NBA Christmas games 2016: Cavaliers-Warriors Finals rematch headlines holiday hoops

Christmas is here, and the NBA delivered presents all across the country with a five-game lineup of basketball headlined by the game the world wants to see: an NBA Finals rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

LeBron James may be shorthanded without J.R. Smith, who’s out three months recovering from surgery on his broken finger. But The King’s supporting cast of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love has thrived as co-stars on Cleveland’s set. The lights won’t shine brighter than on Christmas when Stephen Curry and the Warriors travel to Cleveland.

Golden State’s summertime addition, Kevin Durant, leads the team in scoring and has caused fits across the NBA. Draymond Green is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Klay Thompson still doesn’t miss threes.

The Christmas day headliner is sure to be a game for the ages, but other games on tap aren’t anything to laugh at either.

The new-look Knicks host the Celtics in a matinee game where two divisional rivals go head-to-head in a game as close to a playoff atmosphere as the two sides will see this early in the season. New York has found some success with Derrick Rose at the point and Jeff Hornacek calling the shots. Boston’s max free agent, Al Horford, has proven to be every bit worth the contract he inked over the summer.

The triple-double machine himself, Russell Westbrook, will also make a cameo on Christmas, as his Oklahoma City Thunder look to notch another win over a young, athletic Minnesota Timberwolves team.

And it can’t be Christmas without Dwyane Wade, whose hometown Chicago Bulls take on the powerhouse San Antonio Spurs. Finally, Christmas night is capped off with a Lakers-Clippers rivalry game that will be even more interesting because one team is severely shorthanded due to injury.

Both the Celtics and Knicks are enjoying their summertime acquisitions. New York traded for Derrick Rose then signed Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings in free agency. Boston straight-up signed Horford.

Rose has given the Knicks a lift and has proven that, when healthy, he can play at a level near his MVP performance from years ago. But he’s already missed five games, and the Knicks are 1-4 when their starting point guard doesn’t play.

Boston is looking to build on last season’s success that ended with a Game 6 first-round elimination at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics have a mix of youth, scrappiness, and athleticism with the perfect coach to run the show in Brad Stevens.

The two teams are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, with the Knicks only half a game back from the Celtics heading into Christmas.

TV: ESPN

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: WatchESPN

More on these teams: Celtics Blog | Posting and Toasting

It wouldn’t be Christmas without an NBA Finals rematch, and the league certainly delivered with a matchup for the ages.

The Golden State Warriors re-upped over the summer, adding former league MVP Kevin Durant to an already star-studded cast of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The 27-4 Warriors have the NBA’s best record and show no signs of slowing down en route to their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

But neither do the Cavaliers, who are riding LeBron James to potentially his seventh straight trip to the Finals. His co-star, Kyrie Irving, is better than ever, and an unexpected spike in production from Kevin Love has Cleveland soaring high over the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, its starting shooting guard, J.R. Smith, is out for 12-14 weeks after surgery to repair his fractured thumb. Following that injury timeline, he should return just before the playoffs.

TV: ABC

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: WatchESPN

More on these teams: Fear the Sword | Golden State of Mind

This may be the most veteran game of the Christmas slate, with San Antonio’s and Chicago’s starters loaded with wisdom, but it’s an exciting holiday game nonetheless.

The Bulls doubled down on Jimmy Butler when they moved on from both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. They added on Wade and Rajon Rondo and boast one of the best one-two-three trios the NBA has to offer.

TV: ABC

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: WatchESPN

More on these teams: Blog a Bull | Pounding the Rock

The Timberwolves’ young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine shows promise, but the team isn’t ready to take the step into playoff contention just yet. Minnesota moved toward that goal by hiring ex-Bulls honcho Tom Thibodeau as head coach and president. But the roster needs serviceable veterans to mold the young talent — something the T’Wolves lost when Kevin Garnett retired over the summer.

The 9-20 Timberwolves could use a win to keep their fading playoff chances alive, but Russell Westbrook isn’t giving out any presents for Christmas. He’s on a tear, trying to join Oscar Robertson as the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double. Oklahoma City was devastated by Durant’s summertime departure, but in leaving, Durant unlocked Westbrook’s fullest potential as a full-court monster the likes of which the league hasn’t seen.

TV: TNT

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: WatchTNT

More on these teams: Canis Hoopus | Welcome to Loud City

Kobe Bryant is no longer a Laker. That era is gone. The new era begins with Luke Walton as head coach and a bevy of talented young players (D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr.) and a promising rookie wing (Brandon Ingram) to build the future.

While the Lakers were trending downward, the Clippers were on the rise. They’ve had their fair share of obstacles over the years, and a couple of injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin may create a more competitive Christmas nightcap. But the Clippers want their shot at an NBA championship, and it seems this season could be their best chance at it.

TV: ESPN

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: WatchESPN

More on these teams: Clips Nation | Silver Screen and Roll