RealGM

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing at the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day in the first draft of next season's schedule, sources told Marc Stein of Substack.

Stein adds that the schedule could still change before it's officially released, though the Christmas game usually holds. 

Via Marc Stein/Substack

So everyone can focus on their families.

I'm sure the Lakers & Mavs are thrilled about spending Christmas with their kids, family & dressing up as Santa.

Setting a hard schedule for Christmas games in August makes zero sense. You could probably easily flex way more desirable games from those scheduled within a week of Christmas. They could set the games December 1st or so.

And the other six teams are?...

C'mon, nobody cares about LAL and old man river.

Heat_team02 wrote:I'm sure the Lakers & Mavs are thrilled about spending Christmas with their kids, family & dressing up as Santa.

Yeah seems odd. Why not the Clips vs Lakers to reduce travel time and allow everyone time to spend with their families and friends. I hate load management but the NBA schedule is so bizarre when you look at. For example I remember the Cavs playing the Knicks, then traveling to Sacramento to play the Kings and then coming back to East Coast to play in New Jersey. WTF

Should be Lakers vs Clippers
Knicks vs Nets

Or teams close to their homes so they can get back to Christmas with family.

Plutonashfan wrote:

Heat_team02 wrote:I'm sure the Lakers & Mavs are thrilled about spending Christmas with their kids, family & dressing up as Santa.

Yeah seems odd. Why not the Clips vs Lakers to reduce travel time and allow everyone time to spend with their families and friends. I hate load management but the NBA schedule is so bizarre when you look at. For example I remember the Cavs playing the Knicks, then traveling to Sacramento to play the Kings and then coming back to East Coast to play in New Jersey. WTF

What year was that for the Cavs? Seems a little unusual

dubbmotta wrote:Should be Lakers vs Clippers
Knicks vs Nets

Or teams close to their homes so they can get back to Christmas with family.

And Bulls/Bucks.

Zeno wrote:Setting a hard schedule for Christmas games in August makes zero sense. You could probably easily flex way more desirable games from those scheduled within a week of Christmas. They could set the games December 1st or so.

It would be pretty brutal if you booked a vacation over the holidays, or were flying family into town, only to find out you're actually spending Christmas in Oklahoma City a few weeks before.