NBA
New York Knicks Christmas Day History: Record, Statistics, & More
The New York Knicks are a mainstay for the NBA on Christmas. Of the 76 seasons the league has put on a Christmas showcase, the Knicks have played 56 times— most all-time in the NBA. In the tristate area the colors of orange and blue are just as synonymous with the holiday spirit as your greens and reds, despite the more inconsistent appearances in the 2010s.
This season will mark the Knicks’ 57th Christmas Day game as they host the San Antonio Spurs in the first action of the day. It feels like as good a time as any to reflect on the ghosts of New York Christmas past and break down just how good the Knicks have been while performing on Christmas over the years.
The Knicks boast an all-time record of 24-32 on Christmas Day. While it is obviously not optimal to fall below .500 on yuletide New York’s 24 wins are tied for the most all-time. So, even if they have lost more often than they’ve won, the Knicks are still one of the two most successful NBA franchises in the history of Christmas play. Conversely, those 32 losses are more than any team has suffered on the holiday. Such are the consequences of being the NBA’s go-to Christmas team, regardless of how good a team they are that season.
Here is a complete accounting of the Knicks’ Christmas Day battles , starting with their very first in 1947.
|
YEAR |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
ALL-TIME W-L |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1947 |
Providence Steamrollers |
Knicks 89, Steamrollers 75 |
1-0 |
|
1948 |
Chicago Stags |
Stags 70, Knicks 64 |
1-1 |
|
1950 |
Philadelphia Warriors |
Knicks 86, Warriors 84 |
2-1 |
|
1951 |
Fort Wayne Pistons |
Knicks 89, Pistons 80 |
3-1 |
|
1952 |
Boston Celtics |
Knicks 97, Celtics 84 |
4-1 |
|
1953 |
Syracuse Nationals |
Knicks 89, Nationals 80 |
5-1 |
|
1954 |
Syracuse Nationals |
Knicks 109, Nationals 101 |
6-1 |
|
1955 |
Fort Wayne Pistons |
Pistons 92, Knicks 87 |
6-2 |
|
1956 |
St. Louis Hawks |
Hawks 107, Knicks 105 |
6-3 |
|
1957 |
Syracuse Nationals |
Nationals 134, Knicks 130 |
6-4 |
|
1958 |
Boston Celtics |
Celtics 129, Knicks 120 |
6-5 |
|
1959 |
Boston Celtics |
Celtics 123, Knicks 119 |
6-6 |
|
1960 |
Syracuse Nationals |
Nationals 162, Knicks 100 |
6-7 |
|
1961 |
Philadelphia Warriors |
Knicks 136, Warriors 135 |
7-7 |
|
1962 |
Syracuse Nationals |
Nationals 123, Knicks 111 |
7-8 |
|
1963 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
Lakers 134, Knicks 126 |
7-9 |
|
1964 |
Baltimore Bullets |
Bullets 114, Knicks 108 |
7-10 |
|
1965 |
St. Louis Hawks |
Hawks 131, Knicks 111 |
7-11 |
|
1966 |
Chicago Bulls |
Knicks 133, Bulls 132 |
8-11 |
|
1967 |
Boston Celtics |
Celtics 134, Knicks 124 |
8-12 |
|
1968 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
Knicks 110, 76ers 109 |
9-12 |
|
1969 |
Detroit Pistons |
Knicks 112, Pistons 111 |
10-12 |
|
1970 |
Buffalo Braves |
Knicks 115, Braves 102 |
11-12 |
|
1971 |
Golden State Warriors |
Knicks 114, Warriors 89 |
12-12 |
|
1972 |
Detroit Pistons |
Knicks 113, Pistons 110 |
13-12 |
|
1973 |
Capital Bullets |
Bullets 102, Knicks 100 |
13-13 |
|
1974 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
76ers 104, Knicks 97 |
13-14 |
|
1975 |
Philadlephia 76ers |
Knicks 111, 76ers 103 |
14-14 |
|
1976 |
Philadlephia 76ers |
76ers 105, Knicks 104 |
14-15 |
|
1977 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
Knicks 113, 76ers 110 |
15-15 |
|
1978 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
76ers 109, Knicks 94 |
15-16 |
|
1979 |
New Jersey Nets |
Knicks 131, Nets 102 |
16-16 |
|
1980 |
Boston Celtics |
Celtics 117, Knicks 108 |
16-17 |
|
1981 |
New Jersey Nets |
Nets 96, Knicks 95 |
16-18 |
|
1982 |
New Jersey Nets |
Nets 112, Knicks 110 |
16-19 |
|
1983 |
New Jersey Nets |
Knicks 112, Nets 110 |
17-19 |
|
1984 |
New Jersey Nets |
Nets 120, Knicks 114 |
17-20 |
|
1985 |
Boston Celtics |
Knicks 113, Celtics 104 |
18-20 |
|
1986 |
Chicago Bulls |
Knicks 86, Bulls 85 |
19-20 |
|
1987 |
Detroit Pistons |
Pistons 91, Knicks 87 |
19-21 |
|
1992 |
Chicago Bulls |
Bulls 89, Knicks 77 |
19-22 |
|
1994 |
Chicago Bulls |
Bulls 107, Knicks 104 |
19-23 |
|
1999 |
Indiana Pacers |
Pacers 101, Knicks 90 |
19-24 |
|
2001 |
Toronto Raptors |
Knicks 102, Raptors 94 |
20-24 |
|
2009 |
Miami Heat |
Heat 93, Knicks 87 |
20-25 |
|
2010 |
Chicago Bulls |
Knicks 103, Bulls 95 |
21-25 |
|
2011 |
Boston Celtics |
Knicks 106, Celtics 104 |
22-25 |
|
2012 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
Lakers 100, Knicks 94 |
22-26 |
|
2013 |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
Thunder 123, Knicks 94 |
22-27 |
|
2014 |
Washington Wizards |
Wizards 102, Knicks 91 |
22-28 |
|
2016 |
Boston Celtics |
Celtics 119, Knicks 114 |
22-29 |
|
2017 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
76ers 105, Knicks 98 |
22-30 |
|
2018 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Bucks 109, Knicks 95 |
22-31 |
|
2021 |
Atlanta Hawks |
Knicks 101, Hawks 87 |
23-31 |
|
2022 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
76ers 119, Knicks 112 |
23-32 |
|
2023 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Knicks 129, Bucks 122 |
24-32 |
No Knick has ever had a better Christmas than Bernard King in 1984. He scored 40 points in the first half of New York’s game against the Nets that year and finished with a whopping 60 points on the day. It’s a Christmas record that still stands to this day.
One year later Patrick Ewing had an excellent showing. On yuletide in 1985, the rookie center out of Georgetown dominated with a 32-point, 11-rebound outing that propelled the Knicks to a 25-point comeback win over the Celtics.
In more recent Knicks lore, the ever-entertaining Carmelo Anthony dropped a cool 37 points in a narrow win over the Celtics. King may have scored more points but he didn’t look as smooth as ‘Melo did.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy the games!
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