Current:Home > MarketsNBA on Christmas: Schedule, times, TV info, how to watch league's annual holiday showcase-InfoLens
NBA on Christmas: Schedule, times, TV info, how to watch league's annual holiday showcase
View Date:2024-12-23 15:26:54
There’s at least one NBA MVP playing in every Christmas game Monday: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant.
The past four NBA champions are also featured: Denver, Golden State, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has not lost in eight Christmas Day games.
It’s the Knicks playing on Christmas for the 56th time and 48th time in New York City. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style.”
James is the all-time leading scorer in Christmas games with 460 points and can break a tie with Dwyane Wade for most Christmas victories. They have 10 though Wade has the better winning percentage – .769 to James’ .588. With his 119 assists on Christmas, James can also get closer to Oscar Robertson’s record of 145. With three steals, he can tie Russell Westbrook (29) for No. 1 on Christmas, and with three 3-pointers he can tie James Harden (31) for most Christmas 3s.
Let’s look at the matchups with times, TV info and predictions:
NBA Christmas Day games
Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks
Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Madison Square Garden
Why you should watch: Bucks stars Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard help form one of the best offenses, and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored a career-high 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15, is headed toward his first All-Star appearance.
Prediction: Knicks
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ABC, ESPN
Where: Ball Arena
Why you should watch: It’s Curry and Jokic – two of the game’s best players who each have two regular-season MVPs and a Finals MVP. Both are shotmakers and playmakers extraordinaire – basketball wizardry at its finest.
Prediction: Nuggets
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV channel: ABC, ESPN
Where: Crypto.com Arena
Why you should watch: It’s Lakers-Celtics, two of the league’s storied franchises – each with a league-best 17 NBA titles. LeBron James. Anthony Davis. This is just the fifth time the Lakers and Celtics have met on Christmas (2018, 1970, 1955, 1951).
Prediction: Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Kaseya Center
Why you should watch: Joel Embiid is dominating and having a better season (league-best 34.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, a career-best 6.0 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game and 53.4% from the field) than he did in 2022-23 when he won his first MVP.
Prediction: Sixers
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Where: Footprint Center
Why you should watch: With better shooting around him, Mavs guard Luka Doncic is putting together his best all-around season and is right alongside Embiid as one of the top MVP candidates. Plus, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could put on a show for Phoenix.
Prediction: Mavericks
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
veryGood! (31)
Related
- Ford agrees to pay up to $165 million penalty to US government for moving too slowly on recalls
- Florida pastor stabbed to death at his church by man living there, police say
- Who's in 2024 NHL playoffs? Tracking standings, playoff race, tiebreakers, scenarios
- Maine’s Democratic governor vetoes bid to end ‘three strikes’ law for petty theft
- Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
- 7 children injured, 1 seriously, in school bus crash
- A bill passed by Kansas lawmakers would make it a crime to coerce someone into an abortion
- Drake Bell “Still Reeling” After Detailing Abuse in Quiet on Set Docuseries
- Kentucky officer reprimanded for firing non-lethal rounds in 2020 protests under investigation again
- How Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright Are Reuniting to Celebrate Son Cruz's 3rd Birthday Amid Separation
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Red Velvet, Please
- How Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright Are Reuniting to Celebrate Son Cruz's 3rd Birthday Amid Separation
- Warning light prompts Boeing 737 to make emergency landing in Idaho
- Ohio’s DeWine focuses on children in his State of the State address
- Man found dead in tanning bed at Indianapolis Planet Fitness; family wants stricter policies
- Mandy Moore's Style Evolution Over the Years Is One to Remember
- Rep. Ro Khanna calls on RFK Jr.'s running mate to step down. Here's how Nicole Shanahan responded.
- Internet providers must now be more transparent about fees, pricing, FCC says
Recommendation
-
Black, red or dead: How Omaha became a hub for black squirrel scholarship
-
Stock Up On Your Favorite Yankee Candle Scents, Which Are Now Buy One, Get One 50% Off
-
Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife cites need for surgery in request to delay her trial
-
Democrats Daniels and Figures stress experience ahead of next week’s congressional runoff
-
Satellite images and documents indicate China working on nuclear propulsion for new aircraft carrier
-
Mandy Moore's Style Evolution Over the Years Is One to Remember
-
Morgan Wallen defends Taylor Swift from booing fans after joke about the singer's Eras tour
-
Teenager charged as an adult in downtown Indianapolis shooting that injured 7