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Andre Drummond got ejected last night, and the ejection was then rescinded because it came from a flop. I’ve never seen that before.
XMas Day Preview!
Everything you need for holiday hoops
Christmas Day games are here, marking the start of the NBA season for a lot of casual fans. We know this thing has been going strong for two months now, but plenty of people will tune in for the first time as they look to escape their beloved families. Or maybe Christmas and/or the NFL aren’t your thing, and you’re just looking to watch hoops all day.
Regardless, for your viewing guide, we’ve got 1) a drinking game for each team (drink responsibly, of course, or use water or juice), 2) something to look for and 3) as many as five eyes emojis ( 👀) to measure whether you should interrupt family time to watch. (All times Eastern.) Let’s go:
Spurs at Knicks, 12 p.m. on ABC
New York has been surging, having won nine of its last 11 games going into the Christmas Day action. The Spurs have won four of their last six games. Overall, they’re 15-14, and seem ahead of schedule (a little more on that below). You’re getting Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul against Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson!
- Spurs drinking game: Any moment it looks like Wemby has changed someone’s normal basketball decision just by existing.
- Knicks drinking game: Each instance we hear about the Villanova connection on this squad.
- Something to look for: Will Wemby score 25 points or more? The Spurs are 11-2 this season when he does.
- Worth interrupting family time? 👀👀👀👀👀
It’s Wemby at Madison Square Garden. Flip it on and celebrate holidays, basketball or both!
Timberwolves at Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. on ABC
It’s a rematch of the Western Conference finals! The problem is we don’t have both teams streaking at the moment. That doesn’t pertain to the Mavs, who have won 14 of their last 17 games. On the other hand, the Wolves won five out of six before losing three straight and had Anthony Edwards openly criticizing their offense. We’ll see if the latter is enough to keep up with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.
- Wolves drinking game: Every time you wonder, “What is Julius Randle doing on offense?”
- Mavs drinking game: Whenever Luka complains to the referees. Do this one with water instead of booze and be the most hydrated you’ve ever been.
- Something to look for: Minnesota is 7-1 when it allows 100 points or fewer. Dallas has been held to that just once this season.
- Worth interrupting family time? 👀👀👀👀
Dallas might blow Minnesota out, but it should be fun for at least a half.
76ers at Celtics, 5 p.m. on ABC
Who will be available for Philly? We never know! In theory, this was supposed to be a great showcase for an East power trying to take down the defending champs. Instead, it’ll look like the same old, same old. Hopefully we get Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey against the Celtics’ brigade.
- 76ers drinking game: If ever the Sixers’ injuries get mentioned.
- Celtics drinking game: Any time Joe Mazzulla looks like he’s trying to remember something from “The 48 Laws of Power.”
- Something to look for: The Celtics have hit at least 20 3-pointers 10 times this season. They’re 10-0 in those games.
- Worth interrupting family time? 👀👀
You’ll have plenty of time to eat dinner and clean up during this one.
Lakers at Warriors, 8 p.m. on ABC
This will sound corny, but we’re not sure how many more matchups between LeBron James and Steph Curry we have left, so I’m going to suggest watching and soaking it all in. Also, both the Lakers and Warriors need a win.
- Lakers drinking game: When it’s mentioned LeBron turns 40 next week.
- Warriors drinking game: If the broadcast mentions the loss of Klay Thompson.
- Something to look for: The Lakers are 10-2 when Anthony Davis makes one 3-pointer this season. They’re 6-9 when he doesn’t.
- Worth interrupting family time? 👀👀👀👀👀
Tell all the kids in the family tales of the 2015 and 2016 NBA Finals battles as you watch this game.
Nuggets at Suns, 10:30 p.m. on ABC
Yes, the Nuggets and Suns haven’t been the contenders we expect them to be, but the combinations of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray versus Kevin Durant and Devin Booker is a lot of fun.
- Nuggets drinking game: If it looks like Jokić’s arms are bleeding.
- Suns drinking game: Whenever it’s mentioned we’re still waiting to see them at their best.
- Something to look for: Denver is 7-4 when Jokić has a triple-double.
- Worth interrupting family time? 👀👀👀
The family can co-exist in a food coma while watching KD and Jokić wow us.
HOW TO WATCH: Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free).
The Last 24
You have to see this Embiid ejection
👋 Embiid ejected. Philly’s star center did not love this charge call against him. He lost it.
🏀 Sense of peace. Donovan Mitchell finally found his calm on the Cavs. How did he get here?
🏆 Title contenders. History says this season’s title winners are likely already on a very short list. Who can do it?
