Families around the world gather together around the television on Christmas Day, and once again this year, they’ll have a chance to join the Thunder’s family. This season in an afternoon tip-off at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Thunder will compete against the Chicago Bulls in a showdown between two teams that have been successful over the past few years.
After three straight years on the road, the Thunder will be home this year and it relishes the opportunity to play on one of the most special days of the regular season in front of its loyal fans. Typically, Christmas Day NBA basketball is reserved for the top tier organizations in the league, so the Thunder is honored to be amongst them and doesn’t take it lightly.
“Playing on Christmas Day in the NBA is a great honor,” Head Coach Billy Donovan said.
“I think it’s a blessing,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “Growing up on Christmas I had the opportunity to watch other people play. Now I’m the one that people get a chance to watch. That’s a blessing in itself. I’m thankful for it.”
This will be the sixth-straight season the Thunder is playing on the special holiday. Last year, the Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs and the year before it defeated the New York Knicks 123-94 in Madison Square Garden, representing the largest margin of victory on the road in over 200 Christmas Day games in NBA history. The Thunder’s record over the past five years on Christmas is 4-1, and the team hopes to make it 5-1 against the Bulls.
In order to do so, the team will have to be committed to taking care of the small details of the game like defending without fouling, blocking out on the defensive boards and limiting turnovers.
The Bulls are a team that has an emerging two-way star in Jimmy Butler along with effective veterans like Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol. Along the perimeter, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic can both shoot it from the perimeter but have the size to play around the rim as well. This afternoon, Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club will have to be disciplined in order to come away victorious.
Broadcast Information:
Tip-off: 1:30 p.m. CT
Television: ABC
Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network