With Christmas Day almost upon us, it’s important that we recognize something that is as fundamental to Christmas as Santa Claus: the NBA. Ever since the league’s second season in 1947, NBA games on Christmas is an annual American tradition. In light of the holiday season, Christmas Day has become the NBA’s outlet to showcase the league’s top markets and key matchups. We all know that the game everyone is frantically awaiting is the rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. This year will mark the third season in a row that the Cavs and the Warriors have met on Christmas day. Not only have these two teams consecutively met on Christmas, but they have also met in the last three NBA finals and are the favorites to meet once again this season. Within the past two Christmases, the home team has always won the match. In 2015, the Warriors won 93-89, and in 2016, the Cavs won 109-108 thanks to Kyrie Irving’s game-winning shot. This year, the Warriors will be hosting the Christmas game, and we are all eager to see whether or not this home-winning streak will be maintained.
Here are the five NBA games to watch this Christmas:
Although these holiday basketball specials are the premier sporting events of Christmas, this year, they will be accompanied by a couple of other exciting sporting events. Along with the NBA games that will commence this coming Christmas, NFL games will also be occurring. Although most of the NFL games will happen on Christmas Eve—which is usually the case—this year, sports fans can get an extra Christmas treat in addition to the best regular season NBA matchups of the year.
Two NFL games to watch on Christmas Day:
Steelers vs. Texans – 4:30 p.m.
Raiders vs. Eagles – 8:30 p.m.
