Sports

NBA Christmas Games: History & What You Need to Know for This Year

Aug 17, 2023

Dominic LoBianco

NBA games being played on Christmas Day is a tradition that’s been known for signature moments since its inception in 1947. Five games will be played on Christmas Day in 2023, starting at noon Eastern Time on the ABC/ESPN family of networks.

The NBA on Christmas Day 2023

NBA on Christmas is one of the biggest stages of every regular season. The only thing better than watching NBA on Christmas at home is grabbing tickets to an NBA game live on Christmas with the family.

What Games are Being Played on Christmas Day 2023?

Superstars and playoff rematches are the headlines for the NBA on Christmas Day for the 2023–24 season. The day begins with an Eastern Conference matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks. Next will be a pair of rivalry tilts between the Golden State Warriors at the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Boston Celtics.

The primetime matchup will feature the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the Miami Heat and the final tilt of the night will a Western Conference battle between the Phoenix Suns host the Dallas Mavericks.

History of the NBA on Christmas Day

There have been some historic standout performances that have taken place on Christmas Day in the past, from Bernard King scoring a record 60 points on NBA Christmas Day in 1984 to Wilt Chamberlain notching 59 points and 36 rebounds in 1961.

NBA on Christmas Day games are also a great stage for NBA Finals rematches. In 1995, the NBA coordinated its first Finals rematch between the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. All-star guard Penny Hardaway scored 22 points in a win, including the game-winner with less than five seconds remaining in the game.

In 2008, the NBA Finals rematch was also one of the most bitter rivalries in the NBA when the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics collided. The Lakers broke the Celtics 19-game win streak on a night when Lakers head coach Phil Jackson accumulated his 1,000th career win, the fastest coach to do so.

Perhaps the two most exciting NBA on Christmas Day Finals rematches were played in consecutive years between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, the Cavs rallied from being down 14 points in the fourth quarter and bested the Warriors off a miraculous Kyrie Irving turnaround jump shot with 3.4 seconds remaining in the game. A year later, the Warriors got their revenge despite a Cavaliers 11-2 run in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson hit the game-winning three-pointer to break a 92-92 tie and give Golden State the edge.

Christmas Day NBA Game Results

With the calendar counting down to the NBA on Christmas games, relive some of the highlights and moments from previous years.

