What time is NBA Christmas Day 2026 on?
ABC · Five live games through the day; time shown is the first tip-off · Checked 2026-10-29
Quick answer
NBA Christmas Day 2026 comes out on ABC on Friday, December 25, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT).
Countdown:
In your time zone: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Date
- Friday, December 25, 2026
- Where
- ABC
- Runtime
- live, from 12 p.m. to about 1 a.m. ET
- Available in
- US
NBA Christmas Day 2026 release time in every country
| Country | Time zone | Release time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Eastern (ET) (EST) | 12 p.m., Fri, Dec 25 | ABC |
| Pacific (PT) (PST) | 9 a.m., Fri, Dec 25 |
Times are converted from the platform's announced release time, including daylight-saving changes in each country.
About NBA Christmas Day 2026
The NBA's Christmas Day 2026 slate is five games on Friday, December 25, all on ABC, starting at noon ET and running into the night. It opens with the San Antonio Spurs at the New York Knicks, a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals, followed by Heat at Celtics, 76ers at Lakers, where LeBron James returns to Los Angeles with Philadelphia, Thunder at Timberwolves, the Wolves' first Christmas home game, and Nuggets at Warriors to close. It is the 19th straight season with a five-game Christmas schedule.
What to know
- Spurs at Knicks 12 p.m. ET; Heat at Celtics 2:30 p.m. ET; 76ers at Lakers 5 p.m. ET; Thunder at Timberwolves 8 p.m. ET; Nuggets at Warriors 10:30 p.m. ET.
- All five games are on ABC; local listings also show the opener on ESPN.
- In Pacific time the games are at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- The Knicks are the defending champions after beating the Spurs in the 2026 Finals.
- Runtime: live, from 12 p.m. to about 1 a.m. ET.
Common questions
What time are the NBA Christmas games in 2026?
Spurs at Knicks at 12 p.m. ET, Heat at Celtics at 2:30 p.m., 76ers at Lakers at 5 p.m., Thunder at Timberwolves at 8 p.m. and Nuggets at Warriors at 10:30 p.m. ET, all on Friday, December 25.
What channel are the NBA Christmas games on?
All five are on ABC.
What time is the Lakers game on Christmas?
76ers at Lakers tips off at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on ABC.
What time is the Knicks game on Christmas?
Spurs at Knicks opens the day at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT on ABC.
Sources
- FOX Sports: 2026 NBA Christmas games schedule, matchups and start times
- NBC Washington: NBA Christmas schedule 2026
Last checked 2026-10-29. See how we check release times.
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