NBA on Christmas: Schedule, times, TV info, how to watch league's annual holiday showcase

There’s at least one NBA MVP playing in every Christmas game Monday: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant.

The past four NBA champions are also featured: Denver, Golden State, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has not lost in eight Christmas Day games.

It’s the Knicks playing on Christmas for the 56th time and 48th time in New York City. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style.”

James is the all-time leading scorer in Christmas games with 460 points and can break a tie with Dwyane Wade for most Christmas victories. They have 10 though Wade has the better winning percentage – .769 to James’ .588. With his 119 assists on Christmas, James can also get closer to Oscar Robertson’s record of 145. With three steals, he can tie Russell Westbrook (29) for No. 1 on Christmas, and with three 3-pointers he can tie James Harden (31) for most Christmas 3s.

Let’s look at the matchups with times, TV info and predictions:

NBA Christmas Day games

Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks

Time: 12 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Where: Madison Square Garden

Why you should watch: Bucks stars Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard help form one of the best offenses, and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored a career-high 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15, is headed toward his first All-Star appearance.

Prediction: Knicks

Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

TV channel: ABC, ESPN

Where: Ball Arena

Why you should watch: It’s Curry and Jokic – two of the game’s best players who each have two regular-season MVPs and a Finals MVP. Both are shotmakers and playmakers extraordinaire – basketball wizardry at its finest.

Prediction: Nuggets

Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

Time: 5 p.m. ET

TV channel: ABC, ESPN

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Why you should watch: It’s Lakers-Celtics, two of the league’s storied franchises – each with a league-best 17 NBA titles. LeBron James. Anthony Davis. This is just the fifth time the Lakers and Celtics have met on Christmas (2018, 1970, 1955, 1951).

Prediction: Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Where: Kaseya Center

Why you should watch: Joel Embiid is dominating and having a better season (league-best 34.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, a career-best 6.0 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game and 53.4% from the field) than he did in 2022-23 when he won his first MVP.

Prediction: Sixers

Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Where: Footprint Center

Why you should watch: With better shooting around him, Mavs guard Luka Doncic is putting together his best all-around season and is right alongside Embiid as one of the top MVP candidates. Plus, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could put on a show for Phoenix.

Prediction: Mavericks

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt