![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lakers-news-LeBron-James-hypes-Christmas-matchup-vs.-Steph-Curry-with-sobering-take.jpg?w=1200\")
<\/p>\nThe NBA’s marquee Christmas matchup is between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Or, as Stephen Curry framed it Monday, “Another game where two teams who wanted to be in better positions going into Christmas, trying to still figure it out.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Continued the Warriors guard to reporters at Chase Center after a 111-105 loss to the Indiana Pacers: “We’re at home.<\/p>\n
We really haven’t protected home court well as of late. Christmas spirit, hopefully, can bring some gifts our way with a win.<\/p>\n
Excited for the opportunity knowing it’s a chance to bounce back.”<\/p>\n
The Christmas calendar – annually filled with the league’s most marketable teams and attractions – pits the Warriors against four-time NBA champion LeBron James (5 p.m. at Chase Center) for the fifth time since 2015, when Golden State first beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
Christmas matchups followed the ensuing three seasons, though Curry was injured in 2017.<\/p>\n
The Warriors (15-13) are eighth in the Western Conference while the Lakers (16-13) are seventh entering the first of four divisional meetings this season.<\/p>\n
Warriors can’t overcome Pacers amid Steph Curry’s ice-cold shooting Warriors guard Steph Curry didn’t make a field goal until the final minute of the third…<\/p>\n
Warriors’ Steve Kerr on Jonathan Kuminga’s shot choices:<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘I got to keep coaching him’ Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is working to impress upon Jonathan Kuminga the…<\/p>\n Asked about it Monday, James told reporters he “always” appreciates playing against his longtime rival. “Anytime you get the opportunity to be on the court and compete versus one of the greatest to ever play this game, you don’t take it for granted,” James said after a loss to the Detroit Pistons in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n “I don’t know how many opportunities we’re going to get to go against each other. It’s always fun.”<\/p>\n Here’s how Golden State’s first four Christmas matchups with James unfolded: 2015 – Warriors 89, Cavaliers 83: Draymond Green provided 22 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks while Curry added 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.<\/p>\n Curry also converted back-to-back layups with 79 and 58 seconds to play, respectively. James had 25 points (10-of-26 shooting), nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. 2016 – Cavaliers 109, Warriors 108: Kevin Durant’s 36 points and 15 rebounds were countered by 31 points and 13 rebounds from James. Kyrie Irving added 25 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and seven steals.<\/p>\n Curry broke a 105-105 with a 3-pointer, finishing with 15 points.<\/p>\n But Irving followed with a driving layup and the game-winning turnaround with 3.4 seconds. 2017 – Warriors 99, Cavaliers 92: A sprained ankle sidelined Curry, but Golden State limited James to 20 points amid 7-of-18 shooting and forced him into seven turnovers.<\/p>\n Durant scored 25 to lead the Warriors and Klay Thompson posted 24 points. Kevin Love had 31 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers. 2018 – Lakers 127, Warriors 101: James (17 points, 13 rebounds) left with a second-half groin injury, but six of his teammates scored in double figures – Kyle Kuzma had a team-high 19 points – to ensure a blowout of Golden State.<\/p>\n Durant (21 points) and Curry (15 points) combined to make 10 of 30 field-goal attempts. Andre Iguodala led the Warriors with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The NBA’s marquee Christmas matchup is between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Or, as Stephen Curry framed it Monday, “Another game where two… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n