The Most Impressive Individual Performances from NBA Christmas Day Games 2014
Unlike Santa, we were only keeping track of the particularly nice performers on Christmas Day.
Naughty players like New York Knicks forward Quincy Acy—who was in the punch-giving spirit—didn't wind up on a list at all. In Acy's case, an ejection did the trick just fine.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were in especially festive spirits during their first regular-season meeting since the former departed the Miami Heat this summer, opting to write his next chapter with the team that originally drafted him in 2003.
"Couple of the best in this generation," Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters on Thursday. "Spectacular. I wish I could sit back and enjoy it like a fan, because it's just fantastic basketball...However long these two guys play, you'll get your money's worth."
The decade has been pretty good to James, but Thursday was all about his former sidekick. Wade topped 30 points for just the second time this season, rediscovering some vintage heroics just in time to make an admittedly small statement against the still-searching Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wade and James weren't the only standouts amid the marathon of roundball action. We went ahead and ranked the day's very best according to their impact and effectiveness. Some had a better holiday than others.
Statistics and record information current as of games played on Dec. 25.
13. Serge Ibaka
1 of 13
Thursday's Line: 21 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 38 MIN
You already knew Serge Ibaka was a premier interior defender with all kinds of verticality. But the Oklahoma City Thunder's 114-106 win against the San Antonio Spurs highlighted a new dimension to the 25-year-old's game.
Ibaka made made three of four three-point attempts en route to his 21 points and nine rebounds, building on the career-high 3.4 three-point attempts he's averaging through his first 30 appearances this season. The sixth-year veteran is making 39.2 percent of those attempts, adding critical floor-spacing in the wake of repeated injuries to four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant.
The two-way power forward hasn't scored quite as prolifically as one might have hoped, particularly given the heavy toll taken by injuries in November. His 14.4 points per contest are actually slightly down from the 15.1 he averaged a season ago.
But a 21-point outing in San Antonio is all the reminder you need that this team is absolutely stacked with talent.
12. Steven Adams
2 of 13
Thursday's Line: 16 PTS, 15 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 3 BLK, 31 MIN
Important as Ibaka was on Thursday, Steven Adams was the one controlling the painted area. He filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and three blocks in just 31 minutes.
There's a reason head coach Scott Brooks has inserted him into the starting lineup this season. The 21-year-old New Zealander is capitalizing on the opportunity, averaging 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks through his first 30 appearances.
His interior activity has supercharged a defense that was already pretty good at protecting the rim, one reason Oklahoma City's defense ranks sixth in efficiency (allowing opponents 100.2 points per 100 possessions, according to Hollinger Team Stats).
Adams remains a bit raw with the ball in his hands, but his energy largely makes up for it. Seven of those 15 rebounds against the Spurs were on the offensive end.
11. Blake Griffin
3 of 13
Thursday's Line: 18 PTS, 15 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 39 MIN
After missing his first eight shots, Blake Griffin was a nearly unstoppable force in the final three quarters of the Clippers' 100-86 win over the Golden State Warriors.
His 5-of-16 overall shooting is less than impressive, but he finished the game 5-of-8 with eight converted free throws as cherries on top, showing the Warriors the diversity of his ever-evolving offensive arsenal.
Warriors forward Draymond Green appeared to have the upper hand on Griffin early, forcing flailing turnarounds on the interior. But Griffin adjusted and ultimately was the catalyst on both ends—he also grabbed 15 rebounds (12 defensive)—to the Clips' victory.
As Griffin went in this game, so went his squad. At one point in the first quarter, the Clippers missed 16 straight shots. But they converted at over 47 percent throughout the final 36 minutes with Griffin putting his spot-up and post-up games on display.
The win was good for the Clippers' peace of mind after dropping two in a row to the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. They now stay home for an unprecedented run of eight more home games before hitting the road again on Jan. 14.
10. Derrick Rose
4 of 13
Thursday's Line: 20 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 32 MIN
Former MVP Derrick Rose scored the Chicago Bulls' first seven points in what turned into a 113-93 win against the 9-20 Los Angeles Lakers. He finished the game with 20 points and six assists in 32 minutes, attacking the paint with ease while adding a couple of three-pointers to the effort.
It was the sixth-year pro's third straight game with at least 20 points, a trend that coincides with Chicago's five-game winning streak.
After playing just 49 games over the course of the last three seasons, the three-time All-Star is cautiously but surely returning to form. He's averaging 18.1 points and 5.0 assists in just 27.8 minutes through his first 19 games.
More importantly, his Bulls are now 20-9 and just two games behind the top-seeded Toronto Raptors.
Kobe Bryant was sidelined by soreness for a second consecutive game, so all eyes were on Rose and Co. on Christmas Day. As has become the norm this season, they didn't disappoint.
