The NBA has scheduled five games for Christmas Day 2026, kicking off with a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. The full lineup for Friday, December 25, features Miami facing Boston, Philadelphia taking on the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City playing Minnesota, and Denver meeting Golden State.
2026 NBA Christmas Day Matchups:
- San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers, 5:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
The holiday festivities begin at Madison Square Garden with the Spurs and Knicks revisiting their Finals showdown from earlier in the year, as New York enters the season as the reigning NBA champions after also clinching the 2025 title. Next up, Miami travels to Boston to renew a longstanding Eastern Conference rivalry. Philadelphia then heads to Los Angeles where LeBron James returns to face his former team after signing with the 76ers. The day continues with Oklahoma City’s visit to Minnesota, marking the Timberwolves’ first Christmas Day game at home. The schedule closes with Denver facing Golden State in San Francisco at 10:30 p.m. ET, the final game of the night.
This marks the 19th straight season with five games played on Christmas Day, continuing the NBA’s tradition of delivering top-tier holiday basketball. The 2026-27 regular season is set to start on Tuesday, October 20, with key matchups including Boston at Detroit, Philadelphia at New York, and Oklahoma City at San Antonio, and will wrap up on Sunday, April 11, 2027.
Fan Take:
This Christmas Day schedule promises thrilling rematches and high-profile rivalries that are bound to capture the attention of basketball fans everywhere. It highlights the NBA’s ability to blend tradition with fresh storylines, enhancing the excitement of the holiday season and elevating the sport’s global appeal.
Source: www.foxsports.com
