Ranking NBA's five Christmas Day matchups from can't watch to can't miss

Hoops fans and holiday revelers will once again get that perfect intersection on Christmas day with a loaded slate of NBA games.

From the defending-champion Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, there will be no shortage of star talent on view during the all-day quintuple-header that starts at noon eastern.

The NBA on Christmas is a tradition that goes back to 1947, the league's second season. In fact, since 1947, there has only been one season when the NBA has not played at least one game on a Christmas: the 1998-99 season, which began in February because of a lockout.

Here's a ranking of the NBA Christmas Day slate from worst to best.

5. San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks; noon ET

This is an interesting one because San Antonio has been hot recently, winning four of their past six, and climbing into play-in territory in the West. Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has similarly been on a tear, and this presents a fascinating matchup between a pair of the game's best stretch bigs – Wembanyama, and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks. Towns leads the NBA in rebounding and New York has been one of the best offensive teams this season. Plus, Christmas in the Garden is a vibe that is sure to be electric.

4. Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics; 5 p.m. ET

A month ago, this matchup was looking pretty brutal. But, the Sixers have mostly course-corrected as their stars have returned to health. While some may not enjoy Joel Embiid's style — 31.5% of his points come from the free throw stripe — he is the difference maker in this lineup. Jayson Tatum is contending for an MVP, the Celtics are launching (and hitting) 3-pointers at record levels, and Boston still looks like the most balanced and ignitable team in the entire NBA. This presents a nice test for Philadelphia to see if it can contend against the defending champs.

3. Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns; 10:30 p.m. ET

The Suns have hit a rough patch recently, losing six of their past eight, calling into question the legitimacy and sustainability of the roster, particularly the Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Granted, Phoenix has faced injuries and has had a tough time having all three on the floor at the same time. Booker (groin) missed Monday's game against the Nuggets and it's unclear if he'll be able to go Christmas Day. The Nuggets have steadied recently, but they have struggled all season on the road.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks; 2:30 p.m. ET

While the Timberwolves have been inconsistent, Anthony Edwards is appointment viewing — especially as he has not shied away from honest assessments of his team's performance. But, aside from being a rematch of the Western Conference Finals from last season, this should be a study of contrasts; the Timberwolves have reinvested in their defensive effort, while the Mavericks, led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, rank fourth in the NBA in offensive rating. Dončić has been battling a left heel injury, so his status could be in question.

1. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors; 8 p.m. ET

LeBron and Steph, two aging greats who have been friends and teammates on Team USA, are the headliners in this matchup. And while both squads have been up-and-down at different points this season, the star power is certainly there. It also presents an interesting storyline in that these two teams are so close together in the standings, with the Lakers holding the No. 7 seed and the Warriors sitting at No. 8.

And, there will be a little extra in terms of bragging rights: this will mark the fourth time Curry and James face off on Christmas, with James holding a 2-1 edge.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking NBA games on Christmas Day: The matchups most worth watching