M erry H oopsmas ! WHY BASKETBALL IS A CHRISTMAS STAPLE
Nothing says Christmas quite like basketball — at least, that’s been the case since 1947. In addition to stockings, eggnog, and general yuletide cheer, each Christmas Day brings about an annual lineup of basketball games featuring the National Basketball Association’s best of the best, and it’s become a time-honored tradition.
Day games, where the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys always play, Christmas Day is now reserved for the NBA’s top teams. In many ways, this is a marketing ploy designed to heighten NBA viewership on a day when few other sports host games, and by using their best teams, the NBA can ensure viewers are treated to great games. However, for loyal fans and viewers, the tradition has sparked a few great moments, including the following greatest games, statistics, and achievements — plus a potential record to watch for this year.
recently, they had the most wins, too, but the Los Angeles Lakers now hold that title.) Point Pros: This year could be a historic one for the NBA. LeBron James is slated to surpass the late Kobe Bryant for the most points scored on Christmas Day. James needs 13 points to outpace Bryant when the Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets this year. However, the title for most points scored on a single Christmas Day game goes to Bernard King of the Knicks, who scored 60 points in a 1984 loss to the then-New Jersey Nets.
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But where in the North Pole did this idea come from?
While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason, the NBA has hosted Christmas Day games since 1947, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers 89–75. For decades, teams across the league would play their regional rivals on Dec. 25, ensuring the basketball season moved forward and players didn’t have to travel too far from their families.
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Kings of Christmas Day: Since their initial 1947 debut, the New York Knicks have gone on to play the most holiday games of any
You can catch all five Christmas Day games on ESPN and ABC this Christmas Day!
other NBA team. They have 22 wins and 31 losses, giving them the most losses on Christmas Day. (Until
That looks different today. In contrast to the National Football League’s Thanksgiving
TIPS TO AVOID A DUI S tay S afe T his N ew Y ear ’ s E ve
New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and it’s one of the most dangerous nights to be on the road due to alcohol-related accidents. According to Moneygeek, the odds that somebody will be driving under the influence and cause a fatal accident on New Year’s Day is 129% higher than an average day of the week. We don’t recommend that anyone get behind the wheel after drinking, but here are a few tips if you plan to go out and ring in the New Year. Find a Ride If you’ve been drinking, you should not drive home. In this day and age, you can find a ride home in a number of ways. Call
a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to bring you home. Some companies will release coupons and promotions to make using their service more affordable around holidays. This also helps keep more people safe and away from the keys to the car. If these services are too expensive or unavailable at the time you need them, reach out to a friend. Most people would rather go out of their way to help a friend than lose them in an accident or hear they wound up in jail.
of driving completely out of the question. If you’re the designated driver on New Year’s Day, search beforehand where police checkpoints will be set up. And make sure no one spills a drink on you! If you just smell like alcohol and a police officer notices it, they could think you are driving under the influence. Know Your Rights If you are pulled over, you do not have to submit to a mobile Breathalyzer test or a field sobriety test. It will not hurt your case if you refuse, but you will have to take the Breathalyzer test at the station. Also, it’s better to say as little as possible so they can’t use anything you say against you. Be safe out there!
Plan Ahead If you know you’re going to be out
celebrating the New Year, make plans for a ride beforehand. Decide on a designated driver or find a way to get home before you start drinking. This can take the temptation
2 LEGALDEFENSE.COM
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