NBA Christmas: 5 Predictions for the Warriors vs. Clippers Showdown

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5. Will Be Best Game This Christmas

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SPORTS

The NBA schedule makers saved the best matchup for last on Christmas Day. This Clippers-Warriors game will end up being the best game on Wednesday, and every game before it will end up being blowouts. Those games seemed like they would be entertaining when they were scheduled, but only the Clippers-Warriors game will live up to the hype. It will be a nail biter all the way through the final buzzer. Let’s just hope the east coast stays up to watch this thriller.

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4. Off Game for Klay

Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY SPORTS

Golden State guard Klay Thompson struggled for the majority of Golden State’s 89-81 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Thompson scored eight of his 13 points against the Nuggets in the fourth quarter. The Clippers are a much tougher opponent for Thompson, and I believe he will be unable to break out of this funk throughout this Christmas Day showdown.

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3. Clippers Will Dominate Paint

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY SPORTS

The Golden State Warriors are incredibly thin in the big-man department. Meanwhile, the Clippers have some of the best big men in the league. Blake Griffin won the Western Conference Player of the Week honors last week, and DeAndre Jordan is a beast that no Warrior will be able to match up with. Look for Warriors' Andrew Bogut and David Lee to struggle mightily against Griffin and Jordan. Golden State will need to find hot shooting in order to contend in this game.

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2. Warriors Take Upset

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SPORTS

The Golden State Warriors love playing in front of their home crowd. They have a 9-4 home record this season at Oracle Arena, which is one of the loudest and most raucous places to play time and time again. The crowd will be extra ecstatic for this primetime matchup on Christmas Day, and I believe home court will be the ultimate decider in this game. The Warriors will inch closer to the Clippers in the Western Conference standings with a win on Wednesday night.

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1. Curry Scores 50

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY SPORTS

Yes, Clippers point guard Chris Paul is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, but I don’t think that will matter on Christmas Day when he tries to guard Stephen Curry. Curry was in foul trouble for most of the Warriors’ win over the Nuggets on Monday, so I believe he will explode for a huge game on Wednesday. Curry loves to score, and he does so at will. You can’t suppress him for too long. He will hit the court itching to score the basketball come Christmas, and Paul will be unable to stop him. Curry will claim every NBA Christmas Day headline with a 50-point performance against the Clippers.