Brandon Ingram grew up in North Carolina watching Christmas NBA games on an annual basis, while dreaming about what it would be like to actually play in those nationally-televised matchups. Now in his fifth NBA season, competing on Dec. 25 has become the norm for the 6-foot-7 forward. On Friday, when New Orleans visits Miami (11 a.m. Central, ESPN, Fox Sports New Orleans), it will be the fourth Christmas appearance of Ingram’s career (he’d be 5-for-5 if not for being inactive in ’17 for a Lakers-Timberwolves game).
“It’s very special,” Ingram said of getting to play again on the holiday.