NBA Christmas Games on TV and Streaming: Full Schedule
The NBA plays five games on Christmas Day, and every one of them is on ABC and ESPN, with streaming in the ESPN app. The day tips off at noon ET with a Finals rematch at Madison Square Garden and ends with Nuggets at Warriors at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Because one TV partner has the whole slate, one setup covers all five games. Here's the schedule, the ways to watch on TV, with an antenna or by streaming, and what it costs.
All five Christmas games in one app
ESPN Unlimited streams every ESPN network plus ESPN on ABC in the ESPN app, the streaming home the NBA lists for every Christmas Day game.
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle: $35.99/mo with ads, plus tax where applicable.
The Christmas TV and streaming schedule
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spurs at Knicks | 12 p.m. 9 a.m. PT | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app |
| Heat at Celtics | 2:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m. PT | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app |
| 76ers at Lakers | 5 p.m. 2 p.m. PT | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app |
| Thunder at Timberwolves | 8 p.m. 5 p.m. PT | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app |
| Nuggets at Warriors | 10:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. PT | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app |
All times ET, as listed by the NBA (checked Nov. 12, 2026). Both ABC and ESPN carry every game, so pick whichever channel you get. ESPN Radio has the first two games.
The five Christmas Day matchups
- Spurs at Knicks, Madison Square Garden. The defending champion New York Knicks host San Antonio in a rematch of the NBA Finals, with Finals MVP Jalen Brunson facing Victor Wembanyama. NBA.com counts it as the Knicks' 59th Christmas game.
- Heat at Celtics. Giannis Antetokounmpo plays his first Christmas game for Miami, against Jayson Tatum and Boston. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is 9-0 on Christmas, according to NBA.com.
- 76ers at Lakers. LeBron James returns to Los Angeles for the first time since joining Philadelphia, against Luka Dončić and the Lakers. No player has appeared in more Christmas games.
- Thunder at Timberwolves. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City visit Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball in Minnesota's first Christmas Day home game.
- Nuggets at Warriors. The nightcap puts Nikola Jokić against Stephen Curry. NBA.com says it's Golden State's 14th straight Christmas game.
How to watch on TV and streaming
ABC with an antenna. ABC is a broadcast network, so all five games air on your local ABC station. An over-the-air antenna gets them wherever you pick up that station, with no subscription.
Cable, satellite and live TV streaming. Any package that includes ESPN or your local ABC station has the whole slate. With certain providers, the same login also unlocks the games in the ESPN app.
The ESPN app. The NBA lists the ESPN app for every ABC and ESPN game. Without a TV provider, you need ESPN Unlimited, which Disney says includes all of ESPN's networks plus ESPN on ABC. Check that your plan says Unlimited: ESPN Select, the plan formerly called ESPN+, is a separate tier. Disney also says eligible bundle subscribers can stream ESPN in the Disney+ app.
NBA League Pass. League Pass covers games that aren't on a national platform or in your local market, so it doesn't carry the Christmas games live. Our League Pass guide explains how its blackouts work.
What the games cost
Prices checked Nov. 12, 2026 on Disney's ESPN Unlimited page. They're monthly, before tax where applicable, and can change.
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna | No subscription | All five games on your local ABC station where you get an ABC signal |
| Cable, satellite or live TV streaming | Your current package | All five games on ABC and ESPN ESPN app with your provider sign-in, for certain providers |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle | $35.99/mo with ads $44.99/mo Premium |
All five games in the ESPN app ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN on ABC |
| ESPN Unlimited add-on | $31.99/mo extra | For an existing Disney+, Hulu plan same ESPN access as above |
What we found: The simplest setup for Christmas
With every game on ABC and ESPN, there's no service-hopping, unlike the NFL's Christmas schedule. The question is only whether you already have one of those two channels. Here's what we'd do.
You have cable, satellite or a live TV service
What you get Nothing extra. Any package with ESPN or your local ABC station has all five games, since both channels carry every game.
Good to know To watch on a phone or in another room, sign in to the ESPN app with your TV provider. ESPN says this works with certain providers.
An antenna and nothing else
What you get All five games, wherever you pick up a local ABC station. The FCC's DTV reception maps show which stations reach your address.
Good to know Extra cost: $0. You won't get the ESPN app this way, so you watch on the TV the antenna is connected to.
Streaming only
What you get One month of the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle ($35.99 with ads) covers all five games in the ESPN app.
Good to know Disney says you can cancel anytime, effective at the end of the billing period. If you already pay for Disney+ and Hulu, the ESPN Unlimited add-on is $31.99 a month.
If you have an antenna, you're set for the full day. Streaming only makes sense if you want the games on a phone or tablet, or you don't get a clear ABC signal.
Other NBA games over the holidays
Christmas Day is a five-game ABC and ESPN slate, but it isn't the only big date in December. NBC Sports runs Holiday Hoops from Dec. 21 to 29, with seven games on NBC and Peacock, and the NBA Cup Championship is on Dec. 11 on Prime Video. Find tip-off times and channels for every game in our NBA TV and streaming schedule, and see how to watch the NBA Cup for the knockout rounds.
The NFL also plays on Christmas Day, on different services. Our guide to the NFL Christmas games has kickoff times and where to watch, and today's basketball on TV lists every game on the air.
NBA Christmas FAQs
What time are the NBA Christmas games?
The five games tip off at 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET. That's 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. PT.
What channel are the NBA Christmas Day games on?
All five games air on both ABC and ESPN, and they stream in the ESPN app.
Are the Christmas games on NBC, Peacock or Prime Video?
No. Christmas Day belongs to ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app. NBC and Peacock carry the separate Holiday Hoops games from Dec. 21 to 29.
Can I watch the NBA Christmas games with an antenna?
Yes. ABC is a broadcast network, so an antenna picks up all five games wherever you get a signal from your local ABC station.
Are the Christmas games on NBA League Pass?
No. The NBA says League Pass shows games that aren't on a national platform or in your local market, and all five Christmas games are national games on ABC and ESPN.
How do I stream the NBA Christmas games?
Use the ESPN app. Sign in with a TV provider that includes ESPN, or subscribe to ESPN Unlimited, which includes ESPN on ABC. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle is $35.99 a month with ads.
Are there other NBA games during Christmas week?
Yes. NBC Sports has seven Holiday Hoops games from Dec. 21 to 29, six on NBC and Peacock and one only on Peacock and NBCSN.
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