Cavs Tip Off NBA Christmas Games With Visit to Knicks

Some will tell you the Cavaliers and Knicks, in any order, are favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. At least, they will say that in August.

Well, fans will get a good look at both on Christmas Day, when Cleveland visits New York to tip off the afternoon, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Old-timers occasionally say the NBA season starts on Christmas, and while far from true, the Cavs and Knicks will be the first to take a major spotlight. Their game is scheduled for noon EST, sources told Hoops Wire.

Both the Cavaliers and Knicks return their cores from teams that finished last season strong, but couldn’t get past the Pacers in the playoffs. Cleveland went 64-18 before getting bounced in the second round; the Knicks went 51-31 and lost in the East finals.

Other games scheduled for Christmas: Spurs at the defending champion Thunder; Rockets at Lakers; Mavericks at Warriors; and Timberwolves at Nuggets.

Kevin Durant and Houston will visit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City to tip off NBA opening night, Charania reported. Also, Stephen Curry and Golden State will visit LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Los Angeles in a matchup of NBA media darlings.

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