In an exhilarating NBA Christmas Day, the Los Angeles Lakers held off a late surge from the Golden State Warriors, while the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalized on Luka Dončić’s injury to defeat the Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers triumphed over the Boston Celtics, and the New York Knicks completed a thrilling comeback against the San Antonio Spurs.
Lakers 115, Warriors 113
Austin Reaves sealed the victory for the Los Angeles Lakers with a go-ahead layup in the final second, securing a triple-double performance. LeBron James contributed 31 points and 10 assists as the Lakers outlasted the Golden State Warriors. Despite losing Anthony Davis to a twisted ankle early in the game, the Lakers managed to maintain control for most of the contest.
The Warriors made a dramatic push, as Stephen Curry scored eight points in a 13-4 run, including two incredible three-pointers in the final seconds, tying the game with a 31-footer with 7.6 seconds remaining. However, Reaves’ last-second layup and his 26-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist performance helped secure the win. Curry led all scorers with 38 points, including eight three-pointers, tying the NBA record for most threes on Christmas Day.
Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 99
In Dallas, the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalized on a second-half absence of Luka Dončić to defeat the Mavericks. Dončić suffered a left calf strain in the second quarter and did not return. He had 14 points in just 16 minutes of play. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points, and the Timberwolves held a commanding lead before Dallas mounted a late comeback.
Despite a strong fourth-quarter effort, including 15 points from Kyrie Irving (who finished with 39 points), the Mavericks couldn’t complete the rally. After cutting the deficit to 101-99, Irving missed a potential game-winning three-pointer, and Edwards sealed the win with a basket on the next possession.
76ers 118, Celtics 114
Tyrese Maxey’s 33-point, 12-assist performance led the Philadelphia 76ers to a hard-fought victory over the Boston Celtics. Despite a strong 32-point, 15-rebound performance from Jayson Tatum, and a 23-point, seven-rebound effort from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics couldn’t overcome a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Joel Embiid added 27 points and nine rebounds, while Caleb Martin’s hot shooting (7 of 9 from three-point range) contributed 23 points. The 76ers held off a late charge by Boston, with Embiid’s clutch free throws securing the win. Philadelphia has now won six of its last eight games, while the Celtics are on a two-game losing streak.
Knicks 117, Spurs 114
In a thrilling game at Madison Square Garden, Mikal Bridges led the New York Knicks to a comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs. Bridges scored 15 of his career-high 41 points in the fourth quarter, outdueling Victor Wembanyama, who had an outstanding Christmas debut with 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.
The two teams combined for 60 points in an action-packed final period. Bridges and Wembanyama’s impressive scoring performances highlighted a fast-paced, high-scoring game. Miles McBride’s three-pointer with 2:43 left gave the Knicks the lead for good as they clinched their fifth consecutive win. The Spurs were led by Jeremy Sochan, who contributed 21 points and nine rebounds.
Christmas Day Results:
- Lakers 115, Warriors 113
- Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 99
- 76ers 118, Celtics 114
- Knicks 117, Spurs 114
The festive games delivered thrilling moments, with standout performances across the league, as teams look to capitalize on these holiday victories heading into the second half of the season.
