NBA Opening Night Games Reportedly Revealed
The NBA’s highly-touted slate of Christmas Day games were leaked and we’ve finally found out the contenders for the most wonderful day of the year in the league.
The main attraction will be LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers locking horns with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. In addition, Kemba Walker and the Boston Celtics will play against Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors, while Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Expected opening night of 2019-20 NBA season: Oct. 22, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2019
Planned games for opening night: Los Angeles Lakers/LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors/New Orleans Pelicans.
It might not be the star-studded lineup that we’ve seen on Christmas, but a Clippers-Lakers melee should be excited enough for basketball fans. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, and The Claw all potentially on the same court at one time? We can’t wait!
Also, we’ll get to see the inception of the Zion era in New Orleans while the city of Toronto attempts to cope with life without Kawhi.
Mark your calendars for October 22nd.
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) August 3, 2019
? NBA Opening Night ?
Lakers vs. Clippers
Raptors vs. Pelicans
(per @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/jS1mtrKRjt
As it is, opening night definitely has the potential to set the precedent for what promises to be the most compelling NBA season in quite some time.
Many basketball fans have been looking forward to the NBA’s annual Christmas Day Bonanza, even before the leaked schedule. And with this slate of games, we’re sure there will be even more people deciding to celebrate Christmas with some basketball thills.
After all, it’s a tradition. Games held by the NBA on Christmas Day, December 25, have been an annual custom since the league’s second season in 1947 when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers at Madison Square Garden 89–75.