This year, the NBA continues its long-running tradition of playing games on Christmas Day with another round of festive basketball on December 25. You can watch all five NBA on Christmas Day games across ABC and ESPN—meaning there are multiple options for tuning in.
Holiday matchups are one of the best parts about sports that run from fall to spring, so keep scrolling to learn how to watch this season’s most joyous NBA fixtures.
What channels show NBA on Christmas Day games?
The 2025 slate of NBA Christmas games will air on ABC and ESPN. It’s likely ESPN+ and Disney+ will be in the mix, too, and I’ll update that information once it becomes official.
Last season, ESPN2 got in on the action by airing Disney’s Dunk the Halls animated alt-cast of the San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks game. The special presentation also streamed on ESPN+ and Disney+. It remains to be seen if something similar will air in 2025.
Pro tip: NBA League Pass users won’t be able to watch NBA on Christmas Day games live because they air nationally. Luckily, you can still tune in with a separate TV plan or a digital antenna.
NBA on Christmas Day TV schedule
The NBA on Christmas Day schedule begins at noon Eastern on December 25, with the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the New York Knicks. From there, it’s the gift that keeps on giving as four more marquee matchups play throughout the day.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks | Wednesday, Dec. 25 | Noon | ABC, ESPN |
| San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder | Wednesday, Dec. 25 | 2:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors | Wednesday, Dec. 25 | 5:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers | Wednesday, Dec. 25 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
| Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets | Wednesday, Dec. 25 | 10:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the NBA on Christmas Day
The great thing about the NBA’s Christmas Day games is that all five matchups air on ABC and ESPN. If you’re like most NBA fans, you should already have access to ESPN because it nationally televises games throughout the season—including the NBA Playoffs. And you’ve likely gotten ABC through your provider, or maybe even through an over-the-air antenna. But don’t worry if you’ve been skating by without national coverage.
For those needing an inexpensive TV plan with a quick sign-up process, we recommend Sling TV. Its Sling Orange plan is $45.99/mo. and is the cheapest way to get ESPN and other national NBA channels like ABC and NBC.
You can also avoid a TV plan altogether by catching every Christmas game on ABC with an OTA antenna. We discuss using an antenna to watch live basketball in our free NBA viewing options section.
Which TV providers show the NBA on Christmas Day?
You can watch the NBA on Christmas Day through most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers. Our table below highlights some of the most popular providers and whether they carry ABC and ESPN.
| Provider | Price | ABC | ESPN | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $71.00–$162.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV Read DIRECTV review |
| Stream with DIRECTV | $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read Stream with DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $96.99–$126.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $88.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — |
View Plans for Philo Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔* | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$110.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $95.00–$139.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $35.00–$90.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Xfinity Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Available only in select markets. Without ABC, Sling TV subscribers can watch ESPN on ABC broadcasts via ESPN3.
How to watch the NBA on Christmas Day for free
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $46.99 (as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
If you’re looking to watch NBA games only on Christmas Day, you can sign up for a free streaming trial. Fubo and Stream with DIRECTV usually offer trials of varying lengths, so you can activate one on Christmas morning and cancel later in the week without paying a cent.
A more reliable way to watch NBA games for free without subscribing to a TV service is by using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to pick up ABC. It’s not an entirely free viewing method because you’ll have to pay for the antenna. But once it’s connected to your TV, you’ll get free access to all local channels within range. That might even include CBS, FOX, and NBC, which show other live events around the holidays.
Pro tip: Before buying an antenna, you’ll want to check the signal distance of your local ABC affiliate. You can do this by running your zip code through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Reception Map Tool.
We often recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 for those who live in non-rural areas because its 60-mile range is usually adequate for getting key local channels. But you can browse our Best OTA Antennas page for more antenna options.
How to watch the NBA on Christmas Day FAQ
Where can I watch Christmas Day NBA games?
You can watch the 2025 Christmas Day NBA games on ABC and ESPN. Both channels are available through most TV providers, though you can also access ABC with an OTA antenna.
What NBA teams will play on Christmas Day?
In 2025, 10 NBA teams will play on Christmas Day: Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets.
Which NBA player has scored the most points on Christmas?
LeBron James holds the NBA record for points scored on Christmas Day—netting 509 points across 19 Christmas game appearances. He might add to his tally again this season when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets.
What NBA teams have the most wins on Christmas Day?
The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are tied with 26 wins on Christmas Day.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com sports editor, Taylor Kujawa, compiled the best ways to watch the NBA’s Christmas Day games after comparing popular TV providers’ pricing and channel offerings. He chose his viewing recommendations based on overall convenience, so you have one less thing to worry about this holiday season.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
†Amazon.com price as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
