NBA Starting 5, Dec. 26: The (Luka) magic Of #NBAXmas
NBA on Christmas Day had already had a couple dazzling performances through four games.
Then Luka Doncic said hold my eggnog.
History Quiz: Who are the four players who’ve scored 50+ on #NBAXmas? Find the answer in Section 1 & tap here for more games
THE LINEUP
- ✨ Luka drops 50, hits 10K in Mavs W
- Brunson’s 38 electrifies Garden
- Celtics win 1st #NBAXmas vs Lakers
- Nuggets excel late, win 5th straight
- Jaquez Jr.’s career night lifts Heat
Thunder-Wolves highlights a 9-game night tonight, with two of the league’s biggest stories of the first two months colliding. Keep an eye on Chet Holmgren & Rudy Gobert in the post, ranked 3rd & 6th in the league in blocks, respectively
Games don’t stop when the buzzer sounds. Tap for NBA Play, the NBA App’s new home for daily interactive games
1. LUKA DROPS 50, REACHES 10K IN MAVS WIN
In the closing minutes of the Mavericks' victory, Luka Doncic sinks a floater to become 4th player to score 50 on Christmas Day.
Halleluka: Luka Doncic closed out Christmas Day with a historic performance — 50 points, 15 assists, 8 3-pointers, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks — to lead Dallas to a 128-114 win in Phoenix.
- New ground: Since the 3 was introduced in 1979-80, no player has reached those marks in any NBA game before Doncic
- Christmas 50 Club: Doncic joined Bernard King (60), Wilt Chamberlain (59) and Rick Barry (50) as the only players to score 50+ on Christmas Day
- Luka and Grayson for 3(x8): Doncic (8-of-16) and Grayson Allen (8-of-17) tied the Christmas Day record (set by Patty Mills in 2021) for most 3-pointers with eight apiece
- Luka Hits 10K: Doncic splashed the DEEP 3 to reach 10,000 career points. He became the sixth player to do it before turning 25, joining LeBron, KD, Kobe, Melo and T-Mac
- ‘We can’t take him for granted.’ – Mavs coach Jason Kidd
Our Favorite GIF
That feeling when you hit 10,000 points.
Top Plays
- Airplane mode: Derrick Jones Jr. took flight on the break and threw down the lefty slam. Oh, he also cleans the glass pretty well
- Exclamation point: Sitting on 48 points in the final minute, Luka hit the runner for his sixth career 50+ point game
Top Moments
- History + victory: Luka sounded off after his historic night: “A win is a win!”
- KD on the rise: Durant finished with 16 points, passing Dwyane Wade for fourth all-time in Christmas Day scoring (315 points)
2. BRUNSON’S 38 MAKES FOR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS AT MSG
Jalen Brunson with 38 Points vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 12/25/2023
Brunson, Knicks make history: Jalen Brunson’s 38 points — third most in Knicks Christmas history — led the way, as the Knicks had four players score 20+ on Christmas for the first time since 1963.
- Stopping the skid: The win gave the Knicks their first in four games against the Bucks this year, and first in nine games against Milwaukee – snapping the Bucks’ seven-game overall win streak
- The first 3 times: Milwaukee had won its first three games against the Knicks this year by an average of 16 points
- Giannis & Lillard: The Bucks’ star duo both dropped 32, the first time Milwaukee’s had two 30-point scorers on Christmas
Our Favorite GIF
King of New York City on #NBAXmas
Top Plays
- Brunson, clutch: With time winding down in the fourth, the Knicks’ star pumped, pumped, then came through with this TOUGH fadeaway
- Giannis looked like he was destined for the roof on this big oop (here it is from in-arena)
Top Moments
- Celeb row: The stars were out at MSG
- King courtside: Bernard King, who holds the #NBAXmas scoring record with 60, was in the house for the Knicks’ win – and reacted to watching his performance from 1984
- Family first: We were on court with Brunson pregame as he warmed up with his dad, Rick Brunson
- Jalen Mic’d Up: Listen in on the PG’s big day
Taurasi & Bird’s Broadcast: Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were on the call on ESPN2, bringing in a few special guests for their Christmas edition
- Trae Young on what he got his son Tydus for Christmas
- Breanna Stewart on what it’s like to play ball in NYC
- Tyrese Haliburton on his In-Season Tournament run, and his time playing with Brunson for USA Basketball
3. CELTICS WIN BATTLE OF HISTORIC RIVALS
Boston blows an early 18-point lead but bounces back to beat its long-time rival and reclaim the NBA's best record.
Even After 76+ Years: There’s a first time for everything. The Celtics got 18+ pts from each of their five starters to pick up their first-ever win over the longtime rival Lakers on Christmas.