Season	Visiting Team	Score	Home Team	Score
2022–23	Philadelphia 76ers	119	New York Knicks	112
2022–23	Los Angeles Lakers	115	Dallas Mavericks	124
2022–23	Milwaukee Bucks	118	Boston Celtics	139
2022–23	Memphis Grizzlies	109	Golden State Warriors	123
2022–23	Phoenix Suns	125	Denver Nuggets	128
2021–22	Atlanta Hawks	87	New York Knicks	101
2021–22	Boston Celtics	113	Milwaukee Bucks	117
2021–22	Golden State Warriors	116	Phoenix Suns	107
2021–22	Brooklyn Nets	122	Los Angeles Lakers	115
2021–22	Dallas Mavericks	116	Utah Jazz	120
2020–21	New Orleans Pelicans	98	Miami Heat	111
2020–21	Golden State Warriors	99	Milwaukee Bucks	138
2020–21	Brooklyn Nets	123	Boston Celtics	95
2020–21	Dallas Mavericks	115	Los Angeles Lakers	138
2020–21	Los Angeles Clippers	121	Denver Nuggets	108
2019–20	Boston Celtics	118	Toronto Raptors	102
2019–20	Milwaukee Bucks	109	Philadelphia 76ers	121
2019–20	Houston Rockets	104	Golden State Warriors	116
2019–20	Los Angeles Clippers	111	Los Angeles Lakers	106
2019–20	New Orleans Pelicans	112	Denver Nuggets	100
2018–19	Milwaukee Bucks	109	New York Knicks	95
2018–19	Oklahoma City Thunder	109	Houston Rockets	113
2018–19	Philadelphia 76ers	114	Boston Celtics	121
2018–19	Los Angeles Lakers	127	Golden State Warriors	101
2018–19	Portland Trail Blazers	96	Utah Jazz	117
2017–18	Philadelphia 76ers	105	New York Knicks	98
2017–18	Cleveland Cavaliers	92	Golden State Warriors	99
2017–18	Washington Wizards	111	Boston Celtics	103
2017–18	Houston Rockets	107	Oklahoma City Thunder	112
2017–18	Minnesota Timberwolves	121	Los Angeles Lakers	104
2016–17	Boston Celtics	119	New York Knicks	114
2016–17	Golden State Warriors	108	Cleveland Cavaliers	109
2016–17	Chicago Bulls	100	San Antonio Spurs	119
2016–17	Minnesota Timberwolves	100	Oklahoma City Thunder	112
2016–17	Los Angeles Clippers	102	Los Angeles Lakers	111
2015–16	New Orleans Pelicans	88	Miami Heat	94
2015–16	Chicago Bulls	105	Oklahoma City Thunder	96
2015–16	Cleveland Cavaliers	83	Golden State Warriors	89
2015–16	San Antonio Spurs	84	Houston Rockets	88
2015–16	Los Angeles Clippers	94	Los Angeles Lakers	84
2014–15	Washington Wizards	102	New York Knicks	91
2014–15	Oklahoma City Thunder	114	San Antonio Spurs	106
2014–15	Cleveland Cavaliers	91	Miami Heat	101
2014–15	Los Angeles Lakers	93	Chicago Bulls	113
2014–15	Golden State Warriors	86	Los Angeles Clippers	100
2013–14	Chicago Bulls	95	Brooklyn Nets	78
2013–14	Oklahoma City Thunder	123	New York Knicks	94
2013–14	Miami Heat	101	Los Angeles Lakers	95
2013–14	Houston Rockets	111	San Antonio Spurs	98
2013–14	Los Angeles Clippers	103	Golden State Warriors	105
2012–13	Boston Celtics	93	Brooklyn Nets	76
2012–13	New York Knicks	94	Los Angeles Lakers	100
2012–13	Oklahoma City Thunder	97	Miami Heat	103
2012–13	Houston Rockets	120	Chicago Bulls	97
2012–13	Denver Nuggets	100	Los Angeles Clippers	112
2011–12	Boston Celtics	104	New York Knicks	106
2011–12	Miami Heat	105	Dallas Mavericks	94
2011–12	Chicago Bulls	88	Los Angeles Lakers	87
2011–12	Orlando Magic	89	Oklahoma City Thunder	97
2011–12	Los Angeles Clippers	105	Golden State Warriors	86
2010–11	Chicago Bulls	95	New York Knicks	103
2010–11	Boston Celtics	78	Orlando Magic	86
2010–11	Miami Heat	96	Los Angeles Lakers	80
2010–11	Denver Nuggets	106	Oklahoma City Thunder	114
2010–11	Portland Trail Blazers	102	Golden State Warriors	109
2009–10	Miami Heat	93	New York Knicks	87
2009–10	Cleveland Cavaliers	102	Los Angeles Lakers	87
2009–10	Boston Celtics	86	Orlando Magic	77
2009–10	Los Angeles Clippers	93	Phoenix Suns	124
2009–10	Denver Nuggets	96	Portland Trail Blazers	107
2008–09	Washington Wizards	89	Cleveland Cavaliers	93
2008–09	Boston Celtics	83	Los Angeles Lakers	92
