The Los Angeles Lakers playing on Christmas Day is as much a yuletide tradition as opening presents, spending time with loved ones or volunteering at a soup kitchen for the homeless.
The NBA long ago turned Christmas Day into a showcase, much as Thanksgiving Day has become a huge holiday for the NFL.
Dec. 25 has seen its share of memorable contests involving the Purple and Gold, and some have involved some of the team’s biggest rivals, not to mention some of its most hyped regular season games of all time.
Take a look into the past at these five highly memorable Christmas Day Lakers games.