It seems like only yesterday that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the NBA bubble in Orlando. In reality it's been a little more than two months, but nonetheless the 2020-21 NBA season is here.
This season will certainly be a little different. Teams are no longer in a bubble and will be playing in their home market in front of various sized crowds. Rosters have been expanded and the second half of the reduced 72-game schedule has yet to be released.
While the shortened offseason is certainly less than ideal for players' recovery, the move was financially motivated. Waiting to start the season until the latter parts of January potentially would have cost the NBA close to $1 billion.
MORE: Watch select NBA games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Speaking of money, some of the NBA's biggest stars (Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, etc.) inked deals in the abbreviated offseason, securing their future with a franchise for the next several seasons, unless they become unhappy like James Harden in Houston and demand a trade. The biggest deal of the break happened in Milwaukee with Giannis Antetokounmpo signing a $228 million supermax extension that could keep him with the Bucks for the next five seasons.
Despite the draft lacking much Ja Morant or Zion Williamson stardom, there's several new exciting faces to watch across the league as franchises attempt to rebuild. LaMelo Ball for Charlotte is a passing highlight reel, and how James Wiseman will mesh with the veteran Golden State Warriors is an interesting developing story.
Below you'll find a schedule for every NBA game on Tuesday and Wednesday night to open the regular season, plus live scores and TV information for the games.
MORE: Sporting News' predictions for 2020-21 NBA season
What NBA games are on Christmas in 2020?
Here's the full NBA schedule for the first three days of the regular season, plus final scores and how to watch every game live.
You can keep up with live scores and stats with SN's live scoreboard.
Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Pelicans vs. Heat | Noon | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Warriors vs. Bucks | 2:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV |
| Nets vs. Celtics | 5 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV |
| Mavericks vs. Lakers | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN, fuboTV |
| Clippers vs. Nuggets | 10:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV |
How to watch, live stream NBA games
The NBA regular season tips off with four nationally-televised games over the first two days before a five-game slate on Christmas with each game on either ESPN or ABC.
On Tuesday, the new-look Nets hosts Golden State in Game 1 of a TNT doubleheader. It will be Kevin Durant's first game since leaving the Warriors after the 2018-19 season and sitting out all of last season with an Achilles injury. The doubleheader concludes with the defending champion Lakers hosting Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Both games can be streamed on the Watch TNT app.
Wednesday features two more nationally televised games, this time on ESPN. The Bucks travel to Boston for a potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals at 7:30 p.m., before coverage heads to Phoenix where Chris Paul, Devin Booker and the Suns host Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Both games can be streamed on the Watch ESPN app.
NBA scores
Tuesday, Dec. 22 results
| Game |
| Warriors vs. Nets |
| Clippers vs. Lakers |
Wednesday, Dec. 23 results
| Game |
| Hornets vs. Cavaliers |
| Knicks vs. Pacers |
| Heat vs. Magic |
| Wizards vs. 76ers |
| Bucks vs. Celtics |
| Pelicans vs. Raptors |
| Hawks vs. Bulls |
| Thunder vs. Rockets |
| Spurs vs. Grizzlies |
| Pistons vs. Timberwolves |
| Kings vs. Nuggets |
| Jazz vs. Trail Blazers |
| Mavericks vs. Suns |
Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) results
| Game |
| Pelicans vs. Heat |
| Warriors vs. Bucks |
| Nets vs. Celtics |
| Mavericks vs. Lakers |
| Clippers vs. Nuggets |