead but recovered just in time to fend off the Dallas Mavericks, 105-99, at American Airlines Arena.
Anthony Edwards had 26 points and 8 rebounds as he helped the Wolves (15-14) erect a 28-point cushion in the first half. But the Mavs (19-11) stormed back in the fourth behind Kyrie Irving, who finished with 39 points but was just short on what would have been the go-ahead trey. Julius Randle added 23 points, 10 boards, and 8 dimes for Minnesota.
(Up next: Wolves vs. Houston Rockets, Mavs vs. Phoenix Suns on December 28)