9. Kyrie Irving
5 of 13
Thursday's Line: 25 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 42 MIN
The Cleveland Cavaliers got 14 points apiece from star forward Kevin Love and their often underwhelming second unit. Point guard Kyrie Irving was the only one offering LeBron James any support in Thursday's 101-91 loss to the Miami Heat.
The 22-year-old scored 25 points in 42 minutes and helped keep the Cavs within striking distance. Though he's still finding his role alongside James and Love, this was just the latest sign he remains a dangerous weapon in Cleveland's new-look lineup. Irving has scored at least 32 points three times this season and dropped 29 in Tuesday's 125-104 blowout against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Head coach David Blatt's club is now 17-11 and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Improving upon that will require plenty more strong performances from Irving.
8. Jimmy Butler
6 of 13
Thursday's Line: 21 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 42 MIN
It's been a remarkable season for Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler, and his Christmas production was no different.
The fourth-year veteran posted 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in an efficient 7-of-12 shooting performance, displaying the kind of two-way proficiency for which he's become known. Butler has given head coach Tom Thibodeau the luxury of bringing Derrick Rose along slowly, carrying far more of the offensive load than he did a season ago.
Now firmly entrenched in the All-Star conversation, the only question is just how good the 25-year-old can be—and how much the Bulls will have to spend in order to keep him this summer. Set to become a restricted free agent in July, Butler's playing like a superstar more often than not these days.
And he's become no less essential than Rose to the franchise's success because of it.
7. Luol Deng
7 of 13
Thursday's Line: 25 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST, 40 MIN
With star big man Chris Bosh sidelined by a calf injury for a seventh consecutive game, the Heat needed a second scoring option to step up.
In turn, Luol Deng didn't just make 11 of his 16 field-goal attempts en route to 25 points. He added eight rebounds and eight assists while he was at it, all while spending much of the evening defending LeBron James.
The 11th-year veteran hasn't begun to replace James at the small forward spot this season, but he's turned in a predictably respectable effort. Through his first 28 appearances in Miami, he's averaging 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game. As he grows more comfortable with the club's system, those numbers should get even better.
Though the 29-year-old is almost certainly one of the game's better two-way presences on the wing, the Heat don't expect him to be a superstar. That said, lines like the one he assembled Thursday night certainly don't hurt.
6. Pau Gasol
8 of 13
Thursday's Line: 23 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLK, 33 MIN
Pau Gasol has quickly cemented his status as one of the offseason's most significant acquisitions. The Bulls may have missed out on Carmelo Anthony, but Gasol's diverse skill set has proved instrumental to a suddenly formidable rotation.
Facing the Lakers for the first time since leaving the organization this summer, the 34-year-old racked up 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in just 33 minutes. Aside from his team-high four turnovers, it was a virtually flawless performance. Gasol made nine of 14 field-goal attempts and converted on a rare three-pointer for the second straight game.
The Cavaliers' acquisitions of LeBron James and Kevin Love drew more attention this summer, but Gasol has been a perfect fit in Chicago. Alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and sixth man Taj Gibson, this club may boast the league's most fearsome interior rotation.
That's quite the competitive advantage in an Eastern Conference that doesn't feature an overabundance of inside talent.
5. Carmelo Anthony
9 of 13
Thursday's Line: 34 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 43 MIN
Carmelo Anthony didn't let an ice-cold long-range shooting performance stop him from putting on a one-man show in the New York Knicks' 102-91 loss to the now 20-8 Washington Wizards. On an afternoon when his team made just four of 22 three-point attempts, Anthony failed to convert on any of his six tries.
But he still managed to tally 34 points thanks in part to a productive 8-of-10 outing from the charity stripe. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough—and that's become something of a trend for a team that's gotten off to a dreadful 5-26 start under new head coach Derek Fisher.
Thursday's defeat marked the sixth in a row for New York, a franchise that's already posted losing streaks of seven and 10 games this season.
"The fans are dying. We're dying," Anthony told reporters after the Wizards game. "We're out there not producing."
Though true in a collective sense, Anthony certainly did his part against a Washington team that's been winning games on the defensive end. He remained aggressive despite a 13-of-28 showing from the field and refused to make any excuses for his team's performance.
"As much as I feel for the fans, I feel for us going through it, too," he added after the game. "I don't expect anybody to feel sorry for us. I don't expect anybody to feel sorry for me. But I feel what the fans are feeling."
He's still playing at a high level, though—for whatever it's been worth.
4. John Wall
10 of 13
Thursday's Line: 24 PTS, 6 REB, 11 AST, 1 STL, 36 MIN
Wizards point guard John Wall picked up a technical foul after a brief altercation with Knicks forward Quincy Acy (who was subsequently ejected), but he was otherwise exceptional in Washington's win—leading the team with 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and coordinating an offensive effort in which six players contributed double-figure scoring.
