NBA Christmas Day Games 2026: Schedule, Times, TV & Matchups

NBA Christmas games : there are 5 games on Friday, December 25, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM ET, on ABC, ESPN.

Christmas Day · 2026-27 NBA season

Friday, December 25, 2026

5 games · ABC & ESPN · 12:00 PM ET first tip

Live scores TV schedule Full schedule Standings

NBA Christmas Games 2026

12:00 PM ET ABC, ESPN
San Antonio Spurs2-2
New York Knicks1-3
Out: Jayden Quaintance, Tobias Harris, Jose AlvaradoPreview ›
2:30 PM ET ABC, ESPN
Miami Heat0-4
Boston Celtics3-1
Out: Devin CarterPreview ›
5:00 PM ET ABC, ESPN
Philadelphia 76ers3-1
Los Angeles Lakers3-1
Out: Ariel Hukporti, Dominick Barlow, Adou Thiero +1 morePreview ›
8:00 PM ET ABC, ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder4-0
Minnesota Timberwolves3-1
Out: Cason Wallace, Jalen WilliamsPreview ›
10:30 PM ET ABC, ESPN
Denver Nuggets1-2
Golden State Warriors1-3
Out: Julian Strawther, Kristaps PorziņģisPreview ›

Christmas Day Storylines

The champions at home. The 2025-26 champions play at home against the Spurs.
Spurs after a Finals run. Beaten 4-1 by the Knicks in the 2025-26 Finals, the Spurs play on the road at the Knicks.
Best combined record. Thunder (4-0) at Timberwolves (3-1): 7 wins between them so far in 2025-26.

How to Watch the NBA on Christmas Day

Date & time: Friday, December 25, 2026First tip 12:00 PM ET, last 10:30 PM ET

National TV: ABC and ESPNEvery Christmas game airs nationally

Stream: ESPN appStreams follow the national channel

Local TV: Team channelsEach game page lists both teams' local channels

Full NBA TV schedule ›

Christmas 2025 Results

Tip-off (ET)	Game	Result
12:00 PM	Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks	Knicks 126-124
2:30 PM	San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder	Spurs 117-102
5:00 PM	Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors	Warriors 126-116
8:00 PM	Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers	Rockets 119-96
10:30 PM	Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets	Nuggets 142-138

NBA Christmas Games FAQ

How many NBA games are on Christmas Day 2026?

There are 5: Spurs at Knicks (12:00 PM ET); Heat at Celtics (2:30 PM ET); 76ers at Lakers (5:00 PM ET); Thunder at Timberwolves (8:00 PM ET); Nuggets at Warriors (10:30 PM ET).

What time do the NBA Christmas games start?

The first game tips off at 12:00 PM ET and the last at 10:30 PM ET. Your local time is shown on each game.

What channel are the NBA Christmas games on?

The Christmas games air on ABC and ESPN and stream on ESPN app.

Does the NBA play every Christmas?

Yes. The NBA has played on Christmas Day every season since 1947, and the Christmas slate is the showcase of the regular season, with every game on national TV.