NBA games being played on Christmas Day is a tradition that’s been known for signature moments since its inception in 1947. Five games will be played on Christmas Day in 2024, starting at noon E.T. on the ABC/ESPN family of networks.
The NBA on Christmas Day 2024
NBA on Christmas is one of the biggest stages of every regular season. The only thing better than watching NBA on Christmas at home is grabbing tickets to an NBA game live on Christmas with the family.
What Games Are Being Played on Christmas Day 2024?
Superstars and marquee matchups are the headlines for the NBA on Christmas Day for the 2024–25 season. The day begins with an Eastern Conference matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. Next will be a pair of rivalry tilts between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. The primetime matchup will feature the Los Angeles Lakers visiting the Golden State Warriors and the final tilt of the night will a Western Conference battle between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.
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History of the NBA on Christmas Day
There have been some historic standout performances that have taken place on Christmas Day in the past, from Bernard King scoring a record 60 points on NBA Christmas Day in 1984 to Wilt Chamberlain notching 59 points and 36 rebounds in 1961.
NBA on Christmas Day games are also a great stage for NBA Finals rematches. In 1995, the NBA coordinated its first Finals rematch between the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. All-star guard Penny Hardaway scored 22 points in a win, including the game-winner with less than five seconds remaining in the game.
In 2008, the NBA Finals rematch was also one of the most bitter rivalries in the NBA when the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics collided. The Lakers broke the Celtics 19-game win streak on a night when Lakers head coach Phil Jackson accumulated his 1,000th career win, the fastest coach to do so.
Perhaps the two most exciting NBA on Christmas Day Finals rematches were played in consecutive years between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, the Cavs rallied from being down 14 points in the fourth quarter and bested the Warriors off a miraculous Kyrie Irving turnaround jump shot with 3.4 seconds remaining in the game. A year later, the Warriors got their revenge despite a Cavaliers 11-2 run in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson hit the game-winning three-pointer to break a 92-92 tie and give Golden State the edge.
Christmas Day NBA Game Results
With the calendar counting down to the NBA on Christmas games, relive some of the highlights and moments from previous years.
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