Wemby debut, LeBron vs. Steph: Top questions for the NBA’s Christmas games

The NBA’s Christmas Day slate has been highly anticipated since the 2024-25 schedule was announced in August. The five-game schedule is filled with superstar matchups, highly anticipated rivalries and a few holiday debuts for some rising stars.

Victor Wembanyama, fresh off a handful of history-making performances, makes his Christmas debut as the San Antonio Spurs take on Karl-Anthony Towns and the new-look New York Knicks. Will the French phenom Dunk the Halls, or can Jalen Brunson & Co. get a win in front of the home crowd at the Garden? In a rematch of the Western Conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Dallas Mavericks in their second meeting this season. Will Anthony Edwards get the best of the Mavs this time?

The dominant Boston Celtics will take on the struggling Philadelphia 76ers to kick off the evening slate, while LeBron James and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers will face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. James is the career leader in points (476) and games played (18) on Christmas. Lastly, MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will take on the host Phoenix Suns to wrap up the holiday festivities.

Which stars will shine the brightest this holiday season? What teams will need a Christmas miracle to boost them to the postseason? Our NBA insiders preview all five matchups by answering some of the biggest questions surrounding these teams.

San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks, noon ET (ESPN)

What are the next steps this season for the Spurs to become playoff contenders with Victor Wembanyama?

In Thursday’s win over Atlanta, the Spurs finally played with the starting lineup they envisioned at the start of training camp. Injuries to Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan kept them out for extended periods, thrusting rookie Stephon Castle into the starting lineup along with sharpshooter Julian Champagnie. Now that everybody is healthy, it’s up to the coaching staff to figure out optimal lineups to play alongside the franchise centerpiece. Acting head coach Mitch Johnson said it’s a good problem to have, especially considering all the experience gained by reserves playing more prominent roles earlier in the season. Wembanyama is already doing his part by gradually picking up the diverse strategies teams are using to defend him and learning how to use teammates more effectively in attacking them. — Michael Wright

Will the return of Mitchell Robinson be enough to give the Knicks a deep postseason run?

With how the Knicks are playing (third in the East) — and with how much they invested in upgrading their starting five this past offseason, with trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges — they have expectations to make a deep postseason run regardless of when Robinson comes back. The team is dominant offensively (second in the league) and has made considerable strides on defense over the past month despite a slow start. A healthy Robinson will give the team depth at center (a must given Towns’ occasional foul troubles) and improved rim protection. — Chris Herring

What will Wemby’s Christmas debut against the Knicks look like (KAT vs. Wemby)?

Dominant, if Wembanyama’s recent production is any indication. Over five games since returning from low back soreness, Wembanyama has averaged 29 PPG on near 40% 3-point shooting as well as 5.2 BPG, including a career-high-tying 10 Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Because of Wembanyama’s dangerous shooting, New York may put forward OG Anunoby on him rather than Towns. But that would give Wembanyama a massive eight-inch height advantage that Anunoby will seek to negate with his lower center of gravity. Anunoby defended Wembanyama in their lone meeting in November 2023, when Wembanyama scored 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting. — Kevin Pelton

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

What will it take for the Wolves to climb out of the play-in?

It’s a must for Minnesota to be an elite defensive team, which was the foundation of the Timberwolves’ success last season. That has happened in December, when the Wolves have had the stingiest defense in the NBA, allowing only 108.2 points per 100 possessions. Now, Minnesota has to work its way out of the muck offensively, which likely requires Donte DiVincenzo busting out of an extended slump. The Wolves anticipated that DiVincenzo’s volume 3-point shooting would boost their offense when they acquired him as part of the Towns trade, but he has shot only 37.3% from the floor and 33.1% from long range so far this season. — Tim MacMahon

What do the Mavs need to have a second-half surge like they did last season?

Stay healthy. This is the best the roster has looked during Luka Doncic’s career, as evidenced by the Mavs’ 6-2 record in games missed by their superstar. The Mavs might upgrade their frontcourt depth before the trade deadline, but unlike the past couple of seasons, Dallas doesn’t have any glaring needs. An opposing general manager told ESPN last week that the Thunder and Mavs are clearly the two best West teams. After a relatively slow start, Doncic’s best is likely yet to come this season, and he’s surrounded by a deep, well-rounded supporting cast. — MacMahon

Which duo dominates Christmas: Luka-Kyrie or Edwards-Randle?

First, we need to see whether Doncic returns to the lineup after missing two games with a heel contusion. Before the injury, Doncic delivered his best game of the season against the Warriors, a 45-point triple-double on 16-of-23 shooting. Having lost wing stopper Derrick Jones Jr. in the offseason, the Mavericks are no longer as well-equipped to defend Anthony Edwards, who went off for a game-high 37 points when these teams played in Minneapolis in October. But it was Doncic and Kyrie Irving who walked away winners, combining for 59 points and 13 assists. — Pelton

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Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. ET (ABC)

Should the 76ers reconsider their strategy and mark this season as a rebuild?

No, and for a variety of reasons. First, with the completely disastrous start, the 76ers enter Christmas with the league’s 24th worst-record with six teams behind them with better lottery odds. Plus, the team in front of them in the Eastern standings, the Brooklyn Nets, just traded their starting point guard, and there’s a chance they could play worse. Philadelphia has stabilized itself after its slow start, and Joel Embiid has impressed in his past couple of games. If the 76ers can have any sort of healthy stretch, they should be able to get themselves into the play-in, and if they can get into the playoffs healthy — a couple of huge ifs — they still believe they can make a deep run. — Tim Bontemps

How long will this dominant Celtics run last?