- Porzingis & Tatum Lead: The duo combined for 53 points with Kristaps Porzingis racking up 28 pts & 11 reb
- 40 For AD: Anthony Davis (40 pts, 13 reb) became the fourth Laker with 40+ pts on Christmas, joining Jerry West (twice), Kobe Bryant and Elgin Baylor
- 12-0 To Start: Boston didn’t waste any time in its first #NBAXmas game against the Lakers in 15 years, jumping out to a 12-0 lead before LA got a bucket
Our Favorite GIF
Tatum sidesteps for the bucket, in the Kobe armband
Top Plays
- LeBron goes no-look to Rui Hachimura on the fast break
- Jayson Tatum shook to create space, then put a liiiiittle extra loft on this one for the 3
- Payton Pritchard went for 10 straight points for Boston
Top Moments
- For The 18th Time: James, the all-time leader in #NBAXmas games played, throws up the chalk on Christmas
- Wired: James and Tatum were in the holiday spirit pregame
- Deuce & JT: Deuce Tatum gifted his dad his brand-new signature kicks, watched his pops from courtside during the game, then had a heartwarming moment with him walking off
- Vini Jr. In The House: Exchanging jerseys with LeBron postgame
4. CHAMPS COME THROUGH IN 4TH TO PICK UP 5TH STRAIGHT
Nuggets hold off Warriors in Christmas battle
Relive the final thrilling minutes of Warriors-Nuggets on Christmas Day as Denver ekes out a 120-114 win.
Nuggets come through late: The defending champs led early, saw the Warriors climb back to take the lead, then pulled ahead down the stretch behind 28 pts from Jamal Murray & 26 from Nikola Jokic. Watch the final 4:18 here
- Five straight: The win gave Denver its longest win streak of the season, at five games – and ended the Warriors’ five-game streak (which was their season-best)
- Jokic from the line: Joker went 18-for-18 from the free throw line, the most he’s ever made without a miss
- Clutch buckets: Jokic (10) and Murray (9) took over down the stretch, including a behind-the-back shake into a cold-blooded three from Murray (with a great reaction)
Our Favorite GIF
Murray showing off the moves
Top Plays
- Michael Porter Jr. with the rejection on one end and then the smooth finish on the other
- Jokic, master of the angle on this dime bounce pass
- Jamal Murray had another hype reaction on this wraparound dunk
Top Moments
- Mic’d Up: Stephen Curry wants to look behind the lens pregame, then saved his coaches from a loose ball during the game. Meanwhile, Chris Paul tells Andrew Wiggins ‘if you want the ball, just tell me’
- Twinsies: Curry and Aaron Gordon pulled up in the exact same suit
- Curry hits from halfcourt to the free throw line in his warmups
5. JAQUEZ JR.’S CAREER NIGHT LIFTS HEAT PAST SIXERS
Jaime Jaquez Jr. finishes with a career-best 31 points — including 10 in the 4th quarter — as the Heat beat the 76ers.
The rook shows out: Jaime Jaquez Jr. gave Heat fans the best day of his young career for Christmas – 31 points and 10 boards for his first double-double – to lead Miami to a 119-113 win over Philly.
- Legendary Heat company: Jaquez Jr.’s 31 points tied Dwyane Wade for the third-most ever scored by a Heat player on Christmas. The only bigger scoring games: James’ 37 in 2011 and Wade’s 40 in 2006
- Legendary fookie company: Jaquez Jr. became the fifth rookie in NBA history with a 30/10 game on Christmas, joining Patrick Ewing, Walt Bellamy, Oscar Robertson and Wilt
- Can’t do it alone: Bam Adebayo (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk) and Tyler Herro (22 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) combined for 48 points as Miami improved to 4-3 without Jimmy Butler
- Spo stays perfect: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra improved to 9-0 on Christmas Day. Miami is now 12-2 (.857) all-time on Christmas Day
Our Favorite GIF
Jaquez Jr. not looking like a rookie
Top Plays
- Bam block party: Bam Adebayo was sending back shots like people returning gifts the day after Christmas
- Game of runs: Miami used a 22-1 first-half run to take control. But Philly stormed back with a 23-4 run highlighted by this ferocious slam from De’Anthony Melton
- At the buzzer: Kyle Lowry beat the third quarter buzzer with the runner high off the glass to tie the game
Top Moments
- Maxey on the mic: A mic’d up Tyrese Maxey spread the holiday spirit ahead of his first-ever Christmas Day game
- Be like Mike: Jaquez Jr. wore the Jordan Jumpman sweater to his first Christmas Day game and reacted to scoring more than MJ in their Christmas debuts. “To even be in that conversation is crazy.”
