How to Watch the NBA on Christmas Day Online Free
by Rudie Obias, Tim Chan · VarietyIf you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
The NBA has released its 2025 Christmas Day schedule with this year’s games featuring superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and more.
The 2025 “NBA on Christmas Day” schedule features five games with 10 powerhouse teams taking to the court. The day of games tips off at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, with all matchups airing on ABC and ESPN.
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watch NBA on Christmas Day on DirecTV STReam
If you want to watch the NBA Christmas Day games on TV, you can tune in with any cable package that includes ABC and ESPN, or get a local ABC affiliate feed through basic cable or a digital antenna (like this one from Amazon).
Don’t have cable? You can also livestream the NBA Christmas Day games online with a live TV streaming provider like DirecTV or Fubo.
GET: DIRECTV STREAM 5-DAY FREE TRIAL
DirecTV’s packages include a live ABC and live ESPN feed so you can use it to stream the Christmas Day basketball games online without cable. DirecTV currently offers a five-day free trial that you can use to livestream NBA Christmas Day online for free.
You can also watch NBA Christmas Day games online through Fubo, who is currently offering a seven-day free trial here. Fubo’s free trial includes access to ABC, ESPN and more than 100 other live TV channels that you can stream online. You also get free DVR to record the basketball games live to watch a replay back on-demand later.
Other streaming options include Hulu + Live TV and Sling Orange + Blue (depending on your local TV market). NBA on Christmas Day also livestreams on NBA League Pass for subscribers only.
NBA Christmas Day Schedule 2025
The first game of this year’s NBA Christmas Day broadcast features the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with a start time of 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
The second game features the San Antonio Spurs taking on defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
The third Christmas Day NBA game features the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, with a start time of at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Prime time coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets paying a visit to LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA on Christmas Day slate concludes with at 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off time for the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Denver Nuggets.
watch NBA on Christmas Day on DirecTV STReam
In addition to the regular action on the court, the NBA will once again be airing the kid-friendly broadcast called “Dunk the Halls” for the Cavs vs. Knicks game. If you want to watch Daisy Duck and the gang talking basketball with NBA players, it airs on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+.
BUY NBA ON CHRISTMAS DAY TICKETS
Last-minute tickets to the Christmas Day NBA games, meantime, are still available on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats. Use Variety’s exclusive promo code VR30 to take $30 off your purchase at VividSeats.com.