This season will play a large part in determining that. In its attempt to become the first Celtics team to defend a title since Bill Russell was playing, Boston also has one of the league’s highest payrolls — and is on pace to skyrocket to over $500 million in combined payroll and luxury taxes for the 2025-26 season. If the Celtics win the title, as they are favored to do, it’s virtually impossible to see them making a cost-saving move going into next season. But if they don’t? Well, then the math gets a little more interesting, especially when factoring in the looming sale of the team, which is expected to be completed between now and the end of the regular season. — Bontemps

What’s on the 76ers’ and Celtics’ wish list for this matchup?

For Philadelphia, it’s continued health for Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, who have played together just five times all season. The Sixers have outscored opponents by 13 points per 100 possessions in the 71 minutes all three have played, according to NBA Advanced Stats, but are 2-2 in those games. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has already gotten his Christmas wish: 51 3-point attempts per game, eight more than any other team, and two more makes than the second-place Chicago Bulls. –Pelton

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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET (ABC)

Can LeBron continue to be the gift that keeps on giving through a postseason run for Los Angeles?

In the crowded Western Conference, the Lakers’ playoff projection has varied vastly week to week. They ran out to a 10-4 record and were in third place on Nov. 20. Losses in seven of their next nine games dropped them to No. 10 on Dec. 6, with LeBron James appearing ineffective at best and destructive at worst. James took advantage of the schedule to take eight days off to rehabilitate his left foot and only missed two games. With James back in the lineup, the Lakers won three straight, climbing back to No. 5 in the West on Dec. 21. James was brilliant in Saturday’s win over Sacramento, commanding the defense while punishing the Kings inside, scoring 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting. L.A. should not need nor expect that version of James on a nightly basis to qualify for the playoffs — not if they want James to have something left in the tank for the postseason. But getting that level of engagement out of him, combined with Anthony Davis returning to the MVP form he showed to start the season, will keep L.A. on track for a playoff berth. — Dave McMenamin

How is Dennis Schroder fitting in with Stephen Curry & Co. so far?

The Warriors have only had three games with Dennis Schroder so far but it hasn’t taken him long to show flashes of what he can do. During Saturday’s win at Minnesota, Schroder displayed some of the leadership qualities he will bring beyond his play, initiating player huddles despite it being just his second game. Having another point guard is also going to benefit younger players like Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. Podziemski had perhaps his best game of the season in Minnesota with 12 points and seven rebounds. The Warriors will need Schroder to make some outside shots and score, and it will take some time for Schroder to adapt, but he’s already shown why Golden State needs him. “That [Minnesota] game was so illuminating for me,” Kerr said. “Watching Dennis, his leadership, when we talk about point guard, it’s not just how to run pick and roll or guarding the ball, it’s leadership. What he did in that game, his second game with us, barely knowing anybody, pulling young guys aside, pulling the whole group together. He’s a true leader and that’s one of the reasons we wanted him.” — Ohm Youngmisuk

LeBron or Steph: Which superstar will have a better Christmas Day performance?

I’m betting on Curry in part because he gets to play against the weaker defense. The Lakers rank 20th in defensive rating this season, 11 spots behind the Warriors. Curry averaged 33 PPG as Golden State won the season series 3-1 in 2023-24, his highest scoring average against any opponent he faced more than twice. Of course, James was even better against the Warriors, putting up 36.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists in the three games he played head-to-head. — Pelton

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Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

What do the Nuggets need before the trade deadline to build around Jokic?

The Nuggets are no longer a top-two team in the Western Conference but three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is still playing like the best player in the world. Jamal Murray is picking up his scoring lately, scoring 24 or more points in the three games prior to Monday night. Michael Porter Jr. (18.4 PPG) and Christian Braun (15.0 PPG) have been solid, as well as Russell Westbrook off the bench, but the Nuggets are in serious need of another reliable outside scorer who can create his own shot if they are to contend. On defense, they also need another perimeter stopper to help Aaron Gordon, Braun and Westbrook. Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth doesn’t have a ton of assets to work with, although Porter would likely have to be dealt in any trade for a significant player. But what their record doesn’t necessarily show is the championship chemistry between Porter, Jokic and Murray. — Ohm Youngmisuk

What are the biggest factors holding the Suns back this season and can they overcome them for the postseason?

Just like last season, the biggest factor keeping Phoenix from coalescing is cascading injuries suffered by their stars. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have each played only 17 games apiece this season. The 36-year-old Durant has been brilliant when he’s been on the court — averaging 27.4 points on 52/42/83 splits — and the Suns have been dreadful without him, going 1-9. While Phoenix has been linked to the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler as a potential trade destination, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 35-year-old Butler comes with his own durability concerns. He’s missed 65 games over the past three seasons. On the plus side, even with the time their stars have missed, the Suns still have the No. 8 offense in the league under new coach Mike Budenholzer. If they can sustain their health — with Butler included or not — the Suns could still make a push from their No. 11 spot in the Western Conference standings by unleashing that offense on the rest of the league. — McMenamin

How do the Suns stop Jokic from crashing their Christmas?

Phoenix’s game plan against Jokic was solid last season. Although Jokic averaged a triple-double against the Suns, Jokic’s 21.1 average game score was his second lowest against any West foe. Phoenix won two of those three games, which is no surprise. When opponents hold Jokic below a game score of 25 this season, Denver has gone 2-3. Familiarity is a plus for the Suns: not only did starting center Jusuf Nurkic play alongside Jokic to start their careers with the Nuggets, so too did new backup Mason Plumlee. — Pelton