Three NBA Teams Who Were Left Out Of 2024 Christmas Day Games

The NBA Christmas Day games have typically showcased the league’s best players and teams throughout its existence. The matchups for the 2024-25 season have been unveiled, featuring five high-profile games.

According to league insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium , the NBA schedule of games for December 25, 2024:

• San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden

• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center

• Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics at TD Garden

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors at Chase Center

• Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center

While some of these matchups are intriguing, several other elite teams that arguably deserved to be included in the holiday slate were left out.

Three Teams That Should've Gotten 2024 NBA Christmas Day Game

1. Milwaukee Bucks

   
   

   The Milwaukee Bucks will not appear on Christmas Day for the first time since 2017. They have played on Christmas since 2018 and are the only NBA champions in the last five seasons to be excluded from the schedule.

   
   

   The 2021 NBA title holders remain a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference with stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, despite being eliminated in the first round of this year's playoffs due to injury struggles. It’s surprising that the Bucks are not featured on a day when most marquee teams and players see action. Antetokounmpo notably made the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team.

   
   

2. Indiana Pacers

   
   

   The Indiana Pacers are among the rising teams in the East, with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton arguably being the NBA’s newest breakout superstar last season. The 24-year-old led the Pacers to a championship game appearance at the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.

   
   

   Indiana also reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, going toe-to-toe with the dominant Boston Celtics and nearly stealing three of the four games in the sweep that eliminated them.

   
   

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

   
   

   Perhaps the most surprising omission from the 2024 NBA Christmas Day games is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished with the best record in the highly competitive Western Conference last season.

   
   

   The team features 2024 NBA Most Valuable Player candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been a member of the All-NBA First Team for the past two seasons.

   
   

   Incoming second-year 7-foot-1 center Chet Holmgren was also one of the most exciting rookies last year, and a potential matchup with San Antonio Spurs' 7-foot-4 star Victor Wembanyama would have been a compelling encounter.

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