NEW YORK — Christmas at the Barclays Center wasn’t a high-wattage, celebrity-filled affair. No Jay-Z. No Beyonce. In fact, as the NBA tipped off a five-game holiday schedule, a handful of the see-and-be-seen courtside seats remained empty at the Celtics-Nets contest. It was, instead, an Atlantic Division rivalry that featured big bodies over big names.

The biggest body that left the biggest impression? Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger.