When Andy Williams wrote the lyrics to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in 1963, it’s unlikely he had sport in mind. But sports fans have received a few extra gifts in recent years, as the NBA and NFL have made a habit of playing games on the holidays.
This year is no different. The NFL and NBA will play multiple games on December 25, giving sports fans a (nearly) full day of sports to watch…you know, in between watching your favorite holiday movies.
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Here’s how the Christmas Day sports schedule unfolds, including when and how to watch every NBA and NFL game taking place on December 25.
Christmas Day sports program
All times Eastern
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m.)
The NBA likes to prioritize marquee matchups between major franchises on Christmas, and the first game of the day is no exception. The NBA Cup-winning New York Knicks will host a Cleveland Cavaliers team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.
The Cavs have struggled to live up to last year’s expectations thus far and find themselves much lower in the standings. A nationally televised game against the surging Knicks could be just what the Cavaliers need to get the season back on track.
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NFL: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders (1 p.m.)
The NFL also aims to promote premium games over Christmas, but – as you’re about to see – things haven’t worked out so well for the league this season.
Although the Dallas Cowboys remain arguably the most popular team in the NFL, the team is having a rough year. At 6-8-1, Dallas has already been eliminated from the playoffs. They will travel to face the even more disappointing Washington Commanders, who sit at 4-11 after a year of regression marked by injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels.
NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m.)
The second NBA game could be the best of the day, in both sports. A few weeks after narrowly eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup, the San Antonio Spurs will try to prove that they can do it again.
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In a season that has so far been dominated by the Thunder, the new Spurs have become one of the few teams to have beaten the defending champions. The return of Victor Wembanyama played a major role in the Spurs’ victory over the Thunder earlier in the month. It will now be up to Wembanyama to prove he can do it again.
There should be more at stake for the Thunder this time around, especially after the “ethical basketball” Comment following the Spurs’ surprise against the Thunder in the NBA Cup.
NFL: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings (4:30 p.m.)
The second NFL game of the day features two of the most disappointing teams in sports this season. The JJ McCarthy trade turned out to be more difficult than expected, as the Minnesota Vikings currently sit in last place in the NFC North heading into the contest.
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The Detroit Lions are not far ahead of the Vikings, however. After a loss in the last game in Week 16, the Lions need a win on Christmas to stay alive and contend for a playoff spot. Even if the team wins, their chances of making the playoffs are extremely slim.
A loss, however, would drop the Lions to last place in the NFC North. That would represent a miserable outcome for a team that entered the year as one of the strongest Super Bowl contenders in the NFC.
NBA: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors (5 p.m.)
It was past versus future in Game 3 of the NBA. Dallas Mavericks rookie – and No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft – Cooper Flagg will head to California to face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
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Flagg’s NBA career got off to a bit of a slow start, but it didn’t take too long for the rookie to find his feet. After averaging 13.4 points in his first five NBA games, Flagg bumped that number up to 20 points per game in his next 23 games. He’s also increased his assists and rebounds per game during this stretch, and looks like the player the Mavericks expected when they selected Flagg as the first pick in the draft.
But defeating the veteran Warriors won’t be an easy task. Flagg will face Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in the matchup. And even though the Warriors haven’t played like an elite team this year, this trio is still capable of putting up numbers every game.
NBA: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m.)
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James isn’t exactly excited about playing on Christmas Day, but the league wants to feature the 40-year-old in what could be his final season. James and Luka Dončić will host the Houston Rockets in the fourth NBA game of the day.
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Houston’s offseason trade for star Kevin Durant has paid off so far. Durant, 37, leads the team with 25.3 points per game. He continues to play excellent basketball despite his age and previous injuries.
Durant and James are among the best players of their era. This could be one of the last opportunities fans have to see the two players face off in a big game…until the playoffs.
NFL: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m.)
The NFL had good intentions when it scheduled the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the prime-time Christmas game. The league was likely looking at a significant divisional clash after both teams won double-digit games last season.
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On the Broncos side, the league succeeded. Denver was even better in Bo Nix’s second season. After losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, the Broncos will look to get back on track against one of their most hated opponents.
Unfortunately for the NFL, the Chiefs didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Kansas City was a disappointment heading into Week 15, but the team has really declined since then. Patrick Mahomes is out for the season with a torn ACL and his replacement, Gardner Minshew, could also be sidelined with the same injury. This could lead to the Chiefs throwing their third-string option against a tenacious Broncos defense in Week 17.
It’s safe to say the NFL didn’t expect this when it set the 2025 schedule.
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m.)
To cap off the day, the NBA will treat fans to a rematch of a terrific playoff series from two years ago. The Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to face the Denver Nuggets in Colorado.
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This playoff series went the distance, as the Timberwolves took the Nuggets to seven games before pulling off the upset. It was a terrific series, which saw Nikola Jokic attempt to lead his team to its second consecutive NBA Finals appearance and Anthony Edwards announce to the NBA world that he was ready to make the Timberwolves a perennial contender in the East.
Fans looking for revenge last season almost got it, but the Nuggets narrowly missed the Thunder in the semifinals.
With the Nuggets and Timberwolves off to a strong start again, this game could also prove to be a preview of a possible playoff run in the months to come.
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Christmas Day NBA Games
All times Eastern
All five NBA games on Christmas Day will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks at noon (on ESPN and ABC)
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San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors at 5 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
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Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
Christmas Day NFL Games
All times Eastern
The first two NFL games broadcast on Christmas Day will be available on Netflix. The Broncos-Chiefs game will stream on Amazon Prime Video.
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Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. (on Netflix)
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Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 p.m. (on Netflix)
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Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. (on Prime Video)
While college football and the NHL play games around Christmas, neither sport will be played over the holidays. College football games will resume on December 26, while the NHL will return to action the following day, with several games scheduled for December 27.
