NBA Christmas is upon us! For the 15th straight year, basketball fans get to unwrap the gift of five NBA games on Christmas Day, a tradition that will never get old.
From the first tip-off at noon ET to the final buzzer past the midnight hour on the East Coast, the NBA's marquee stars and teams will take center stage, making for a Christmas Day slate that has it all. The day opens with two of the league's hottest teams at the world's most famous arena and continues with a series of rivalries, including two rematches from the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Vote now for your favorite NBA All-Star starters!
Of course, you can't have the NBA's marquee stars without the back-to-back MVP in action, as Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets end the night by hosting the Suns in a rematch from the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
Ahead of the NBA's holiday slate, we've got you covered with everything you need to know about NBA Christmas, including the schedule, how to watch, key injuries and a look back at the history of the NBA on Christmas Day.
Click to go to a section below: Schedule | How to watch | Game previews | Injury report | NBA Christmas history | Best Christmas games
NBA Christmas Day 2022 schedule
| Game | Time (ET) | Location | TV |
| 76ers at Knicks | 12 p.m. | Madison Square Garden | ABC, ESPN |
| Lakers at Mavericks | 2:30 p.m. | American Airlines Center | ABC, ESPN |
| Bucks at Celtics | 5 p.m. | TD Garden | ABC, ESPN |
| Grizzlies at Warriors | 8 p.m. | Chase Center | ABC, ESPN |
| Suns at Nuggets | 10:30 p.m. | Ball Arena | ABC, ESPN |
How to watch NBA Christmas Day 2022 games on TV
In the United States, each of the five NBA Christmas Day games in 2022 will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN. In addition to the television broadcasts, viewers with a cable subscription can stream all five NBA Christmas games on ESPN.com or the ESPN app.
If you've cut the cord, you can stream 76ers vs. Knicks with a subscription to ESPN+, which will offer a special "NBA in Stephen A.'s World" broadcast with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.
Viewers in the United States without a cable subscription can stream all five NBA Christmas Day games with a subscription to Sling TV.
NBA Christmas Day 2022 games
76ers vs. Knicks, 12 p.m. ET
| 76ers on Christmas | Knicks on Christmas | |
| Record: | 18-14 | 23-31 |
| Most recent game: | 2019 (76ers 121, Bucks 109) | 2021 (Knicks 101, Hawks 87) |
| Single-game scoring high: | 41 points — Billy Cunnigham, 1969 | 60 points — Bernard King, 1981 |
Lakers vs. Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET
| Lakers on Christmas | Mavericks on Christmas | |
| Record: | 24-24 | 2-3 |
| Most recent game: | 2021 (Nets 122, Lakers 115) | 2021 (Jazz 120, Mavericks 116) |
| Single-game scoring high: | 47 points — Jerry West, 1963 | 31 points — Dirk Nowitzki, 2003 |
Bucks vs. Celtics, 5 p.m. ET
| Bucks on Christmas | Celtics on Christmas | |
| Record: | 5-3 | 15-20 |
| Most recent game: | 2021 (Bucks 117, Celtics 113) | 2021 (Bucks 117, Celtics 113) |
| Single-game scoring high: | 38 points — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1971 (OT) | 45 points — Tom Heihnsohn, 1961 |
Grizzlies vs. Warriors, 8 p.m.
| Grizzlies on Christmas | Warriors on Christmas | |
| Record: | 0-0 | 14-17 |
| Most recent game: | — | 2021 (Warriors 116, Suns 107) |
| Single-game scoring high: | — | 59 points — Wilt Chamberlain, 1961 (2OT) |
Suns vs. Nuggets, 10:30 p.m.
| Suns on Christmas | Nuggets on Christmas | |
| Record: | 12-7 | 1-6 |
| Most recent game: | 2021 (Warriors 116, Suns 107) | 2020 (Clippers 121, Nuggets 108) |
| Single-game scoring high: | 38 points — Charles Barkley, 1993 | 37 points — Dan Issel, 1979 |
Notable players with injuries on NBA Christmas Day 2022
| Team | Player | Status | Reason |
| 76ers | Tyrese Maxey | Out | Left foot fracture |
| Knicks | Quentin Grimes | Right ankle sprain | |
| Obi Toppin | Out | Non-displaced right fibula head fracture | |
| Lakers | Anthony Davis | Out | Right foot sprain |
| Juan Toscano-Anderson | Right ankle sprain | ||
| Russell Westbrook | |||
| Mavericks | Maxi Kleber | Out | Right hamstring tear |
| Bucks | Khris Middleton | ||
| Celtics | Danilo Gallinari | Out | Left ACL surgery recovery |
| Grizzlies | Desmond Bane | Right big toe sprain | |
| Danny Green | Out | Left ACL surgery recovery | |
| Warriors | Stephen Curry | Out | Left shoulder subluxation |
| Andre Iguodala | Left hip injury management | ||
| Andrew Wiggins | Right adductor strain | ||
| Suns | Cameron Johnson | Out | Right meniscus tear |
| Jae Crowder | Out | Not with team | |
| Nuggets | Michael Porter Jr. | Left heel strain |
History of NBA Christmas Day Games
NBA Christmas Day records
| Single game | All-time | |
| Points | 60 – Bernard King, 1984 | 422 – LeBron James (16 games) |
| Rebounds | 36 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961 | 176 – Bill Russell (8 games) |
| Assists | 18 – Nate Archibald, 1972 | 145 – Oscar Robertson (12 games) |
| Steals | 7 – Kyrie Irving, 2016 | 29 – Russell Westbrook (11 games) |
| Blocks | 8 – DeAndre Jordan, 2011 | 25 – Shaquille O'Neal (13 games) |
| 3-pointers | 8 – Patty Mills, 2021 | 28 – LeBron James (16 games) |
| Free Throws | 22 – Bernard King, 1984 | 125 – Oscar Robertson (12 games) |
NBA Christmas Day 2022 milestone watch
- The Grizzlies play on Christmas for the first time in franchise history
- The Knicks play on Christmas for a league-leading 54th time
- LeBron James can surpass Kobe Bryant for most games played on Christmas Day with 17
- LeBron James is tied with Dwyane Wade for most wins on Christmas Day with 10. With a win, James would become the sole leader of wins on the holiday.
- James Harden (26) trails LeBron James (28) for most 3-pointers made on Christmas Day, a record that could switch possession this year.
NBA Christmas Day 2021 results
| Game | Location |
| Knicks 101, Hawks 87 | Madison Square Garden |
| Bucks 117, Celtics 113 | Fiserv Forum |
| Warriors 116, Suns 107 | Footprint Center |
| Nets 122, Lakers 115 | Crypto.com Arena |
| Jazz 120, Mavericks 116 | Vivint Arena |
Best Christmas Day games in NBA history
2021: Bucks 117, Celtics 113
2016: Cavaliers 109, Warriors 108
2011: Bulls 88, Lakers 87
1994: Bulls 107, Knicks 104 (OT)
1986: Knicks 86, Bulls 85
Michael Jordan (30 PTS, 6 STL) and Patrick Ewing (28 PTS, 17 REB, Game-winner) had a memorable Christmas Day duel in 1986! #NBAVault #NBAXmas tips off 12/25 with games all day on ABC & ESPN pic.twitter.com/W1IKqy7WfP
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) December 16, 2022
