Denver Nuggets @ LA Clippers – 10:00 p.m. ET
The Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers are two teams that are widely expected to jump back into the title picture in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are expected to be back and healthy for the Denver Nuggets and Kawhi Leonard is expected back from injury for the LA Clippers.
Even though much of the title attention in the West will be paid to the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, who have proven to be viable contenders most recently, I think it would be a huge mistake to count out the Nuggets and Clippers.
These are two teams that haven’t been 100 percent healthy in almost two seasons. If Murray, MPJ, and Kawhi are anything close to the players that they were before their respective injuries, there’s no question they will play a factor in which team comes out of the West this season.
It would be smart for the league to try and get them back on the national stage before the start of the playoffs. And Christmas Day could be the ideal opportunity for that.