2008–09	New Orleans Hornets	68	Orlando Magic	88
2008–09	San Antonio Spurs	91	Phoenix Suns	90
2008–09	Dallas Mavericks	102	Portland Trail Blazers	94
2007–08	Miami Heat	82	Cleveland Cavaliers	96
2007–08	Phoenix Suns	115	Los Angeles Lakers	122
2007–08	Seattle SuperSonics	79	Portland Trail Blazers	89
2006–07	Los Angeles Lakers	85	Miami Heat	101
2005–06	San Antonio Spurs	70	Detroit Pistons	85
2005–06	Los Angeles Lakers	92	Miami Heat	97
2004–05	Detroit Pistons	98	Indiana Pacers	93
2004–05	Miami Heat	104	Los Angeles Lakers	102
2003–04	Cleveland Cavaliers	101	Orlando Magic	113
2003–04	Dallas Mavericks	111	Sacramento Kings	103
2003–04	Houston Rockets	99	Los Angeles Lakers	87
2002–03	Detroit Pistons	99	Orlando Magic	107
2002–03	Boston Celtics	81	New Jersey Nets	117
2002–03	Sacramento Kings	105	Los Angeles Lakers	99
2001–02	Philadelphia 76ers	82	Los Angeles Lakers	88
2001–02	Toronto Raptors	94	New York Knicks	102
2000–01	Orlando Magic	93	Indiana Pacers	103
2000–01	Portland Trail Blazers	109	Los Angeles Lakers	104
1999–2000	New York Knicks	90	Indiana Pacers	101
1999–2000	San Antonio Spurs	93	Los Angeles Lakers	99
1998–99	-
1997–98	Miami Heat	80	Chicago Bulls	90
1997–98	Houston Rockets	103	Utah Jazz	107
1996–97	Detroit Pistons	83	Chicago Bulls	95
1996–97	Los Angeles Lakers	108	Phoenix Suns	87
1995–96	Houston Rockets	90	Orlando Magic	92
1995–96	San Antonio Spurs	105	Phoenix Suns	100
1994–95	New York Knicks	104	Chicago Bulls	107
1994–95	Seattle SuperSonics	96	Denver Nuggets	105
1993–94	Orlando Magic	93	Chicago Bulls	95
1993–94	Houston Rockets	91	Phoenix Suns	111
1992–93	New York Knicks	77	Chicago Bulls	89
1992–93	San Antonio Spurs	103	Los Angeles Clippers	94
1991–92	Boston Celtics	99	Chicago Bulls	121
1991–92	Los Angeles Lakers	85	Los Angeles Clippers	75
1990–91	Detroit Pistons	86	Chicago Bulls	98
1989–90	Cleveland Cavaliers	104	Atlanta Hawks	115
1988–89	Washington Bullets	110	Philadelphia 76ers	125
1988–89	Los Angeles Lakers	87	Utah Jazz	101
1987–88	Detroit Pistons	91	New York Knicks	87
1987–88	Atlanta Hawks	106	Philadelphia 76ers	100
1986–87	Chicago Bulls	85	New York Knicks	86
1986–87	Washington Bullets	102	Philadelphia 76ers	97
1985–86	Boston Celtics	104	New York Knicks	113
1985–86	Los Angeles Clippers	107	Portland Trail Blazers	121
1984–85	Atlanta Hawks	106	Cleveland Cavaliers	109
1984–85	Philadelphia 76ers	109	Detroit Pistons	108
1984–85	New Jersey Nets	120	New York Knicks	114
1984–85	Golden State Warriors	97	Portland Trail Blazers	106
1983–84	New Jersey Nets	110	New York Knicks	112
1983–84	Los Angeles Lakers	121	Portland Trail Blazers	141
1982–83	New Jersey Nets	112	New York Knicks	110
1982–83	Seattle SuperSonics	88	Portland Trail Blazers	95
1982–83	Phoenix Suns	111	Utah Jazz	101
1982–83	Atlanta Hawks	97	Washington Bullets	91
1981–82	New Jersey Nets	96	New York Knicks	95
1981–82	Los Angeles Lakers	104	Phoenix Suns	101
1981–82	Seattle SuperSonics	94	Portland Trail Blazers	99
1981–82	Indiana Pacers	98	Washington Bullets	115
1980–81	Boston Celtics	117	New York Knicks	108
1980–81	San Antonio Spurs	111	Phoenix Suns	131
1980–81	Golden State Warriors	114	Portland Trail Blazers	115
1980–81	New Jersey Nets	94	Washington Bullets	109
1979–80	Detroit Pistons	101	Cleveland Cavaliers	111
1979–80	New Jersey Nets	102	New York Knicks	131
1979–80	Golden State Warriors	91	Portland Trail Blazers	113
1979–80	Denver Nuggets	111	Utah Jazz	122
1979–80	Philadelphia 76ers	95	Washington Bullets	92
1978–79	Philadelphia 76ers	109	New York Knicks	94
1978–79	Golden State Warriors	102	Portland Trail Blazers	115
1978–79	San Diego Clippers	123	Seattle SuperSonics	118
