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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 greatest Christmas Day moments, performances

By Kenneth Teape

Los Angeles Lakers, Kyle Kuzma, Luke Walton (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers, Kyle Kuzma, Luke Walton (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

9. Kobe vs. LeBron

One matchup that NBA fans missed out on was seeing Kobe Bryant face off with LeBron James in an NBA Finals series. The closest they came was in 2009 when the Orlando Magic defeated James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. They did, however, matchup twice on Christmas Day, with James getting the best of Bryant.

The first meeting was in 2009. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 102-87. Surprisingly, Mo Williams led the way with 28 points, six rebounds and seven assists. James had a strong game as well, scoring 26 points with four rebounds, nine assists, two steals and one block. Unsurprisingly, Bryant led the way for Los Angeles, nearly recording a triple-double with 35 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Their second meeting came the following season, this time with James on the Miami Heat as part of the big three along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. James would lead his team to a 16-point victory, recording a triple-double in the process with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Bryant recorded 17 points with six rebounds and seven assists.

That would be the last time that these two legends matched up against each other on Christmas. James’ Heat did play the Lakers again in 2013, but Bryant was sidelined because of an injury.

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