![The Lakers are one of the favorites to win the NBA title in 2020. [Image Source: Flickr | LRW3]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/7/31/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-lakers-are-one-of-the-favorites-to-win-the-nba-title-in-2020-image-source-flickr-lrw3_2305111.jpg "The Lakers are one of the favorites to win the NBA title in 2020. [Image Source: Flickr | LRW3]")
As always, the NBA has a jam-packed day of action scheduled for Christmas Day. There are five games on the docket that will run throughout the day.
Noticeably absent from the list of games is a team that normally always plays on December 25, is the New York Knicks. As mentioned by the New York Daily News, they have played 53 games at Christmas.
Here are the five games that will be played on Christmas listed from most to least intriguing. Of course, things can change by the time they roll around such as injuries and where the teams are in the standings.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, these are the two favorites to win it all (Clippers +330, Lakers +440). They both call Staples Center their home arena. They also feature arguably the two top duos in the NBA with Anthony Davis/LeBron James on the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard/Paul George on the Clippers.
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers
With Kawhi Leonard’s exit from the Raptors, many see these two as the teams that will end up battling it out to see who wins the East. The Bucks bring back much of the same nucleus (minus Malcolm Brogdon) of last season’s team which reached the Eastern Conference Finals and had the league’s best regular season record. The 76ers did a great job retooling around the losses of Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick by adding Al Horford and Josh Richardson.
New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets
Zion! The first overall pick by the Pelicans, Zion Williamson is arguably the most-hyped rookie since LeBron James in 2003. The Nuggets hope another year of continuity can help them take the next step after finishing with the second-best record in the West last season.p
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
Since it will be about two months into the regular season, we should have a fairly good idea how well the combo of two former MVPs in Russell Westbrook and James Harden have gelled together for the Rockets. The Warriors are hoping to stay in championship contention despite no longer having Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson highly unlikely to play in this game recovering from a torn ACL.
Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors
No longer having Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors are expected to take a large step backwards after winning the NBA Finals last season. The Celtics also lost much star power this offseason in Kyrie Irving and Al Horford although they were able to slightly recover by signing Kemba Walker.
