The schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season has just been released, and Christmas Day is set to deliver five marquee matchups.
This year’s slate features LeBron James’ return to the Los Angeles Lakers and a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals.
NBA Analysis Network ranks all five Christmas Day games from the least to the most compelling.
5. Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Denver Nuggets can only be in fifth place on this list.
The Warriors will be fun to watch as long as Stephen Curry is playing, but they do not have much else to be excited about.
Especially if Jimmy Butler is still recovering from his ACL injury, they will likely struggle to compete with the Nuggets.
The biggest reason to watch this game may be to see whether Nikola Jokic produces a huge stat line against the Warriors’ big men.
4. Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
The storylines on the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will both be centered on Giannis Antetokounmpo this season.
The Heat traded four players, including Tyler Herro, and three first-round picks to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
However, the Greek Freak would have been in Boston if the Celtics had agreed to trade Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman.
Antetokounmpo will surely have a point to prove, while Jayson Tatum will want to show that he’s the best player on the floor.
The only reason this matchup is not higher is that neither team is expected to be a top contender for the NBA title.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Oklahoma City Thunder are joint-favourites to win the title next season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a stacked roster.
They have also become one of the NBA’s most hated teams, with many suggesting they benefit from preferential officiating.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ backcourt of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball should be box office entertainment.
This Christmas Day clash could even be a preview of a Western Conference playoff series next April or May.
2. San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks produced a memorable NBA Finals, so why not a Christmas Day game?
Victor Wembanyama could be in the midst of an MVP charge, while Jalen Brunson will seek to replicate his Finals performance.
Meanwhile, everyone knows that NYC is the place to be over Christmas, and Madison Square Garden is always special.
1. Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Despite all the stars on show, such as Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid, this matchup is all about the LeBron James storyline.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, winning the title in 2020, before joining the 76ers in free agency this summer.
The 41-year-old will surely want to show Los Angeles what they are missing in a potentially statement win for the Sixers.
On the contrary, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves could prove they are better without James with big games at Crypto.com Arena.
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