From title matchups to potential Finals previews, discover which five holiday showdowns deliver the most festive NBA action and star power.
Christmas has long been the NBA's tentpole day of the regular season.
The league began playing games in 1947, just the second year of the NBA's existence. Ever since 2008, the tradition of spotlighting 10 of the league's best teams and biggest superstars in five marquee matchups has become an annual event. It's considered an honor just to be selected to play on the holiday and that prestigious distinction is why every NBA team, player and fanbase strives for a Christmas Day game.
When the 2025 Christmas Day slate was leaked in the offseason, as always, there were fans that felt their team was snubbed and critics of some of the matchups. But to be honest, the NBA kind of nailed it this year. All five games should be highly entertaining and the league's star power will be front and center while families open presents and finish off their Christmas lunch around the television.
2025 Christmas Day Game Rankings
5. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors. Sure, the Mavs have a losing record and are teetering between the play-in and tank time. Okay, the Warriors are the definition of mediocre at exactly .500. But #1 overall pick Cooper Flagg has lived up to all the hype lately. And Steph Curry is still pure entertainment and one of the sport's all-time icons.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks. The Cavs have disappointed, party due to injuries and party due to nobody knows why. But they should still be one of the East's contenders when the dust settles. The Knicks look every bit the part of the preseason East favorite. Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson is a fun battle between the smallest 30 point scorers in the sport.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets. One of the NBA's best current rivalries and two of the league's best teams. The regular and postseason series between these two ball clubs always brings fireworks. Anthony Edwards is one of NBA's biggest personalities and flashiest players. Nikola Jokic is neither of those things but he does have a title and a few MVPs.
2. Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James and Kevin Durant facing off, especially on two contending teams, would usually be a shoe-in for the top spot. Especially when one of those teams is the Lakers. And very especially when Luka Doncic is also on that LA squad. But one of the NBA's best rivalries of the past decade is passing the torch to what should be one of the NBA's best rivalries of the next decade.
1. San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder. The #1 seed in the West vs the #2 seed in the West. The reigning champs vs the team that knocked them out of the NBA Cup and has given them half their season losses. The MVP vs the anointed future MVP. Unicorn vs Alien. Oklahoma vs Texas. A possible Western Conference Finals preview. This game has got it all. Including extra beef.