The NBA season unofficially kicks off with five marquee games scheduled for Christmas, promising entertainment for fans and their families throughout the day on Thursday, December 25. The games begin at noon EST and will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. Fans can watch for free using services like DIRECTV and FuboTV, both of which offer free trials. SlingTV, while not offering a free trial, has promotional offers available. ESPN Unlimited can be streamed on various devices and bundled with other services like NFL+ Premium, Disney+, and Hulu. Those subscribed to DIRECTV, FuboTV, or Hulu + Live TV can access ESPN Unlimited through their package.
The day’s events start at Madison Square Garden with the New York Knicks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers, featuring an additional animated broadcast with Disney characters on ESPN2, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney+. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will then face the San Antonio Spurs, followed by No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg leading the Dallas Mavericks against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will match up with Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, marking their fifth Christmas Day meeting. The night ends with a clash between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring stars Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards.
NBA Christmas Day Schedule: Stream via DIRECTV (free trial), FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV, or ESPN. For those interested in betting, refer to the Massachusetts sports betting guide for tips and terminology.
