RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The biggest date on the NBA calendar , at least in the first half of the season, is undoubtedly Christmas Day.
And on Tuesday, Aug. 11, the league revealed the games that will be played December 25. The league historically preserves its best matchups and rivalries, offering a five-game slate that highlights some of the game’s biggest stars. LeBron James has been a fixture. So have Stephen Curry , Nikola Jokić , Anthony Edwards , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and others.
This time, however, things will be a little different, as James will be playing for his fourth different team, the Philadelphia 76ers . Interestingly, their opponent on Christmas happens to be the team where his son and former teammate, Bronny James , plays.
Here’s a ranking of the 2026 Christmas Day NBA games, from worst to first:
MORE: Ranking NBA opening week national TV games from worst to first
NOTE: All games on ABC and ESPN and all times Eastern.
5. Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors
Game time: 10:30 p.m.
Stephen Curry has been a fixture on Christmas Day, but this feels more like a nod to past performance and what has worked in the past. The Warriors, with their age, injury concerns and lack of offseason additions, may struggle to compete this season in the West. Christmas Day can be an opportunity for the league to introduce casual fans to some of the game’s upcoming stars; think of Victor Wembanyama in 2024 at 20 years old, dropping 42 points at Madison Square Garden in a close loss. This felt like a missed opportunity to pass the torch.
4. Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers
Game time: 5 p.m.
The storyline is there: LeBron James is making his return to Los Angeles and will face off against Luka Dončić and the Lakers, presumably for the first time since he signed with the 76ers. His son, Bronny James may play, which would mark the first time a father and son have been opponents in the same game in NBA history. Yet, though James delivered a championship to Los Angeles, fans never held him in the same regard as franchise icons like Magic or Kobe or Shaquille. It should make for compelling theater but there are better basketball matchups out there.
3. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
Game time: 2:30 p.m.
This was an excellent Eastern Conference rivalry in the early 2020s that lost its luster after Miami languished in recent seasons. The addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat should revive it. Both these teams are gritty and they’ll have contrasting styles; the Heat will look to push pace in transition, while the Celtics slow things down and launch 3s. They’re also superb on defense. This could end up being a low-scoring game more reminiscent of the early 2000s, but that should be taken as a high compliment.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
Game time: 8 p.m
The Thunder may very well be the best team in the NBA, when fully healthy. And though they lost some key players like Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe, they remain deep and talented. The Timberwolves are intriguing because they took a risk in adding LaMelo Ball to give Anthony Edwards another ball handler and shot creator. The Thunder have been the best defensive team each of the last two seasons. What a way to test this new Minnesota offense.
1. San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
Game time: 12 p.m.
It’s the early game but make no mistake: this should give us the best basketball. You have Wembanyama going back to the Garden, where fans will surely try to make him uncomfortable. You have a Spurs team that is presumably bothered about the way they closed out the NBA Finals. And you have the newly-crowned Knicks trying to prove that they were no fluke. And, if it happens to go down to the wire, expect fireworks because this Knicks team has shown it is no stranger to a good comeback.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking 2026 NBA Christmas games: Where does LeBron vs. Bronny James land?
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