How to stream Christmas Day NBA games in 2024

The NBA on Christmas Day is a can’t-miss tradition, with fans opening their presents hoping to find a jersey or pair of signature shoes underneath the tree and settling in for a star-studded five-game slate featuring veterans LeBron James and Stephen Curry and rising stars Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama.

Read our guide to learn where to stream the 2024 NBA Christmas Day games and how ExpressVPN ensures you can watch them seamlessly—whether you’re traveling or trying to watch on restricted Wi-Fi.  

Quick guide: How to watch the NBA Christmas Day games with ExpressVPN

Want to catch every dunk and buzzer-beater this holiday season? With ExpressVPN, you can bypass network restrictions to enjoy smooth, uninterrupted streams of the NBA Christmas Day games.

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, American fans can connect to a server in the United States to catch games on Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
3. Catch all the hoops and holiday fun!

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Where to watch the 2024 NBA Christmas Day games in the U.S. with free trials

In the United States, the 2024 NBA Christmas Day games will air on ABC and ESPN. You can catch both channels on cord-cutting services such as Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, which even offer free trials. This is the perfect solution if you only need an account for a day to watch the Christmas games! Just remember to cancel before the trial expires. 

Other ways to watch NBA Christmas games in the U.S.

Sling TV

You can live stream all five NBA Christmas Day games on Sling TV, which also carries ABC and ESPN. You’ll need Sling Orange for games showing on ESPN, or Sling Blue for games on ABC (only available in select U.S. markets). You can get Sling Orange + Blue for all games, plus a host of other sports channels. 

ESPN+ 

For the second year running, ESPN+ will show all five 2024 NBA Christmas games, making it one of the most cost-effective ways of streaming the action online. With a subscription, you’ll get access to every game, exclusive sports content, and analysis. 

Disney+

Disney+ is also getting all five NBA Christmas games in 2024, which is a great perk for current Disney+ subscribers. New subscribers can take advantage of a Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) for even more sports and entertainment options when the games are over.

How to stream NBA Christmas games on NBA League Pass International

NBA League Pass International lets you watch every NBA game live, including the 2024 Christmas Day lineup, without blackouts and without the need for a U.S. cable subscription. Pricing and packages vary depending on your country, including a team-specific package if you only want to follow your favorite. Check out the NBA’s official website for a complete list of countries where League Pass is available. 

Spending the holiday at Aunt Martha’s house with your 12 cousins? No worries, you can still watch the games! NBA League Pass International works on smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs, so you can tune in and zone out. 

2024 NBA Christmas Day schedule

Why you need a VPN to watch the NBA Christmas Day games

Have you ever noticed that your connection slows down whenever you start streaming, causing buffering and lag? You could be the victim of activity-based ISP throttling. A VPN encrypts your traffic so that your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online and slow you down based on your streaming activity. 

Working the Christmas Day shift for a little extra cash, but want to watch the games? A VPN can help you catch the NBA Christmas Day games by encrypting your traffic, keeping your online activity private. This means networks like work, school, or public Wi-Fi can’t block you from accessing streaming platforms, so you’ll never miss a play.  

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Unwrapping the NBA’s Christmas Day showdowns

The NBA has scheduled five exciting matchups for Christmas Day 2024, featuring some of the league’s hottest stars. Here’s a quick look at each game and the storylines that make these games a gift for basketball lovers.

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs

Pair your turkey dinner with a side of NBA action as the Knicks host the Spurs in a matchup of rising stars versus big-market veterans. All eyes will be on 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, and whether his unique skillset can match Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Luka Dončić continues to dominate for the Mavericks, while Anthony Edwards has emerged as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving’s offensive creativity will be tested by Rudy “The Stifle Tower” Gobert’s lockdown defense.

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Few East Coast rivalries match the intensity of Celtics-Sixers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead the reigning champion Boston Celtics against Joel Embiid and a Sixers squad boosted by Rookie of the Year contender Jared McCain. 

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the Lakers against Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a primetime showdown of NBA star power. With both teams chasing playoff dreams, this game could easily be the highlight of Christmas Day.

Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets 

This late-night showdown promises to be a perfect nightcap. Can the big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal outgun the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić, who looks primed to collect a third MVP title?