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By Anne Erickson
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Christmas Day gets a pretty perfect matchup at 5 p.m. EDT when the Philadelphia 76ers head to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.
There’s an obvious storyline right away: LeBron James is going back to LA to face his former team on Christmas. It should make for an interesting return, especially with James now wearing a 76ers uniform while spending the holiday back in Los Angeles. But the game itself could be just as entertaining.
This has the makings of a shootout, with lots of offensive firepower on both sides. James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and possibly Joel Embiid give Philadelphia plenty of ways to put points on the board, while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will have to keep pace for the Lakers.
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That could turn this into the kind of Christmas game where the scoreboard starts getting a little wacky.
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Maxey should be particularly fun to watch. His movement shooting can create problems in a hurry, especially when Philadelphia is trying to attack the rim. That's where new Lakers center Walker Kessler could have a major job on his hands. Keeping Philadelphia away from the basket won't be easy.
Then there’s Doncic. If the 76ers' defense struggles, this could be the type of game where he takes full advantage. I wouldn't be surprised to see Doncic pick apart Philadelphia, particularly if Embiid isn't available. The Lakers will need to find ways to keep their offense rolling while taking advantage of any holes on the other end.
Of course, there's also James. Seeing him return to Los Angeles on Christmas Day to face the Lakers gives the matchup a little extra something that most regular-season games simply don't have. He knows the building, knows the opponent and will have plenty of familiarity with what it's like to play in that environment.
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Now he'll be trying to beat his former team. With so much offensive talent packed into one game, there should be no shortage of big shots, fast possessions and scoring runs. Add James facing the Lakers and the possibility of Embiid joining Brown and Maxey on the court, and this has all the ingredients of a Christmas classic.
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