Did the NBA Get the Christmas Day Schedule RIGHT?

August 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The NBA’s Christmas Day schedule is out, and the league’s message is unmistakable: superstars and big markets still rule. The five-game slate features Victor Wembanyama at Madison Square Garden, the defending champion Celtics hosting Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and the Lakers against Joel Embiid and the 76ers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder visiting Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves, and a late-night cap with Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets facing Stephen Curry’s Warriors. On Locked On NBA Daily, hosts West Goldberg, Matt Moore, and Hayes broke down what the NBA got right, what it got wrong, and whether the league is still over-indexing on past glory.

The Christmas Slate: Stars Over Substance

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What you'll learn

1 (02:05) **Christmas Day Schedule Revealed** - The hosts break down the five-game Christmas slate and debate whether the NBA got the lineup right.
2 (03:40) **Debating the Late Game Slot** - The panel critiques the Warriors-Nuggets late game and suggests alternatives for a stronger Christmas finale.
3 (07:14) **Christmas Day Snubs** - The hosts identify teams and players left off the Christmas schedule that deserved a spot.
4 (10:56) **Opening Week Slate - Likes** - The crew discusses what the NBA got right with the opening week schedule from October 20-23.
5 (12:50) **Opening Week Slate - Dislikes** - The panel critiques the weaker matchups and scheduling quirks in opening week.
6 (17:43) **The "Sicko Game" of Opening Week** - The hosts identify the most intriguing matchup for hardcore NBA fans.
7 (19:46) **Predicting Christmas Day Disasters** - The panel speculates which Christmas game might fall apart due to injuries or poor play.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

West Goldberg Matt Moore

Show Notes

The NBA has revealed its Christmas Day and Opening Week schedules, and Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize are handing out their first reviews. Did the league get its five-game Christmas showcase right with Spurs-Knicks, Heat-Celtics, 76ers-Lakers, Thunder-Timberwolves and Nuggets-Warriors? Which teams got snubbed, which matchups should be swapped and what does the schedule tell us about which teams and stars the NBA believes matter most? Then the guys go through what they like—and don't like—about Opening Week, including earlier start times and the NBA's continued insistence on putting major East Coast audiences through late-night Warriors-Lakers games.

Finally, it's back to the Rotation Lab to tackle the LA Clippers. Assuming Kawhi Leonard ends up in Toronto, what does the Clippers' opening-night lineup look like, how deep is their rotation and what should their goals be without Kawhi?

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