Best of Christmas Day Sports: What to Watch & When

Daily Fantasy Sports Archives |
Written By Nick Crain | Published at December 24, 2025
Dec 21, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with wide receiver George Pickens (3) after a touchdown pass caught by Pickens during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Christmas Day is built for controlled chaos. The NBA gives you wall-to-wall marquee games, the NFL drops three matchups into the middle of it and the real key is consuming the slate like a playlist instead of a checklist.

If you try to watch every second of everything, you’ll end up watching none of it. The best approach is picking your anchor windows, knowing where the overlaps are, and deciding ahead of time which sport gets the main screen when kickoffs and tip-offs collide.

With that in mind, here’s our chronological viewing guide for the Christmas Day slate across the NBA and NFL. As you watch, be sure to take advantage of the latest sportsbook promotions on the top sports betting apps.

Cavaliers vs Knicks (NBA)

The NBA opens Christmas Day with a true tone-setter at Madison Square Garden. New York has been dominant at home, entering the day 20-9 overall and 14-2 in its building, which is why this game has that “playoff energy in December” feel from the opening tip. Cleveland comes in 17-14 and needs this kind of stage win to validate its season arc. The biggest pregame storyline is availability and rhythm: the Knicks have been monitoring ankle issues for Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, while Cleveland has been navigating its own health questions in the frontcourt. From a viewing perspective, this is the best early-slot watch because it is high-quality basketball, the crowd will be juiced, and it flows right into the first NFL overlap window.

Cowboys vs Commanders (NFL)

This is the first real remote-control decision point because it overlaps the back half of Cavs-Knicks. On paper, it is more rivalry theater than playoff theater. Dallas enters 6-8-1 and Washington is 4-11, so neither team has much to play for. But Christmas football does not require a postseason carrot to matter to the living room, and Cowboys games tend to become the default group watch choice in a lot of homes.

Spurs vs Thunder (NBA)

This is the anchor game of the day, and it is not just because the records are elite. Oklahoma City enters 26-4, San Antonio enters 22-7, and it is essentially a Western Conference hierarchy check on the biggest regular season stage. The key layer is that this is a spicy rematch. The Spurs just beat the Thunder 130-110, turning what could have been a normal Christmas showdown into an adjustments game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still got his points in that loss, but the bigger question is whether OKC can solve the Spurs’ physicality, depth and shot creation over four quarters. If you commit to one uninterrupted NBA window on Christmas, make it this one.

Lions vs Vikings (NFL)

This late-afternoon slot is kicked off by this Lions-Vikings matchup, and the biggest storyline is Minnesota’s quarterback situation. J.J. McCarthy is out with a hand injury and Max Brosmer is set to start, which immediately turns the game into a “how functional is the Vikings offense” watch. Detroit enters 8-7, Minnesota 7-8, and it is the type of divisional matchup where the vibe can swing quickly based on turnovers and field position. From a consumption standpoint, this is also the easiest football game to keep on because it stays on the same platform as the earlier NFL window, so you are not bouncing between apps.

Mavericks vs Warriors (NBA)

This is the narrative game of the day and it overlaps directly with Lions-Vikings, which is why it plays perfectly as a second-screen option until the fourth quarter. Golden State enters 15-15 and Dallas enters 12-19, so the standings hook is not the primary draw. The draw is the stage and the storylines, especially the Klay Thompson reunion element that gives this matchup instant emotion and the fact that Cooper Flagg has become must-watch TV. If the Warriors get rolling early, it can feel like a holiday highlight reel. If it is close late, it becomes the easiest flip of the entire afternoon because it will be obvious when the game tightens and the building starts to buzz.

Rockets vs Lakers (NBA)

Prime time is where the NBA leans into star gravity, and this slot is built around it. Houston enters 17-10, the Lakers enter 19-9, and the headline is Kevin Durant versus LeBron James on Christmas night. This is their fifth Christmas Day head-to-head, with LeBron holding a 3-1 edge in the holiday series, which is exactly the kind of legacy framing that makes casual viewers lock in. It also has a “statement opportunity” feel for Houston, because being in this window is a sign the league believes the Rockets are real, not just a fun early-season story.

Broncos vs Chiefs (NFL)

This is the night football choice and it overlaps almost perfectly with Rockets-Lakers, so you need to decide what gets the main screen. The defining storyline is Kansas City’s quarterback situation: Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew are both out for the season and Chris Oladokun is set to make his first career start on Christmas night. Denver enters 12-3 with real positioning to play for, which is why this is the most stakes-driven NFL game of the day, even with Kansas City’s season already tilted toward evaluation mode.

Timberwolves vs Nuggets (NBA)

This is the late-night hoops dessert when the house finally quiets down. Minnesota enters 20-10, Denver enters 21-8, and this matchup has been consistently tight over the years, which is why it is a great closer. Nikola Jokic tends to turn possessions into chess matches, while the Timberwolves have enough shot-making and athletic pop to flip a quarter quickly. If you want one game to actually sit with, watch, and appreciate after a full day of channel hopping, this is the one.

As these games unfold, there will almost certainly be some that are blowouts and others that go down to the wire. As such, the plan to consume these games could change drastically, so keep an eye on box scores throughout the day.

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