Thu Dec 25 19:40:00 UTC 2025: News Article:

Christmas Day a Feast for Sports Fans: NBA and NFL Games Fill the Holiday Schedule

For sports enthusiasts across the United States, Christmas Day promises a full day of thrilling NBA and NFL action. From midday tip-offs to late-night gridiron battles, the holiday schedule is packed with exciting matchups and star-studded halftime entertainment.

The NBA festivities begin at noon Eastern time as the New York Knicks, riding high from their NBA Cup victory, host the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are striving to recapture their Eastern Conference dominance. Later, at 2:30 PM Eastern, the San Antonio Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The evening continues with a pair of marquee matchups: the Dallas Mavericks, led by their highly touted rookie Cooper Flagg, take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at 5 PM Eastern. Then, at 8 PM Eastern, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will play against the Houston Rockets. The NBA night concludes with a rematch between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 PM Eastern.

Football fans can get their fix between basketball games. The Dallas Cowboys face the Washington Commanders at 1 PM Eastern, followed by the Detroit Lions versus the Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 PM Eastern. The day culminates in an AFC West showdown at 8:15 PM Eastern between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Adding to the spectacle, the games will feature an array of halftime performances. Snoop Dogg headlines “Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party”, other performer include Lainey Wilson, HUNTR/X (K-Pop Demon Hunters), and George Clinton.

Viewers can catch all five NBA games on ESPN and ABC. The Cowboys-Commanders and Lions-Vikings NFL games will stream on Netflix, while the Broncos-Chiefs game will be available on Amazon Prime Video.

Here’s a rundown of the Christmas Day schedule:

  • NBA:
    • Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks — 12:00 p.m. ET
    • San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 2:30 p.m. ET
    • Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors — 5:00 p.m. ET
    • Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 8:00 p.m. ET
    • Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets — 10:30 p.m. ET
  • NFL:
    • Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders — 1:00 p.m. ET
    • Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings — 4:30 p.m. ET
    • Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs — 8:15 p.m. ET

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