"I'm just a feisty guy that likes to compete," Wall told reporters after the game. "And I want to win games."
So far, he's won 20 of them, and the Wizards have the Eastern Conference's third-best record as a result. Through his first 28 appearances, the 24-year-old is averaging 18.0 points, a career-high 10.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per contest. The fifth-year pro is also making a career-best 45.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and has set a two-way tone for a club that ranks fourth league-wide in defensive efficiency, allowing opponents just 99.7 points per 100 possessions, according to Hollinger Team Stats.
As Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently put it:
"It's impossible to put all the credit for the Wizards' suffocating defense on Wall's shoulders, but it's equally foolish to ignore his impact on that end. Washington has allowed 96.4 points per 100 possessions with Wall on the floor and 109.9 without him. The former would rate as the NBA's best, while the latter would rank all the way down at 28th.
"
Wall's well-rounded evolution has undeniably made him one of the NBA's elite floor generals, and fans in Washington suggested as much with "MVP" chants during a 109-95 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this month.
"I think he still has the best ahead of him," head coach Randy Wittman told media after the game. "I told him, 'That's no big deal, you deserve it.' There is nothing surprising here. Let's just keep doing it."
In many ways, Thursday's performance was just another day on the job for Wall—and that's what's making his season so special. He's more consistently great than ever.
3. LeBron James
11 of 13
Thursday's Line: 30 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST, 40 MIN
In his first regular-season return to Miami since this summer's defection to Cleveland, LeBron James was fairly ordinary by his standards—which is to say stellar by the standards of mere mortals.
He led the Cavaliers with 30 points and eight assists, steadily converting on nine of his 16 field-goal attempts and keeping his team in a game without substantial help from the supporting cast.
It was a bittersweet reunion and technically the second time these teams have met because of an earlier preseason match in Rio de Janeiro. But the crowd's affectionate reception of their former fearless leader said all you need to know about the mark he made on South Beach.
"He left an unbelievable legacy here," former teammate Dwyane Wade told reporters on Wednesday. "In four years, he did what players haven't done in their whole career. He went to the Finals, he got MVP awards, he got Finals MVP awards.
"Unbelievable legacy in just four years. When it comes to jersey retirements, Cleveland has the first bid there, but what he did here is second to none. Whether or not the jersey will be retired: That's not my call. I'm a player."
Given the Cavs' 17-11 start this season, one suspects it may take James some time to establish a similar legacy in Cleveland. He may have made an MVP impact during his first stint with the franchise, but this city's championship quest continues.
2. Dwyane Wade
12 of 13
Thursday's Line: 31 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 37 MIN
Though LBJ had a much better night than Dwyane Wade (12-of-28) from the field, he also missed eight free throws on a night when an additional six or seven points might have made a difference in the waning moments. The four-time MVP was otherwise his usual self, but it wasn't enough.
Wade scored early and often, tallying 24 of his game-high 31 points in a first half that saw Miami get out to a 62-49 lead. He added five assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block—showcasing the kind of two-way pedigree that once made the Heat James' destination of choice.
The 32-year-old is averaging 23.2 points, 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds in just 33 minutes per contest through his first 22 appearances of the post-James era. It hasn't been enough to avert a subpar 14-16 start, but this team still seems to have enough star power to make some noise in the postseason.
And Wade may be the biggest reason why.
But coming off Tuesday's 91-87 loss to the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers, this club still needs to make a few more statements—and build some confidence in the process. Head coach Erik Spoelstra didn't lose all of his talent this summer, but he lost a whole lot of heart. The Heat must show some of their own before legitimately returning to the title conversation.
Maybe Wade can help.
1. Russell Westbrook
13 of 13
Thursday's Line: 34 PTS, 5 REB, 11 AST, 5 STL, 35 MIN
Reigning MVP Kevin Durant is still recovering from an ankle sprain, but sidekick extraordinaire Russell Westbrook had little trouble carrying the Thunder in San Antonio.
Coming off Tuesday's ultimately futile 40-point explosion in a 115-111 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the three-time All-Star posted 34 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals in OKC's 114-106 win against the Spurs. Per ESPN.com, it was "the first time he’s ever had a 30-10-5-5 game in the NBA."
Westbrook scored 20 of his points in the paint, relentlessly attacking an interior defense that had little hope of containing the highly explosive point guard.
"I'm just happy we got a win on Christmas," he told reporters after the game. "My job is to keep going nonstop and that's what I do."
With injuries sidelining both Durant and Westbrook in November, Oklahoma City has battled to a deceptive 14-16 record. As long as one of this team's superstars is still on the floor, it's awfully tough to beat.
