This Thursday, Dec. 25, a Christmas Day tradition continues as ABC and ESPN will combine to present a marquee NBA tripleheader. The trifecta tips off at 12 p.m. (noon) ET on ESPN when the Washington Wizards and John Wall visit the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. Dave Pasch will be joined by analyst Jon Barry and reporter Lisa Salters at Madison Square Garden. The game is also available on WatchESPN.
NBA on ABC, ESPN Radio & ESPN Deportes
Following Wizards-Knicks, the Christmas schedule turns to ABC for a blockbuster doubleheader. It starts at 2:30 p.m. with a rematch of the 2014 Western Conference Finals as the Oklahoma City Thunder – led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – visit the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Multi-platform ESPN play-by-play voice Mike Tirico will be joined by analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox to call the action. On ESPN Radio, Marc Kestecher will describe the action with analyst and Bruce Bowen.
James makes Miami return
The star-studded Christmas Day slate culminates at 5 p.m. with one of the most anticipated games of the season as LeBron James returns to Miami for the first time when his Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade. Mike Breen, the voice of the NBA Finals, will be joined by analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporterDoris Burke for commentary. On ESPN Radio, Kevin Calabro will call the game with analystP.J. Carlesimo and ESPN NBA Insider Marc Stein. Both ABC games are also available on ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.
In addition, NBA Countdown will make its ABC debut this season with it’s first-ever Christmas Day roadshow from American Airlines Arena in Miami. Host Sage Steele will be joined by analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins at 2 p.m. to preview the ABC doubleheader. The crew will be located at a set inside the arena and provide insight throughout halftime of both ABC games.
SportsCenter will provide regular Christmas Day coverage, beginning Tuesday, Dec. 23 through Thursday, Dec. 25, with reporters at Christmas locations, including Mark Schwarz, Dave McMenamin, Ramona Shelburne, Baxter Holmes and Nick Friedell. Additionally, several NBA content pieces will air throughout the week on a variety of topics; an all-access segment on the Wizards and Knicks, the Spurs “Big 4,” LeBron James’ top Miami Heat moments, Kevin Durant conversation and hosted segments and essays by Mike Lupica, Michael Wilbon, Stephen A. Smith, Marc Stein, Dan Le Batard, Reese Waters and more.
ESPN International will also televise Christmas Day games in the Pac-Rim, including Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers.
Christmas Day schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Game/Commentators | Networks |
| Thu, Dec 25 | 12 p.m. | NBA Christmas Special Presented by State Farm: Washington Wizards at New York Knicks Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Lisa Salters |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 2 p.m. | NBA Countdown Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins |
ABC, WatchESPN | |
| 2:30 p.m. | NBA Christmas Special Presented by State Farm: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs ABC: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Bruce Bowen |
ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| 5 p.m. | NBA Christmas Special Presented by State Farm: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Doris Burke ESPN Radio: Kevin Calabro, P.J. Carlesimo, Marc Stein |
ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| 1 a.m. | NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Brad Daugherty |
ESPN2, WatchESPN |