Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers: Christmas Day preview

The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers renew their rivalry in primetime Christmas Day and we have all the information you need to enjoy the game!

The Los Angeles Lakers have become a mainstay on Christmas Day. Christmas Day has become a marquee day for basketball, much in the way that the NFL has become a tradition on Thanksgiving.

The Lakers have played on Christmas Day every year since the strike-shortened season of 1998-99 when the NBA season didn’t start until February. This year’s matchup is a highly anticipated one, as they will be taking on their STAPLES Center co-tenant rivals, the LA Clippers.

This is the second matchup of the season between the two LA teams. The Clippers won the first matchup, on opening night, 112-102. That was without Paul George, who was not yet playing as he recovered from shoulder surgeries.

Both teams are looking like the title contenders people thought they would be coming into the season. The Lakers have the second-best record in the NBA behind the Milwaukee Bucks at 24-6 and lead the Western Conference by 2.5 games over the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers are tied in the Western Conference with a record of 22-10.

Both teams come into tonight’s game looking to build some positive momentum. The Lakers are riding their first losing streak of the season, dropping three straight games to the Indiana Pacers, Bucks and Nuggets. The Clippers have alternated wins and losses in six straight games.

A reason for the Lakers losing streak has been injuries. Anthony Davis missed the game against the Pacers and LeBron James missed the game against the Nuggets because of injury. Luckily for the purple and gold, it looks like they will be healthy going into the Christmas Day matchup.

Both James and Davis are expected to play tonight. The Clippers, who have been resting Kawhi Leonard throughout the season, don’t have anyone listed on their injury report, so both teams should be at full strength for tonight’s matchup.

That is great news for the NBA and fans. Both the Lakers and Clippers will be at full strength in the primetime matchup on Christmas. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The Lakers will be looking to even up the season series tonight. This will be the first time virtually all season Frank Vogel will have his full rotation available, as Kyle Kuzma also missed the first matchup recovering from an injury of his own.

Which superstar duo will lead their team to victory, sending their fans home happy with one last present? We will have to tune in and find out!

Can’t figure out how to watch the game? We have you covered with all the information you need to enjoy and watch the Christmas Day primetime matchup between the Lakers and Clippers.