NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule Offers 5 Matchups, Including Defending Champ Boston vs Philly

Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors passes as LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers defends at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 15. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

For nearly 80 years, sports on Dec. 25 have been highlighted by the NBA Christmas games. It’s an annual tradition that dates back to 1947, the league’s second season, with the only exception being 1998 due to an ongoing lockout.

The 2024 Christmas Day schedule has five matchups featuring title contenders and up-and-comers, and boasting some of the most recognizable names and faces in the sport.

Here’s a look at the slate, which tips off from New York City for the fourth year in a row.

Noon ET: San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks

No franchise has more wins (24) or losses (32) on Christmas Day than the Knicks, one of six teams to participate in the first NBA Christmas games in 1947 and the only active franchise remaining. New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns is an MVP contender in his first year in the Big Apple, but a couple of other players could steal the show if they can replicate past performances.

When the Spurs and Knicks last played in March, San Antonio’s then-rookie Victor Wembanyama put on a show with career highs of 40 points and 20 rebounds, in addition to having seven blocks.

His team picked up the win, but the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson somehow managed to outdo the French phenom. Brunson dropped a career-high 61 points, and if he could manage to duplicate that feat, he would break Bernard King’s Christmas Day record of 60 points set in 1984.

2:30 p.m. ET: Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks

This is the lone playoff rematch on the Christmas Day schedule, as these two met in last season’s Western Conference Finals, which Dallas won in five games. Both squads have underperformed a bit this season amid new additions like Klay Thompson in Dallas and Julius Randle in Minnesota, but the teams have contrasting strengths, which should make this game intriguing.

Minnesota hangs its hat on the defensive end, ranking in the top five in both points allowed per game and defensive rating. Meanwhile, Dallas is a juggernaut offensively, boasting top-five rankings in both points per game and offensive rating.

The Mavs’ brilliance on that end of the court is largely due to Luka Doncic, who made some history on Christmas last year when he became just the fourth player to score 50 points in a Christmas Day game. His 50-point outing versus Phoenix is tied for the third-most points ever in a Christmas game.

5 p.m. ET: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics

These franchises have met a record 22 times in the postseason, but this will be just their second Christmas Day matchup.

The NBA has put the defending champion in a Christmas game every year since 1995, and the reigning champion is 4-0 over the last four years. Boston hopes to keep that streak going in a season that looks like a continuation of last year, though the Celtics have looked more vulnerable lately. They had just three losses over 19 games in October and November but were handed four defeats in their first 10 games in December.

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Nov. 13. Heather Khalifa/AP Photo

Philadelphia is the biggest disappointment in the league. Much has to do with injuries, namely Joel Embiid’s ailments, as he’s appeared in just eight of Philly’s 27 games. Because of that, the Sixers rank last in the NBA in points per game (105.7), as new acquisition Paul George has also underachieved, averaging just 16 points per game after averaging 20-plus in each of the last nine years. However, if Embiid does take the court Wednesday, one can expect a show as his 31.3 points across four career Christmas Day games is seventh-most all-time and second among active players, trailing only Doncic’s 32.2 points.

8 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

If you could pinpoint one headline matchup, this is it, and that’s evident by its primetime slot.

This will be the fifth time that LeBron James and Steph Curry square off on Christmas, with the series split 2-2. James’s 476 points on Christmas are the most in NBA history, as are his 18 Christmas Day games, and he’s one victory shy of moving into sole possession of most Christmas wins as he’s currently tied at 10 with Dwyane Wade.

The teams have evenly split their last 18 meetings, with each boasting one of the nine players to post a Christmas Day triple-double in James and Draymond Green.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts after a 3-point shot against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles on Oct. 26. William Liang/AP Photo

Despite their star power, both teams have struggled to keep pace with the elite in the Western Conference. So if this ends up being a postseason preview, then it could be a preview of them meeting in the NBA play-in tournament instead of deep into the playoffs.

10:30 p.m. ET: Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns

Phoenix has received lumps of coal over recent Christmases as it lost three straight games on the holiday, as well as six defeats over its last seven Christmas appearances. One of those, coincidentally, was a loss to the Nuggets on Christmas Day 2022, a game in which Devin Booker played just five minutes before injuring himself. Injury could sideline Booker again, as he’s missed the last two games, though Kevin Durant is on the Suns this time, unlike in 2022.

Even with Durant, who ranks fourth all-time with 315 Christmas points, the Suns will have to find an answer for Nikola Jokic. The Joker had a monstrous stat line of 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in that 2022 matchup—becoming the third player ever with a 40-15-15—and his play this season could have him on the cusp of winning a fourth MVP award. Jokic is averaging career highs in points, assists and steals, and his feathery shooting touch is leading the NBA with a 50.5 percent mark from 3-point range.