🦌 Giannis disrespected? Antetokounmpo says the Bucks not playing on Christmas is disrespectful. Do you agree?
🏀 Changing NIL. Top 2026 prospect AJ Dybantsa has changed the college game. He’s the one.
Rank ‘Em!
Top three, middle three, bottom three
It’s Tuesday! You know what that means: We’re back to sorting through the best and worst teams in the NBA with some good, old-fashioned ranking! But we wouldn’t just leave you with the top-three and bottom-three teams in the NBA. We also give you the controversial middle three — team Nos. 14, 15 and 16. (Here are Law Murray’s weekly Power Rankings, for your hoops holiday reading pleasure.)
Top three: Thunder (23-5), Cavaliers (26-4), Celtics (22-7)
Do any of these three teams actually have a chance of being knocked out of this spot in the top three? I don’t mean after suffering an injury. Because even then we’d probably need multiple big injuries for any of them to drop. The Knicks and Grizzlies are really good, and we expect other teams to catch fire at some point and make a run up the standings. But these are by far the three best squads in the NBA.
Middle three: Suns (14-14), Lakers (16-13), Pacers (15-15)
Now that Kevin Durant is back healthy with the Suns, I’d expect them to start creeping back up toward the top 10 in the league – that is if they can stay healthy. Phoenix is 13-4 when Durant plays. For all the hand-wringing about the Lakers, they’re 16-13 and seventh in the West. Also, we are keeping an eye on the recent surge of this Pacers team as they turn it around. We want to see Tyrese Haliburton keep making shots like this.
Bottom three: Jazz (7-21), Pelicans (5-25), Wizards (4-23)
To the Jazz’s credit, they’ve played a lot better basketball recently! I doubt it’s a turnaround for them, but there is more talent on the roster than their record would signify. The Pelicans still can’t catch a health break, and we’re starting to wonder if sweeping changes might happen due to frustration toward it all. The Wizards are still the Wizards. They’re on fire, winning two of their last seven games.
Clutch Teams
Cleveland by far the best in close games
To end last week, we went over the most clutch players and some struggling clutch players during the first third of the season. Today, I thought we’d check out three teams that are thriving in the clutch and three teams in need of late-game improvement. (As a reminder: clutch time is measured by a game’s final five minutes with the score within five points.)
Three clutch teams
Cavaliers: 11-2 | 154.9 off-rating | 103.9 def-rating | +51.0 net rating
Nobody has been as dominant in the clutch as Cleveland this season. The Cavs have been diabolically surgical under new coach Kenny Atkinson when it gets down to crunch time. It’s not just their 11-2 record in games triggering clutch situations. Their offense goes through the stratosphere in those late, tight games.
Spurs: 8-4 | 124.8 off-rating | 113.6 def-rating | +11.2 net rating
Yes, Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have been really good influences on this team, but we’re still seeing a level of execution in the clutch that is pretty absurd for such a young team. Victor Wembanyama has gotten a lot better in those situations, so this team is executing beyond its years. Don’t forget they haven’t had Gregg Popovich for most of the season.
Magic: 9-4 | 114.1 off-rating | 83.0 def-rating | +32.1 net rating
The Magic have been one of the best and most dominant clutch teams in the NBA this season. We’d probably make a bigger deal of it if the Cavs weren’t so good. And that’s impressive considering the time Paolo Banchero and now Franz Wagner have missed. I guess it’s tough to beat a team in the clutch if you can’t score on its defense.
Three not-so-clutch teams
Timberwolves: 7-10 | 91.3 off-rating | 113.1 def-rating | -21.8 net rating
Remember those comments from Anthony Edwards about the Wolves’ struggling offense? They apply more to the clutch moments than any other time of the game. Their defense has been good enough in those moments, but they simply can’t make shots. It’s getting kind of embarrassing.
Heat: 5-10 | 103.2 off-rating | 114.5 def-rating | -11.3 net rating
The Heat are supposed to be tougher than anybody in these moments. And we’ve seen Erik Spoelstra draw up some really great plays. But we also saw him call a timeout the team didn’t have. Tyler Herro has really struggled in these moments, and Jimmy Butler isn’t lifting them enough.
Wizards: 3-5 | 105.6 off-rating | 140.0 def-rating | -34.4 net rating
Prior to their win over Charlotte, the Wizards’ crunchtime numbers were somehow even worse. What’s even more absurd is their record is not indicative of their lack of execution in the clutch. But this is the Wizards, so nothing ever makes sense.
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(Top photo: Michael Gonzales / Getty Images )
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