Report: Celtics-Lakers, Warriors-Nuggets headline NBA's Christmas slate
The Los Angeles Lakers versus the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors against the Denver Nuggets are among the NBA's marquee Christmas Day matchups, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The New York Knicks will host the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Miami Heat in the earlier portion of the day, with the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns set to face off later.
Nine of the same teams played on Christmas Day last year, but the Miami Heat were swapped in for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lakers and Celtics are tied for the most championships in NBA history, with both franchises winning 17 titles. Last season, the two teams played in one of the most exciting contests of the campaign, with the referees confirming they missed a crucial foul call on the last possession of the game that would have sent LeBron James to the free-throw line to potentially win the game. The Celtics won in overtime.
The defending champion Nuggets will host the Warriors. Golden State eliminated Denver in the first round of the 2022 playoffs en route to the franchise's seventh championship, but the Nuggets won their first title this past season.
Denver will reportedly host L.A. for the first contest of the 2023-24 season on Oct. 24, while the Suns will take on the Warriors.
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