Complete history of the Brooklyn Nets playing on Christmas Day

Dec. 25, 1983

After losing to New Jersey in a heartbreaker the year prior, New York got its revenge on Dec. 25, 1983. In front of 12,213 fans at Madison Square Garden, the Nets and Knicks put on a show for the third consecutive year on Christmas.

Following the first quarter, both teams were tied at 25. New York pulled away from New Jersey in the second quarter and outscored the Nets by 11, giving the Knicks a 59-48 lead heading into the half.

New York was outscored by New Jersey in the third and fourth quarters, leaving the game tied at 102 at the end of regulation. After leading by double-digits at the half, the Knicks found themselves battling the Nets in overtime.

At the end of overtime, however, New York was the one on top, 112-110. It was the same final score from a year earlier, but a different result. King led the way for the Knicks with 29 points.

Two of New Jersey’s starters played in 40+ minutes of the game, while four of New York’s starters logged more than 40 minutes. It paid off in the end for the Knicks, who beat the Nets for the second straight time that season.

All five starters scored in double-digits for the Nets, along with a player from the second unit. Birdsong played in 44 minutes and scored 27 (12-of-24), Gminski (a reserve) added 17 (8-of-10), Dawkins contributed 15 (6-of-10), Williams had 14 (5-of-11), Kelvin Ramsey had 12 (6-of-12), and Reggie Johnson had 11 (4-of-8).

New Jersey’s record fell to 13-15 and New York’s jumped to 17-11. That year, Nets went on to make it to the conference semifinals in the playoffs, but lost to the Bucks in six games.