1977–78	Buffalo Braves	105	Cleveland Cavaliers	111
1977–78	Milwaukee Bucks	131	Kansas City Kings	122
1977–78	San Antonio Spurs	115	New Orleans Jazz	105
1977–78	Philadelphia 76ers	110	New York Knicks	113
1977–78	Golden State Warriors	97	Portland Trail Blazers	109
1977–78	Los Angeles Lakers	111	Seattle SuperSonics	96
1977–78	Atlanta Hawks	93	Washington Bullets	100
1976–77	Detroit Pistons	106	Buffalo Braves	115
1976–77	Chicago Bulls	96	Kansas City Kings	91
1976–77	Philadelphia 76ers	105	New York Knicks	104
1976–77	Los Angeles Lakers	96	Phoenix Suns	113
1976–77	Seattle SuperSonics	95	Portland Trail Blazers	110
1976–77	Cleveland Cavaliers	99	Washington Bullets	117
1975–76	Houston Rockets	99	New Orleans Jazz	101
1975–76	Philadelphia 76ers	103	New York Knicks	111
1975–76	Kansas City Kings	111	Phoenix Suns	122
1975–76	Atlanta Hawks	94	Washington Bullets	99
1974–75	Philadelphia 76ers	104	New York Knicks	97
1974–75	Boston Celtics	96	Phoenix Suns	110
1974–75	Atlanta Hawks	92	Washington Bullets	110
1974–75	San Diego Conquistadors	100	Utah Stars	112
1973–74	Capital Bullets	102	New York Knicks	100
1973–74	Los Angeles Lakers	100	Phoenix Suns	135
1972–73	Milwaukee Bucks	104	Kansas City-Omaha Kings	99
1972–73	Detroit Pistons	110	New York Knicks	113
1972–73	Chicago Bulls	108	Phoenix Suns	115
1972–73	Seattle SuperSonics	113	Portland Trail Blazers	116
1971–72	Buffalo Braves	117	Atlanta Hawks	140
1971–72	Boston Celtics	99	Cincinnati Royals	94
1971–72	Milwaukee Bucks	118	Detroit Pistons	120
1971–72	Golden State Warriors	89	New York Knicks	114
1971–72	Baltimore Bullets	117	Philadelphia 76ers	114
1971–72	Seattle SuperSonics	86	Phoenix Suns	116
1971–72	Chicago Bulls	109	Portland Trail Blazers	88
1971–72	Carolina Cougars	102	Memphis Pros	110
1971–72	Indiana Pacers	129	Utah Stars	150
1971–72	Pittsburgh Condors	126	Virginia Squires	133
1970–71	Chicago Bulls	112	Baltimore Bullets	128
1970–71	Cleveland Cavaliers	100	Cincinnati Royals	117
1970–71	Boston Celtics	113	Los Angeles Lakers	123
1970–71	Buffalo Braves	102	New York Knicks	115
1970–71	Detroit Pistons	100	Philadelphia 76ers	105
1970–71	Atlanta Hawks	115	Phoenix Suns	127
1970–71	Utah Stars	102	Memphis Pros	107
1970–71	Carolina Cougars	121	Pittsburgh Condors	136
1970–71	Texas Chaparrals	131	Virginia Squires	145
1969–70	Philadelphia 76ers	113	Baltimore Bullets	121
1969–70	San Francisco Warriors	124	Cincinnati Royals	120
1969–70	Detroit Pistons	111	New York Knicks	112
1969–70	Boston Celtics	116	Phoenix Suns	127
1969–70	Los Angeles Stars	105	Kentucky Colonels	101
1969–70	Washington Caps	131	Pittsburgh Pipers	112
1968–69	Seattle SuperSonics	112	Baltimore Bullets	118
1968–69	Chicago Bulls	98	Cincinnati Royals	103
1968–69	Detroit Pistons	119	Milwaukee Bucks	113
1968–69	Philadelphia 76ers	109	New York Knicks	110
1968–69	Los Angeles Lakers	119	Phoenix Suns	99
1968–69	Minnesota Pipers	129	Kentucky Colonels	118
1968–69	Oakland Oaks	127	Los Angeles Stars	122
1968–69	Denver Rockets	129	New York Nets	110
1967–68	Philadelphia 76ers	108	Baltimore Bullets	105
1967–68	Seattle SuperSonics	112	Cincinnati Royals	118
1967–68	Boston Celtics	134	New York Knicks	124
1967–68	Los Angeles Lakers	101	San Diego Rockets	104
1967–68	Oakland Oaks	98	Kentucky Colonels	112
1966–67	Detroit Pistons	129	Baltimore Bullets	127
1966–67	San Francisco Warriors	124	Cincinnati Royals	112
1966–67	Chicago Bulls	132	New York Knicks	133
1965–66	Boston Celtics	113	Baltimore Bullets	99
1965–66	San Francisco Warriors	113	Cincinnati Royals	119
1965–66	Detroit Pistons	106	Los Angeles Lakers	115
1965–66	St. Louis Hawks	131	New York Knicks	111
1964–65	Detroit Pistons	106	Boston Celtics	118
1964–65	St. Louis Hawks	125	Cincinnati Royals	130
