In its 76th year of tradition, the NBA is once again gifting fans with a thrilling Christmas Day lineup, featuring a full slate of five games from morning till night for the 16th consecutive season.
This year’s Christmas basketball extravaganza promises to be a superstar-studded affair, with seven out of the nine players who have been crowned the Kia MVP over the past 15 seasons taking the court on this special day. The lineup includes iconic names like LeBron James of the Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Suns, Stephen Curry of the Warriors, James Harden and Joel Embiid of the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.
Among the featured matchups, the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat, will lead five teams from their conference on Christmas Day. They will take on the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics—teams they had to overcome on their path to the NBA Finals.
The Christmas Day schedule is as follows:
Bucks vs. Knicks (Noon ET, ESPN)
The Knicks, who hold the record for most Christmas Day appearances, will seek to tie the record for most wins on this festive occasion as they host the Bucks. Milwaukee is aiming to extend their six-game winning streak against New York.
Warriors vs. Nuggets (2:30 ET, ABC & ESPN)
The clash between the past two NBA champions, the Warriors and the Nuggets, promises to be a captivating showdown. The Warriors’ pursuit of their fifth title in this dynasty will be met by the Nuggets’ determination to defend their first-ever NBA championship.
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Celtics vs. Lakers (5 ET, ABC & ESPN)
The historic rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers adds another thrilling chapter to its storied history. Both teams are vying to be the first to claim their 18th NBA championship.
76ers vs. Heat (8 ET, ESPN)
This matchup sets reigning Kia MVP and two-time scoring champ Joel Embiid against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat, led by former Sixers star Jimmy Butler.
Mavericks vs. Suns (10:30 ET, ESPN)
A highly anticipated rematch between Kevin Durant’s Mavericks and Kyrie Irving’s Suns will close out the Christmas Day festivities. The duo delivered a memorable overtime clash previously, leaving fans eager for another sensational performance.
As fans around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, the NBA’s gift of action-packed basketball promises to add an extra dose of excitement and entertainment to the holiday festivities.
