NBA Christmas schedule 2020: What basketball games are on today? TV channels, times, scores

Jordan Greer

NBA Christmas schedule 2020: What basketball games are on today? TV channels, times, scores image

The NBA season typically has its unofficial start on Christmas Day. That's when many sports fans decide it's time to (at least temporarily) take a break from football and check out their favorite basketball teams.

Nothing is typical in 2020, of course. The league kicked off its new campaign on Dec. 22, so the Christmas slate has arrived quickly. One thing that hasn't changed? The schedule is loaded with star power.

Here's a full breakdown of the NBA's 2020 Christmas Day schedule, which features a primetime Western Conference matchup between the Mavericks and Lakers.

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NBA Christmas schedule 2020

The Pelicans and Heat will meet at the American Airlines Arena in Miami for the first Christmas Day game. After watching that contest on ESPN, you can flip over to ABC for Warriors-Bucks, Nets-Celtics and Mavericks-Lakers before jumping back to ESPN for Clippers-Nuggets.

All games are also available to stream via Watch ESPN or the Watch ESPN app.

(All times Eastern)

GameTimeChannel
Pelicans vs. HeatNoonESPN
Warriors vs. Bucks2:30 p.m.ABC
Nets vs. Celtics5 p.m.ABC
Mavericks vs. Lakers8 p.m.ABC/ESPN
Clippers vs. Nuggets10:30 p.m.ESPN

LIVE SCORES: Keep up with Christmas Day action

NBA TV schedule on Christmas

ESPN's "First Take" will air from 10 a.m.-Noon ET prior to the start of Pelicans vs. Heat. Play-by-play man Ryan Ruocco and analyst Richard Jefferson will then take over with commentary from their homes. That team will also call Clippers vs. Nuggets on Friday night.

In addition to live game coverage, ABC will feature the "NBA Countdown" crew of Maria Taylor, Jalen Rose, Jay Williams and Adrian Wojnarowski breaking down the latest news and notes from around the league.

GamePlay-by-playAnalystReporter
Pelicans vs. HeatRyan RuoccoRichard JeffersonIsrael Gutierrez
Warriors vs. BucksDave PaschHubie BrownCassidy Hubbarth
Nets vs. CelticsMark JonesDoris BurkeLisa Salters
Mavericks vs. LakersMike BreenJeff Van Gundy, Mark JacksonRachel Nichols
Clippers vs. NuggetsRyan RuoccoRichard JeffersonMalika Andrews

NBA Christmas 2020 scores, results

Check back here throughout Christmas Day for the final score from each game as well as the leaders in key statistical categories.

Final scorePointsAssistsRebounds
Heat 111, Pelicans 98Zion Williamson, 32Goran Dragic, 9Zion Williamson, 14
Bucks 138, Warriors 99Khris Middleton, 31Stephen Curry/Jrue Holiday, 6Giannis Antetokounmpo, 13
Nets 123, Celtics 95Kyrie Irving, 37Kyrie Irving, 8Jarrett Allen, 11
Lakers 138, Mavericks 115Anthony Davis, 28LeBron James, 10Marc Gasol, 9
Clippers 121, Nuggets 108Nikola Jokic, 24Nikola Jokic, 10Nicolas Batum, 10

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.