One cherished Christmas tradition is settling down after opening gifts and having breakfast to watch a continuous NBA schedule.
Since 1947, the NBA has brought you Christmas Day basketball featuring some of the season’s most entertaining matchups. The nearly 80-year tradition continues in 2025 with a five-game slate that offers nearly 13 hours of NBA hoops.
The NBA’s Christmas Day slate opens at Madison Square Garden, with the New York Knicks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Next, Victor Wembanyama faces Chet Holmgren again as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs.
After that rivalry, Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks will go on to play against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
In the nightcap, the Houston Rockets will travel to California to face the Los Angeles Lakers. To conclude the day, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will compete against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here is everything you need to know about watching NBA action on Christmas Day, including TV and streaming options for each game.
NBA games on TV today: Full schedule for Christmas basketball games
Thursday, Dec. 25
| Knicks vs. Cavs | Noon | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 |
| Thunder vs. Spurs | 2:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Warriors vs. Mavs | 5 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Lakers vs. Rockets | 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | 10:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
NBA games on Christmas: TV channels, live streams
- TV channels: ABC | ESPN | ESPN2
- Live stream: ESPN app
Each of the five NBA games on Christmas will be simulcast on ABC and ESPN. The “Dunk the Halls” animated broadcast of Knicks vs. Cavs will air on ESPN2. Fans can also stream all of the games on the ESPN app.
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NBA games on Christmas: Radio stations
- Radio channel: SiriusXM channels 82 (away broadcast), 86 (home broadcast)
You can listen to the NBA’s Christmas Day slate live with SiriusXM.
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| Knicks vs. Cavs | Noon | 82 (away), 86 (home) |
| Thunder vs. Spurs | 2:30 p.m. | 82 (away), 86 (home) |
| Warriors vs. Mavs | 5 p.m. | 82 (away), 86 (home) |
| Lakers vs. Rockets | 8 p.m. | 82 (away), 86 (home) |
| Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | 10:30 p.m. | 82 (away), 86 (home) |
