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Kevin Durant and LeBron James will square off on Thursday in one of the most highly anticipated Christmas Day showdowns this season. Durant’s Houston Rockets will travel to Los Angeles to face James’ Lakers, their first holiday meeting since 2018. Durant was still with the Golden State Warriors when he last played against James on Christmas.
James will play a record 20th Christmas game while Durant has 12. Thursday’s meeting will just be the fifth in their legendary careers. KD will play against James for the first time as a member of the Rockets.
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LeBron James owns 3-1 record against Kevin Durant in Christmas Day games
December 25, 2012, was the first time LeBron James played against Kevin Durant on Christmas Day. Together with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James helped the Heat to a 103-97 win over a Thunder team that also featured James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Four years later, the two clashed again. James, who had returned to Cleveland, led the Cavaliers to a 109-108 win over Durant and the star-studded Warriors.
KD finally broke through in 2017, carrying the Dubs to a 99-92 victory over their rival Cavs.
A year later, LeBron James played only 21 minutes after suffering a groin injury, but the Lakers drubbed the Warriors 127-101.
In 2021, the Lakers lost to the Brooklyn Nets 122-115 but Kevin Durant did not play that game due to an injury.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant's stats against each other in Christmas Day games
The four-time MVP is averaging 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game against Durant in Christmas Day games. Durant is putting up 26.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.8 apg during the same stretch.
NBA bills LeBron James vs Kevin Durant showdown as “Highest-Scoring Matchup Ever”
James has 42,429 career points heading into Thursday’s showdown against Durant. While the Lakers superstar sits atop the scoring ladder, Durant is No. 8 with 31,201 points.
To hype up the clash, the NBA calls it:
“The highest-scoring matchup ever. 73,630 points. Between 2 players. “Never before have so many cumulative points clashed in a superstar showdown... and it's LeBron vs. KD on Christmas Day.”The Rockets and the Lakers are on two-game losing streaks entering their matchup on Thursday. Expect James and Durant to renew their rivalry in one of the NBA’s marquee showdowns on Christmas Day.
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Edited by Michael Macasero
English (US)