NBA: The complete schedule for Christmas Day 2025

by Tyler Doty

image NBA: The complete schedule for Christmas Day 2025
For the 18th consecutive year, the NBA is organizing its Christmas Day event with five games scheduled for December 25, 2025. For basketball fans, here is your schedule for December 25 and 26!

12:00 p.m. ET: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Madison Square Garden is the first venue to host Christmas Day, as tradition dictates. After winning the 2025 NBA Cup a few days ago and with the playoffs just a few months away, the Knicks are positioning themselves as serious contenders for the NBA title. Second in the Eastern Conference, there is only one cloud on the horizon.

The rapid succession of games between the regular season and the NBA Cup has led to several injuries, including Guerschon Yabusele and Jalen Brunson. So, on the afternoon of the 25th, they face the Cavaliers, who are seventh in the Eastern Conference and not having the season that Evan Mobley's teammates were expected to have.

2:30 p.m. ET: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 

A rematch after the NBA Cup semifinals? The Thunder have been more than impressive this year with a record of 26 wins and 3 losses. However, their winning streak came to an end in a game against the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. This promises to be a top-of-the-table clash between two excellent teams this season, both of which consistently put on a great show.

It looks like the perfect matchup for Christmas Day, even if there is still uncertainty surrounding Wemby, who is returning from injury and has been declared doubtful. In any case, with OKC, a powerhouse since last year and still undefeated at home this season, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it's sure to be a spectacular show!

5:00 p.m. ET: Golden State Warriors - Dallas Mavericks

At Chase Center, fans have a good chance of seeing their team emerge victorious from this game! Currently eighth in the Western Conference, the Warriors are struggling to stay afloat with a balanced record in an attempt to at least make the play-in.

There are noticeable differences in performance from game to game, but Steve Kerr's men know how to put on a show when they need to. The Mavs, meanwhile, haven't been at their best since Luka Doncic left last year... They'll have to pull out all the stops to leave the Bay Area with a win.

8:00 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets  

Christmas Day in the NBA continues with a top Western Conference clash at Crypto.com Arena between the 4th and 6th-ranked teams in the Western Conference! While the matchup looks evenly balanced on paper, there are some doubts surrounding the Lakers. Although the Los Angeles franchise started the season well, it has recently suffered several defeats.

Adding to the fans' woes, Luka Doncic was sidelined with a leg injury during the game against the Clippers. The Lakers' injury list is starting to look long, and this could well impact their results against a very solid Rockets team.

10:30 p.m. ET: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 

And we end the night with the Nuggets, who are well placed in the Western Conference (in the hunt behind OKC and the Spurs). Still as effective as ever in all aspects of the game, Nikola Jokic's teammates need to keep up the momentum to widen the gap with their pursuers.

But if any team can give them a run for their money, it's the Minnesota Timberwolves. One of the few teams to have beaten Oklahoma this season, they never give up. It promises to be a great challenge at Ball Arena, with the final game of Christmas Day shaping up to be explosive and very interesting to watch!