Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
The NBA has become a Christmas tradition, and we’re here to help you navigate your way through the schedule. Here’s a quick look at the five-game slate and why you should watch (all times Eastern):
Washington Wizards at New York Knicks, noon, ESPN
Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports
• John Wall: The Wizards point guard has gone from reckless to rectified. His remarkable passing skills finally have translated to the halfcourt offense, where he sets up so many open shots for teammates.
• It’s first: Yeah, not the best reason. But you’ve got to start sometime, right? The 5-25 Knicks are overmatched against the 19-8 Wizards, but weird things can happen on Christmas Day. Miracles, even.
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports
• Something’s wrong: The 13-16 Thunder obviously were set back by injuries to Kevin Durant (who will miss this one) and Russell Westbrook (who’s back with a vengeance). But the 18-11 defending champion Spurs also have a lot of exposed flaws, and neither of these teams yet looks capable of setting up a Western Conference finals rematch. Here’s a chance to try to figure out what ails these two West powers.
• Tim Duncan: Thanks to the NBA’s habit of putting big-market teams on the Christmas schedule, the Spurs legend doesn’t have as much experience on the holiday as you might expect: This will be his fifth shot. But he could retire after this season, and he’s a special player who should be watched at every opportunity.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, 5 p.m., ABC
Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports
• Revenge? As USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt writes, no one here should be too bitter about LeBron James’ decision. The Heat rented him for four years and won two championships and two more Eastern Conference titles. James’ star teammates, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh (who may not play because of a calf injury), are back to putting up huge numbers for a decent team that’s outperformed its 13-16 record. And James returned home. But how will the fans take it?
• Show and prove: Yeah, if the pressure’s on anyone, it should be Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the new stars James plays with. They can’t let the world think he made a mistake by choosing them over Wade and Bosh, right? Neither of these guys has won anything, and chemistry issues have hounded the 17-10 Cavs so far. And the loss of Anderson Varejao for the season adds even more to their plates.
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., TNT
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports
• Kobe or not? The 9-19 Lakers pulled off their biggest win of the season Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors with Kobe Bryant on the bench. The 36-year-old shooting guard is third in the NBA in scoring but clearly inefficient to the point that he’s hindering his own team. His status for Christmas is uncertain, but expect him to play. Then watch how Nick Young, Jeremy Lin and other exciting younger teammates react.
• He’s back: That’s Derrick Rose, the 2010-11 NBA MVP, to you. After missing all but 10 games the past two seasons with knee injuries, Rose took a while to find his rhythm this season. But in December, he’s averaged 19.8 points a game and shown an evolved game that should scare opponents. The 19-9 Bulls have won seven of their last eight and are justifying title expectations.
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
• It gets no better: Not on Christmas and not on the entire NBA schedule. These teams don’t like each other, haven’t liked each other for a while and play beautiful basketball. The Warriors are the best team in the NBA, while the Clippers have scuffled because their bench is awful, but don’t let that fool you. This game will be excellent because Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and others on the Clippers aren’t going to let the better Warriors walk away with it easily, just as the Warriors didn’t let the then-better Clippers make it out of the first round without a seven-game fight last season.
• The best point guard debate: Paul’s held this distiction for years, probably since the 2007-08 season. But now the Warriors’ Stephen Curry is making his charge. Curry has a size advantage on Paul and dramatically improved his defense this season. Tale of the tape: Curry averages 23.4 points, 7.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game to Paul’s 18.1, 9.7, 4.6 and 2.0. In other words, you can’t lose.
But let’s not forget …
Christmas Day isn’t about basketball, even if the games are good. And whether you’re working or celebrating or hanging out glad to have some time off for a holiday you care not about, have a happy Dec. 25.
