Celebrating the holidays with a helping of basketball and football

Excluding one lockout-cancelled holiday in 1998, the NBA’s top teams have faced off on December 25th every year since 1947, just a year after the formation of the Basketball Association of America (which later became the NBA).

Fast forward 20 years later to the LA Lakers taking on the San Diego Rockets in the first nationally televised Christmas Day game, marking the start of a long tradition of games watched with full stomachs and festive cheer.

Tomorrow kicks off with a 12 p.m. ET start to a stacked five-game lineup, promising star power, playoff rivalries, and classic matchups. A Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

🫒 San Antonio Spurs vs. NY Knicks at 12 p.m. ET: Keep an eye out for Spurs’ rising star and defending Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, as he plays in the iconic hoops arena on Christmas Day. Wembanyama is set to create his own memorable Christmas moment against the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson.

🧀 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. ET: Expect high energy in this Western Conference Finals rematch as the dynamic duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić aim to outplay the Timberwolves led by Anthony Edwards.

🍠 Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics at 5 p.m. ET: Despite a slow start for the Sixers, this matchup promises excitement between two historic rivals, with the defending champion Celtics looking to dominate.

🍗 LA Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. ET: A battle of two basketball legends as LeBron James and Stephen Curry face off, showcasing their timeless talent.

🥧 Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns at 10:30 p.m. ET: Watch as Nikola Jokić and Kevin Durant lead their teams in a showdown of MVP caliber performances.

The NFL is not missing out on the holiday fun either. For the first time in league history, Christmas Day will see football action on a Wednesday.

Traditionally, the NFL scheduled games on Christmas only when the holiday fell on a regular football playing day (Sunday, Monday, or Thursday), which has been the case in recent years.

The league adamantly refused to arrange games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, citing player safety concerns and potential disruptions to team preparations and player recovery. To address this ahead of the upcoming games, all four teams playing on Christmas Day competed last Saturday instead of Sunday.

Two exciting NFL games await football fans on Christmas Day, bringing in significant revenue for the league. Let’s dive into the second part of the day’s sports offerings.

On this football-filled Christmas Day, the NFL presents:

4️⃣ Four AFC teams ready to play

3️⃣ Three superstar performances by Pentatonix, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé

2️⃣ Two intense games:

🎁 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET: The Chiefs aim to secure the AFC’s top seed by defeating the Steelers, who are also fighting for a division title.

🎁 Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET: Lovers of music and football will enjoy an epic showdown between the Ravens and Texans.

1️⃣ All day filled with football excitement.