For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Toronto Raptors will host a game on Christmas. The Raptors will welcome the Boston Celtics to Scotiabank Arena, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sources: Christmas Day games set for 2019-2020 NBA season include —
Clippers-Lakers at Staples Center
New Orleans at Denver
Boston at Toronto— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2019
It is has been long overdue for Christmas Day basketball to head north of the border. The only other time Toronto competed on this iconic slate of games was in 2001 when they lost to the New York Knicks 102-94 at Madison Square Garden. Morris Peterson led the team in scoring that night with 22 points.
Now, Toronto will compete against another perennial Eastern Conference playoff contender who have also lost their superstar, Kyrie Irving.
News of other Christmas Day games is beginning to trickle out. So far the confirmed fixtures are as follows:
- Pelicans @ Nuggets
- Celtics @ Raptors
- Lakers – Clippers
- Bucks @ Sixers
- Rockets @ Warriors