The NBA went big-name hunting for its Christmas Day schedule this season.
Donovan Mitchell, Dairus Garland, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray some of the big names projected to play on the NBA’s five-game Christmas Day schedule on Thursday, Dec. 25, according to ESPN, which will televise the games along with ABC.
Here is the schedule that ESPN revealed on Friday, August 8:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
The Knicks, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Spurs, Lakers, Warriors and Nuggets also played on Christmas in 2024.
The NBA again will compete against the NFL’s three-game Christmas schedule: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs.
Here’s a closer look at the NBA’s five Christmas Day games:
NBA Christmas Day schedule 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
This is Cleveland’s first Christmas game since 2017, and this is the Knicks’ 58th Christmas game.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
The defending champion Thunder and Wembanyama should expect to be part of the Christmas schedule for the next several seasons.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
James, the all-time leading scorer on Dec. 25, is headed for his 20th Christmas game, a league record.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Golden State will play on Christmas for the 13th consecutive season.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards had 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists in this NBA Christmas debut in 2024.