How to see the full list of 2024 NBA Christmas games for free

Christmas may be the holiest day of the year for NBA fans.

Every December 25, the league schedules five huge games, and once again, Adam Silver and co. has not disappointed.

Starting at noon EST, the red-hot New York Knicks take on the visiting San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. This rematch of the 1999 Finals is a showcase for two of basketball’s preeminent centers, Karl Anthony-Towns and Victor Wembanyama. The pair have an average of 24.5 and 24.7 points per game respectively.

2.5 short hours later, Towns’ former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, will face off against the 2023-24 Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks. The clubs last met on October 29, and Minny ran away with a 120-114 victory behind a 37-point performance from Anthony Edwards. Kyrie Irving had 35 for the Mavs.

After the game ends, Eastern Conference foes take the field. The 2023-24 NBA champion Boston Celtics will battle the Philadelphia 76ers at 5:00 PM EST. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are sitting pretty with an impressive 22-6 record, while Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have led the Sixers to a less-than-stellar 9-17 mark. A win here would be a huge morale boost for the club.

If you’re still around, you’ll want to catch future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Steph Curry when their Lakers and Warriors square off at 8:00 PM EST. With both legends coming up there for years — James turns 40 on Dec. 30 and Steph turns 37 in March — this could be the last Christmas Classic with these hardwood heroes.

Finally, Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns and Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets close out the hoops marathon with a 10:30 PM EST contest. Mike Budenholzer’s Suns have lost two straight to a pair of sub .500 Eastern Conference teams and could use a win as they move further and further away from a playoff spot. Fortunately, Devin Booker can return and give the team the Christmas miracle they so desperately need.

If you want to watch basketball all day, here’s everything you need to know about every NBA Christmas Day game, from kickoff time and channel to how to watch for free.

NBA Christmas Day game times:

There are five NBA games airing back-to-back on Christmas Day.

  • 12:30 p.m. ET – San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
  • 2:30 p.m. ET – Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks
  • 5 p.m. ET – Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
  • 8 p.m. ET – Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
  • 10:30 p.m. ET – Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns

What channel are the NBA Christmas games on?

All five games will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

How to watch NBA Christmas Day games:

If you want to watch any of the NBA Christmas games without cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries ABC or ESPN (these include Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV Stream, and Sling Orange). You can also tune in using ESPN+ for just $10.99/month.

How to watch the US Grand Prix for free:

If you want to watch for free, there are a few streaming options available with free trials for new users; we like DIRECTV Stream, which comes with five days free before $86.98/month payments begin.

ESPN+ and Disney Package:

If you want to save a few bucks each month by bundling together some streaming services to watch the NBA this Christmas, consider the Disney bundle. For just $16.99/month you get access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu with ads, and for an additional $10/month you can remove ads.

How to watch NBA Christmas Day games from anywhere:

If you’re outside the US or unable to watch NBA Christmas Day games in your area, consider a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Whether you’re traveling or living abroad, using a VPN allows you to stream live TV and your favorite shows and movies using your usual streaming services without any restrictions. A VPN lets you change the IP address of your device so you can access your favorite apps and websites, whether you’re in the UK, Canada, Mexico or anywhere in the world.

Using a VPN is easy…

  • Choose a VPN that best suits your needs
  • Download the software on your device
  • Select a country as your new virtual location
  • Log in to the streaming service that carries the title and start watching your favorite series and movies anywhere

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