Christmas Day sports schedule: When and how to watch every NFL and NBA game on Dec. 25
- - Christmas Day sports schedule: When and how to watch every NFL and NBA game on Dec. 25
Chris CwikDecember 23, 2025 at 10:37 PM
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When Andy Williams wrote the lyrics to "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" in 1963, it's unlikely he had sports on his mind. But sports fans have been given a few extra presents the past few years, as both the NBA and NFL have made a habit of playing games on the holiday.
This year is no different. Both the NFL and NBA will play multiple games Dec. 25, giving sports fans a (mostly) entire day of sports to watch ... you know, in between watching your favorite holiday movies.
Here's how the sports schedule breaks down for Christmas Day, including when and how to watch every NBA and NFL game taking place Dec. 25.
Christmas Day sports schedule
All times Eastern
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m.)
The NBA likes to prioritize marquee matchups between premier franchises on Christmas, and the first game of the day is no exception. The NBA Cup-winning New York Knicks will host a Cleveland Cavaliers team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.
The Cavs have struggled to live up to last year's expectations so far, and find themselves much farther down the standings. A nationally-televised game against the surging Knicks could be exactly what the Cavaliers need to get the season back on track.
NFL: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders (1 p.m.)
The NFL also aims to promote premium matchups on Christmas, but — as you're about to see — things didn't work out so well for the league this season.
While the Dallas Cowboys remain arguably the most popular NFL team, the team is having a down year. At 6-8-1, Dallas has already been eliminated from the playoffs. They'll travel to face off against the even-more-disappointing Washington Commanders, who sit at 4-11 after an injury-riddled regression year from quarterback Jayden Daniels.
NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m.)
The second game on the NBA slate could be the best of the day — in either sport. Weeks after narrowly dispatching the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup, the San Antonio Spurs will attempt to prove they can do it again.
In a season that has so far been dominated by the Thunder, the upstart Spurs have emerged as one of the few teams that have taken down the defending champs. The return of Victor Wembanyama played a major role in the Spurs beating the Thunder earlier in the month. It will now be up to Wembanyama to prove he can do it again.
There should be more at stake for the Thunder this time around, though, especially after Wembanyama's "ethical basketball" comment following the Spurs' upset over the Thunder in the NBA Cup.
NFL: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings (4:30 p.m.)
The second NFL game of the day features two of the more disappointing teams in the sport this season. The swap to JJ McCarthy has proven rockier than expected, as the Minnesota Vikings currently sit in last place in the NFC North heading into the contest.
The Detroit Lions aren't too far ahead of the Vikings, though. Following a last-play loss in Week 16, the Lions need a win on Christmas to stay alive for a playoff spot. Even if the team wins, its chances of making the postseason are extremely slim.
A loss, however, would actually drop the Lions into last place in the NFC North. That would represent a miserable outcome for a team that entered the year as one of the strongest Super Bowl contenders in the NFC.
NBA: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors (5 p.m.)
It's past vs. future in the third game on the NBA slate. Dallas Mavericks rookie — and No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — Cooper Flagg will travel to California to take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Flagg's NBA career got off to a bit of a slow start, but it didn't take the rookie too long to find his footing. After averaging 13.4 points in his first five NBA games, Flagg jumped that figure up to 20 points per game in his next 23 contests. He's also upped his assists and rebounds per game over that stretch, and is looking like the player the Mavericks expected when they chose Flagg with the top pick in the draft.
But taking down the veteran Warriors won't be an easy task. Flagg will have to face Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in the matchup. And while the Warriors haven't performed like an elite team this year, that trio is still capable of putting up numbers every single game.
NBA: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m.)
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James isn't exactly excited about playing on Christmas Day, but the league wants to feature the 40-year-old in what could be his final season. James and Luka Dončić will host the Houston Rockets in the fourth NBA game of the day.
Houston's offseason trade for star Kevin Durant has paid major dividends so far. Durant, 37, leads the team with 25.3 points per game. He continues to play excellent basketball despite his age and previous injuries.
Durant and James are among the best players of their era. This could be one of the final few opportunities fans have to see both players square off in an important matchup ... until the playoffs.
NFL: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m.)
The NFL had good intentions when it scheduled the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the primetime game on Christmas. The league likely envisioned an important division matchup after both teams won double-digit games last season.
On the Broncos’ end, the league nailed it. Denver has been even better in Bo Nix's second season. After losing to the surging Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, the Broncos will look to get back on track against one of their most-hated opponents.
Unfortunately for the NFL, the Chiefs didn't hold up their side of the bargain. Kansas City was a disappointment before Week 15, but the team really declined since then. Patrick Mahomes is out for the season following a torn ACL and his backup, Gardner Minshew, may also be sidelined due to the same injury. That could lead to the Chiefs starting their third-string option against a tenacious Broncos defense in Week 17.
It's safe to say the NFL didn't expect that when it made the 2025 schedule.
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m.)
To cap the day off, the NBA will give fans a rematch of a tremendous playoff series from two years ago. The Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to play the Denver Nuggets in Colorado.
That playoff series went the distance, as the Timberwolves took the Nuggets to seven games before pulling off the upset. It was a tremendous series, which saw Nikola Jokic trying to lead his team to its second-straight NBA Finals appearance and Anthony Edwards announcing to the NBA world that he was ready to make the Timberwolves a perennial contender in the East.
Fans looking for a rematch last season nearly got it, but the Nuggets fell just short of knocking off the Thunder in the semifinals.
With both the Nuggets and Timberwolves out to strong starts once again, this game could also prove to be a preview of a possible playoff series months down the road.
Christmas Day NBA games
All times Eastern
All five NBA games on Christmas Day will air on either ESPN and ABC.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks at noon (on ESPN and ABC)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors at 5 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. (on ESPN and ABC)
Christmas Day NFL games
All times Eastern
All first two NFL games airing on Christmas Day will be available to watch on Netflix. The Broncos-Chiefs game will air on Amazon Prime Video.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. (on Netflix)
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 p.m. (on Netflix)
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. (on Prime Video)
While both college football and the NHL play games around Christmas, neither sport will play on the holiday. College football games will resume Dec. 26, while the NHL will return to action the following day, with multiple games scheduled for Dec. 27.
Source: “AOL Sports”
