The NBA’s longest Christmas Day game drought belongs to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks haven’t been part of the NBA’s Christmas Day lineup since Spud Webb, Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone and Kevin Willis suited up for Atlanta. On that day in 1989, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 115-104 before 13,000 fans at the Omni.
The NBA first featured a Christmas Day lineup in 1947. They've been an annual fixture since, with the exception of 1998, when a lockout didn't allow that season to begin until February.
The NBA has had a five-game Christmas lineup for 11 consecutive years. They have featured as many as seven Christmas Day games on three occasions.
The Hawks (9-23, 12th in Eastern Conference) aren't alone on being benched for the holiday. After the Hawks, the longest droughts are held by Charlotte (no appearances in 29 seasons), Memphis (no appearances in 24 seasons), Toronto (2001), Sacramento (2003), Indiana (2004) and Detroit (2005).
Every other NBA team has played at least one game on Christmas since 2009.
What you will see Tuesday is LeBron James vs. the Golden State Warriors for the fourth consecutive year.
Tuesday’s slate starts with Milwaukee at New York, followed by Oklahoma City at Houston, Philadelphia at Boston, the Lakers at the Warriors and then Portland at Utah. It’s Milwaukee’s first Christmas game since 1977, which will end what was by far the league’s longest Dec. 25 drought. Utah hasn’t played on Christmas since 1997.
The Hawks next host the Pacers Wednesday at State Farm Arena.
- This article contains information from the Associated Press.
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