Inside The Celtics

Celtics and Lakers to Square Off in Christmas Matchup Showcasing NBA's Marquee Rivalry

The NBA is utilizing the marquee date on its regular-season calendar to showcase one of the most iconic rivalries in sports as the Lakers host the Celtics on Christmas.

Bobby Krivitsky

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics are 16-20 all-time on Christmas. Since 2012, they're 5-3 when playing on the marquee day on the NBA's regular-season calendar. As one of the league's most prominent franchises, this will mark the eighth-straight year they've appeared in a Christmas contest, meaning they've done so in each of Jayson Tatum's six seasons in Boston.

Last year, Tatum and company hosted Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks at TD Garden, where, in dominating fashion, they earned a 139-118 victory.

The former Duke Blue Devil finished with 41 points, including two on a play where he put Antetokounmpo on a poster.

While the NBA usually sticks with inter-conference matchups on Christmas, this year, the Celtics will square off with the Lakers on Dec. 25 in a game showcasing one of the greatest rivalries in sports, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Boston's new big three of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis will face the purple and gold, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, in Los Angeles.

Here's a look at the rest of the NBA's Christmas slate.

Further Reading

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Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball

Derrick White on Signing Extension with Celtics: 'I Love Being Here in Boston'

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Want Celtics' Defensive Identity to 'Go Out the Door' With Marcus Smart

Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement

Sam Cassell Discusses What Brought Him Back to Boston and What He'll Bring to the Celtics

Marcus Smart Reflects on His Time with Celtics: 'I Left Everything I Had'

Evaluating Celtics' Options in Free Agency

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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