The NBA’s 2026 Christmas Day schedule will function 5 video games, together with LeBron James’ return to Los Angeles with the Philadelphia 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first Christmas matchup with the Miami Warmth. Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the five-game slate will air throughout ABC and ESPN.
The Christmas Day schedule is Spurs at Knicks, Warmth at Celtics, 76ers at Lakers, Thunder at Timberwolves and Nuggets at Warriors.
Essentially the most outstanding reunion is available in Los Angeles, the place James will face the Lakers after leaving the franchise in free agency for Philadelphia. James spent eight seasons with Los Angeles and helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship.
Philadelphia may even deliver one other main change to the matchup. Jaylen Brown joined the 76ers in a trade with Boston, establishing a Christmas assembly along with his former crew later within the season when Philadelphia visits the Celtics.
The 76ers completed the 2025-26 common season 45-37, seventh within the Japanese Convention, earlier than advancing by way of the primary spherical by defeating Boston 4-3. Their postseason ended within the convention semifinals, the place the Knicks swept Philadelphia 4-0.
The Lakers completed fourth within the Western Convention at 53-29 earlier than being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. Los Angeles gained 53 video games final season, whereas Philadelphia gained 45, giving the Christmas matchup two groups that reached the second spherical.
Miami’s go to to Boston will function one other main offseason storyline. The Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade, including the two-time MVP to a roster that went 43-39 and completed tenth within the East in the course of the 2025-26 common season.
Boston completed second within the convention at 56-26 however misplaced to Philadelphia in seven video games within the opening spherical. The Celtics will subsequently face Antetokounmpo after dropping Brown, their former cornerstone, to Philadelphia.
The Christmas slate additionally features a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals, with San Antonio visiting New York. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 4-1 within the Finals, winning Game 5 in San Antonio 94-90 to secure the championship.
The Spurs completed the common season 62-20, second within the West, whereas New York went 53-29 and completed third within the East. San Antonio reached the Finals after defeating Oklahoma City 4-3 in the Western Conference finals, whereas the Knicks swept Cleveland 4-0 in the East.
Oklahoma Metropolis will go to Minnesota in one other matchup between Western Convention playoff groups. The Thunder posted the NBA’s greatest regular-season file at 64-18, whereas Minnesota went 49-33 and reached the convention semifinals earlier than losing to San Antonio 4-2.
The ultimate Christmas sport pairs Denver and Golden State. The Nuggets completed third within the West at 54-28, whereas the Warriors went 37-45 and entered the playoffs by way of the play-in match.
Charania additionally reported that the common season will open Oct. 20 with a triple-header. Philadelphia will go to New York, Oklahoma Metropolis will go to San Antonio and Detroit will face Boston within the afternoon, with the opening-night video games airing on NBC.
