The 2024 NBA Christmas Day games promises to delight basketball fans with five captivating matchups on December 25, bringing together some of the league's most popular teams and big-name players. Kicking off at noon EST, the San Antonio Spurs will take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, one of the league's brightest stages, before transitioning through exciting contests all day long.
Starting at 12:00 p.m. EST, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama makes his Christmas Day debut against the Knicks. Both teams are off to impressive starts this season, with the Knicks sitting at 19 wins and the Spurs at 15. This battle features two of the league's top centers: Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) for the Knicks, who is averaging 24.7 points per game, and Wembanyama, whose numbers hover close behind at 24.5 points per game. Both are set to showcase their skills and heighten the competition.
Following this, at 2:30 p.m. EST, the Minnesota Timberwolves will face off against the Dallas Mavericks, adding to the festive atmosphere with their rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals. Last time these teams met, the Timberwolves won 120-114, thanks to Anthony Edwards' remarkable 37-point performance. Fans will be eager to see if the Timberwolves can upset the Mavs, who are eager for revenge.
At 5:00 p.m. EST, the Philadelphia 76ers will meet the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, reviving the storied rivalry between these two franchises. The Celtics, currently with a strong record of 22-6, look to assert their dominance against the 76ers, who are struggling at 9-17. Jayson Tatum and his teammates will undoubtedly look to continue their winning streak, but the Sixers may find motivation to boost their morale against the NBA champions.
Then, at 8:00 p.m. EST, basketball legends collide as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors. This matchup is particularly thrilling as it may be one of the last Christmas classics including the all-time greats, LeBron James and Steph Curry, both nearing the twilight of their careers. Given their storied competition, this match is highly anticipated by fans nationwide.
Concluding the day’s festivities, the Denver Nuggets will visit the Phoenix Suns at 10:30 p.m. EST. The Nuggets, led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, readied to face off against the Suns and their superstar Kevin Durant. This game serves as redemption for the Suns after losing their last two contests and is key to maintaining their playoff aspirations as they look to turn their season around.
All five Christmas games will broadcast on ABC and ESPN, ensuring fans have ample viewing options. For cord-cutters, live TV streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, Sling Orange, and DIRECTV Stream can provide access, often with free trial options for new users.
The Christmas Day festivities will also include special programming, with ESPN featuring “Dunk The Halls,” the first-ever live animated presentation of NBA games, starting the action on the holiday. Between the star-studded rosters and exciting matchups, NBA fans have much to look forward to this Christmas.
With NBA stars like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic scheduled to take the court, fans can expect high-quality basketball play all day long. The NBA on Christmas Day not only showcases incredible talent but solidifies the holiday as one of the most anticipated days on the basketball calendar.
