The Memphis Grizzlies will face the Golden State Warriors as part of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule, sources said The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Other marquee matchups include the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Dallas Mavericks and a TD Garden battle between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, per Charania.
The Grizzlies-Warriors matchup is the latest in a tense rivalry between the two teams. Golden State eliminated Memphis in the playoffs last season en route to becoming NBA champions. Following the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson called Memphis big man Jaren Jackson Jr. a “freakin’ bum” for mocking the Warriors’ motto earlier in the season.
Memphis star Ja Morant petitioned the NBA to book a Christmas Day matchup between the two sides earlier this summer. The contest will mark the first Christmas Day game in Grizzlies franchise history.
Elsewhere, LeBron James will lead the Lakers to Dallas to meet Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Los Angeles enters the year with Darvin Ham as its new head coach following the dismissal of Frank Vogel, who oversaw a disappointing 33-49 campaign in 2021. Doncic received his third straight All-Star nod last season after averaging 28.4 points.
In the remaining Christmas Day contests, the Denver Nuggets will host the Phoenix Suns, while the New York Knicks will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers.
The full reported Christmas Day slate:
| Team | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | @ | Boston Celtics |
| Philadelphia 76ers | @ | New York Knicks |
| Phoenix Suns | @ | Denver Nuggets |
| Los Angeles Lakers | @ | Dallas Mavericks |
| Memphis Grizzlies | @ | Golden State Warriors |