A duel of N.B.A-Giants LeBron James and Steph Curry, 42 points from Victor Wembanyama, an exciting comeback Dallas Mavericksbut also an injury to their leader Luka Doncic – the North American professional basketball league had a lot to offer at the games on “Christmas Day”.
The Mavericks lost on Wednesday evening (December 25, 2024 / local time). Minnesota Timberwolves in the new edition of Western Conference Finals The NBA preseason in their own hall with 99:105, but the further loss of Luka Doncic is likely to be more serious.
The leader of the “Mavs” had to leave the floor towards the end of the second quarter with an injury to his left calf. The Slovenian, who had scored 14 points by then and had recently been sidelined due to a bruised heel, did not return to the game.
How “ESPN” Citing club sources reported that Doncic could be out for a long time with a strain.
Despite the loss of their leader, the “Mavs”, who were temporarily behind by 28 points, almost managed a monster comeback. Led by Kyrie Irving, who scored 39 points, 26 of them in the second half. Maxi Kleber contributed five points, two rebounds and one assist, but in the end the deeper Timberwolves led by Anthony Edwards (26 points), Julius Randle (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (14 points, 10 rebounds) took the lead over time.
Knicks win despite Wembanyama’s 42-point gala
The New York Knicks won 117:114 against them San Antonio Spurs. Spurs young star Victor Wembanyama had 42 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks in his Christmas Day debut. But the Knicks held back with Mikal Bridges (41 points), among others.
Lakers win by the narrowest of margins against Warriors
The Lakers only won the duel between NBA giants LeBron James and Steph Curry shortly before the final siren. Austin Reaves hit a layup with one second left to make the final score 115-113. Warriors leader Curry had previously tied the game with one of his famous threes from almost ten meters away. Curry was also the best scorer of the game with 38 points. Reaves scored Triple double with 26 points and ten assists and rebounds each.
LeBron James scored 31 points for the Lakers; it was the 19th “Christmas Day” game for the veteran, who then also criticized the fact that the NFL football league had scheduled two games on Christmas Day, traditionally in the USA is reserved for the NBA. “I love the NFL. But Christmas Day is ours”said James on “ESPN”.
National team captain Dennis Schröder was in the starting line-up for the Warriors, had eleven points and five assists, but still suffered the third defeat in the fourth game with his new team.
76ers surprise against Celtics
The team, which had been in crisis for a long time this season, achieved a surprising success Philadelphia 76ers at 118:114 at the Boston Celtics. The champions lost two games in a row for the first time this season. Tyrese Maxey (33 points) and Jole Embiid (27) were the standouts for the 76ers. The Phoenix Suns defeated them Denver Nuggets in the fifth and final Christmas game with 110:100.