NBA Christmas Day 2022: How to watch, all-time records, best games & more

Gilbert McGregor

NBA Christmas Day 2022: How to watch, all-time records, best games & more image

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

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.