For nearly 80 years, the NBA has turned Christmas Day into its own holiday tradition with a full slate of marquee matchups. This year’s the tradition continues, featuring rivalries, conference foes, MVP-level moments, and instant classics that are must-see TV for basketball fans. The ESPN app will stream the full five-game lineup with the league’s top stars and teams competing from tip-off to final buzzer.
NBA Christmas Day 2025 Games
- Cavaliers vs. Knicks — 12:00 PM ET | ABC / ESPN
- Spurs vs. Thunder — 2:30 PM ET | ABC / ESPN
- Mavericks vs. Warriors — 5:00 PM ET | ABC / ESPN
- Rockets vs. Lakers — 8:00 PM ET | ABC / ESPN
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets — 10:30 PM ET | ABC / ESPN
How to Watch the NBA on Christmas Without Cable
ABC and ESPN will carry all of today’s NBA action, and you can stream live on your Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, or any other compatible device. With a live TV streaming service, you can find NBA on Christmas Day action with Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Additionally, each game will stream live with the ESPN app.
ABC is available to watch for free with an antenna. Are you unsure which ABC affiliate is in your area? Using a site like Antennas Direct will help you find your nearest ABC affiliate and which antenna works best for you.
YouTube TV
- Starting Price: $82.99 per month | Try for Free & Save $100 on the First 5 Months
- What you get: YouTube TV packs 100+ channels, including top sports, lifestyle, family-friendly, news and entertainment networks. The platform’s base plan includes unlimited DVR, up to 3 simultaneous streams, multi-view for multiple games and Key Plays highlights. Plus, you can customize your lineup with available add-on packages and features for an enhanced experience.
- Best for: Sports fans and households with multiple viewers who want a true cable replacement with an easy-to-use interface.
DIRECTV
- Starting Price: Genre Packs $19.99 per month | Signature Streaming Packages: $49.99 first month ($89.99 per month after)
- Free Trial: Try DIRECTV for 5 Days
- What you get: DIRECTV carries the big Disney channels (ESPN suite, ABC, FX, Nat Geo, etc.), ESPN app, and has bundles that feature Disney+ and Hulu. It also offers strong local channel pickup in many areas, which helps if you need ABC-affiliate news and live sports. DIRECTV offers a more traditional cable-like package and channel lineup (Streaming Package with up to 150+ channels), but you can choose a skinny-bundle (Genre Package with up to 60+ channels) for a more personalized experience. Plus, it has a broad lineup of RSNs for local sports and an included unlimited DVR to record and rewatch your favorites.
- Best for: Viewers who prioritize dependable local channel access, Disney-owned networks and want a cable-like channel lineup.
Sling TV
- Starting Price: $4.99 (Day Pass), $9.99 (Weekend Pass), $14.99 (Week Pass), $45.99 (Monthly Pass), $115 (3-Month Prepay) | Save 50% on the First Month of Sling Orange & Blue Today
- What you get: Sling offers a loaded slate of Disney-owned programming and flexible subscription options, ranging from daily to seasonal. The streamer offers ABC (in select markets), ESPN, FX, NatGeo, Freeform, and other top networks (30–45+ channels), at various price points, with 50 hours of DVR included in each plan. Sling remains a lower-cost, customizable option if you only need sports plus select Disney channels and you can add unlimited DVR for $5 per month.
- Best for: Budget-minded viewers who want ESPN and other Disney-owned content with a lighter channel slate.
Fubo
- Starting Price: Fubo Pro: $48.99 for 1 month ($73.99 per month after) | Fubo Elite: $53.99 for 1 month ($83.99 per month after) | Try Fubo for Free & Save Up to $30 on the First Month
- What you get: Fubo offers 470+ channels across its package, retains access to Disney content, and is a strong play for sports fans. It carries ESPN (including access to the ESPN app) and many national and local RSN sports feeds. The recent closure of the Fubo–Hulu transaction also reshapes the landscape by aligning Fubo and Hulu’s strengths and subscriber bases, which could affect distribution and bundle strategies moving forward. Plus, Fubo includes unlimited DVR with its skinny Sports + News bundle, as well as traditionally-loaded packages(Pro, Elite with Sports Plus).
- Best for: Sports fans who want wide live sports coverage and flexible streaming features. Though sports-oriented, the lack of NBC, TNT, Bravo, and other entertainment channels can differ from other live TV options.
ESPN App
- Starting Price: ESPN Unlimited ($29.99 per month) | ESPN Select ($12.99 per month)
- What you get: The ESPN app streams live ESPN channels and a lot of on-demand sports content, and you do need a pay-TV or streaming login to authenticate when you subscribe directly. The ESPN-centric product is a direct-to-consumer standalone sports package that gives fans all the sports without the addition of unwatched channels. The ESPN app is also available in bundle options: ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu Bundle for $29.99 per month (includes live ESPN linear network feeds and WWE PLEs) or ESPN Select with Disney+, and Hulu Bundle for $19,99 per month (does not include live ESPN linear TV feeds or WWE PLEs.)
- Best for: Hardcore sports fans who primarily need ESPN live content, highlights, and WWE PLES.
Hulu + Live TV
- Starting Price: $89.99 per month. | Try Hulu + Live TV for 3 Days Free
- What you get: Hulu + Live TV, a Disney-owned streaming platform, features more than 95 live channels and carries the core Disney bundle. Disney-owned networks include ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, FX, National Geographic, Freeform, among others, and you have thousands of hours of on-demand content. Hulu + Live TV includes access to the ESPN app, the on-demand libraries of Hulu and Disney+, and unlimited DVR for no additional charge.
- Best for: Viewers who want the smallest disruption and prefer a single app for live Disney channels (ESPN, etc.) and on-demand Disney/Hulu/FX content.