![Kyrie Irving helped lead the Boston Celtics to an overtime win on Christmas Day. [Image via Bleacher Report/YouTube screencap]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/12/26/660x290/b_502x220x82/kyrie-irving-helped-lead-the-boston-celtics-to-an-overtime-win-on-christmas-day-image-via-bleacher-reportyoutube-screencap_2170489.jpg "Kyrie Irving helped lead the Boston Celtics to an overtime win on Christmas Day. [Image via Bleacher Report/YouTube screencap]")
Christmas Day 2018 featured a nice batch of NBA games for sports fans to enjoy. Among the early games on the slate, the Boston Celtics hosted the Philadelphia 76ers. The two teams would need overtime to decide it, with Boston winning at home, 121-114.
Here are the five players who had the biggest impacts in the game today.
Kyrie Irving - Boston Celtics
Irving stepped up again as the Celtics' team leader in this latest victory. The All-Star guard shot 17-for-33 including a 5-for-10 rate from downtown and finished with 40 points. Irving also hauled in 10 rebounds, dished out three assists, and had a steal in the OT win.
🔥🔥 @KyrieIrving (40 PTS, 10 REB, 5 3PM) catches fire late, knocking down back-to-back clutch threes, to lift the @celtics over PHI in overtime! #CUsRise #NBAXmas pic.twitter.com/nSeXLwC9kY
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2018
Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
Playing the role of sidekick for Irving today was forward Jayson Tatum. The Celtics' rising star had a double-double as he scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Tatum also filled out the stat sheet with two blocks, two steals, and an assist in the win.
☔️ @jaytatum0 & @MookMorris2 go for 23 PTS apiece in the @celtics #NBAXmas OT win at home! #CUsRise pic.twitter.com/Tg25W56JMr
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2018
Marcus Morris - Boston Celtics
Marcus Morris also tallied 23 points in the Celtics' OT win. In addition, he'd bring in six rebounds, give out three assists, and record a block to help Boston pick up the victory in their home arena.
Overtime in Boston 🎄 pic.twitter.com/u70mzFdQBZ
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 26, 2018
Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid recorded some impressive history on Christmas Day. He became the only other Sixers player besides Hall of Famer Allen Iverson to record 30 points in a game. Embiid finished the day with 16 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Joel Embiid (30 PTS, 11 REB) gets position inside and seals for the dunk!
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2018
End of 3 at TD Garden:#HereTheyCome 89#CUsRise 86
Jimmy Butler: 22 PTS, 3 3PM
Kyrie Irving: 26 PTS, 3 3PM
Marcus Morris: 21 PTS#NBAXmas #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/FAy6PJmvZq
Jimmy Butler - Philadelphia 76ers
In the third quarter of the Christmas Day duel, Jimmy Buckets had some major points in the third quarter. He'd score 13 and help the Sixers take the lead into the fourth. Butler finished the game with 24 points on 9-for-21 shooting. He'd also grab five rebounds, dish out four assists, and steal the ball three times in the losing effort.
Jimmy Butler's 13 3rd Q PTS give the @sixers the edge heading to Q4! #HereTheyCome #NBAXmas #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/cbmDDmmiVb
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2018