1964–65	Baltimore Bullets	114	New York Knicks	108
1963–64	St. Louis Hawks	107	Cincinnati Royals	113
1963–64	Los Angeles Lakers	134	New York Knicks	126
1962–63	Detroit Pistons	120	Cincinnati Royals	131
1962–63	Syracuse Nationals	123	New York Knicks	111
1962–63	St. Louis Hawks	91	San Francisco Warriors	94
1961–62	Detroit Pistons	97	Chicago Packers	118
1961–62	Los Angeles Lakers	141	Cincinnati Royals	127
1961–62	Philadelphia Warriors	135	New York Knicks	136
1961–62	Boston Celtics	127	Syracuse Nationals	122
1960–61	Detroit Pistons	119	Cincinnati Royals	126
1960–61	New York Knicks	100	Syracuse Nationals	162
1959–60	Detroit Pistons	103	Cincinnati Royals	121
1959–60	Boston Celtics	123	New York Knicks	119
1959–60	Syracuse Nationals	121	Philadelphia Warriors	129
1959–60	Minneapolis Lakers	96	St. Louis Hawks	112
1958–59	St. Louis Hawks	100	Cincinnati Royals	92
1958–59	Minneapolis Lakers	97	Detroit Pistons	98
1958–59	Boston Celtics	129	New York Knicks	120
1957–58	Minneapolis Lakers	106	Detroit Pistons	104
1957–58	Boston Celtics	105	Philadelphia Warriors	115
1957–58	New York Knicks	130	Syracuse Nationals	134
1956–57	Philadelphia Warriors	89	Boston Celtics	82
1956–57	Minneapolis Lakers	100	Fort Wayne Pistons	89
1956–57	St. Louis Hawks	107	New York Knicks	105
1956–57	Syracuse Nationals	93	Rochester Royals	98
1955–56	New York Knicks	87	Fort Wayne Pistons	92
1955–56	Boston Celtics	115	Minneapolis Lakers	112
1955–56	Rochester Royals	96	Syracuse Nationals	111
1954–55	Boston Celtics	108	Milwaukee Hawks	99
1954–55	Philadelphia Warriors	91	Minneapolis Lakers	99
1954–55	Syracuse Nationals	101	New York Knicks	109
1954–55	Fort Wayne Pistons	73	Rochester Royals	80
1953–54	Minneapolis Lakers	78	Baltimore Bullets	88
1953–54	Boston Celtics	79	Fort Wayne Pistons	108
1953–54	Syracuse Nationals	80	New York Knicks	89
1953–54	Rochester Royals	73	Philadelphia Warriors	65
1952–53	Milwaukee Hawks	69	Fort Wayne Pistons	71
1952–53	Indianapolis Olympians	73	Minneapolis Lakers	90
1952–53	Boston Celtics	84	New York Knicks	97
1952–53	Rochester Royals	93	Philadelphia Warriors	78
1952–53	Baltimore Bullets	92	Syracuse Nationals	102
1951–52	Syracuse Nationals	78	Milwaukee Hawks	88
1951–52	Boston Celtics	79	Minneapolis Lakers	108
1951–52	Fort Wayne Pistons	80	New York Knicks	89
1951–52	Indianapolis Olympians	73	Rochester Royals	65
1950–51	Washington Capitols	79	Fort Wayne Pistons	93
1950–51	New York Knicks	86	Philadelphia Warriors	84
1950–51	Boston Celtics	77	Rochester Royals	90
1950–51	Fort Wayne Pistons	69	Syracuse Nationals	81
1950–51	Baltimore Bullets	72	Tri-Cities Blackhawks	87
1949–50	Philadelphia Warriors	64	Baltimore Bullets	63
1949–50	Sheboygan Red Skins	76	Denver Nuggets	72
1949–50	Fort Wayne Pistons	58	Minneapolis Lakers	72
1949–50	Boston Celtics	79	Rochester Royals	88
1949–50	Washington Capitols	81	St. Louis Bombers	68
1949–50	Anderson Packers	88	Syracuse Nationals	94
1949–50	Indianapolis Olympians	93	Waterloo Hawks	97
1948–49	Chicago Stags	70	New York Knicks	64
1948–49	Boston Celtics	77	Philadelphia Warriors	80
1948–49	Baltimore Bullets	88	Providence Steamrollers	83
1948–49	St. Louis Bombers	82	Rochester Royals	90
1948–49	Fort Wayne Pistons	74	Washington Capitols	88
1947–48	Chicago Stags	70	Baltimore Bullets	87
1947–48	Providence Steamrollers	75	New York Knicks	89
1947–48	Washington Capitols	73	St. Louis Bombers	56

Sports

NBA Christmas Games: History & What You Need to Know for This Year

The NBA on Christmas Day 2023

What Games are Being Played on Christmas Day 2023?

History of the NBA on Christmas Day

Christmas Day NBA Game Results

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