NBA Christmas Games 2021 Schedule: When And Where To Watch, Predictions For Every Matchup

Christmas Day is often the biggest day of the NBA’s regular season, and that remains the case in 2021. Even as COVID-19 cases seek to disrupt the schedule, the league is forging ahead with the season.

Five games exclusively featuring teams that made the 2021 playoffs are on the schedule. A live stream is available for each matchup with WatchESPN and the ESPN app.

Here’s a look at the complete Christmas Day schedule, including predictions and how to watch every game.

Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks, 12:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)

This is a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff series. Trae Young became Madison Square Garden’s No. 1 villain among active players, torching the Knicks by averaging 32.7 points and 8.7 assists in three games at MSG. Young is one of the NBA’s leading scorers, but the Hawks and Knicks have both been major disappointments. New York’s defense has taken a big step back, and it could potentially cost the team a spot in the play-in tournament.

Prediction: Atlanta over New York

Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks, 2:30 p.m. EST (ABC)

Boston and Milwaukee have been engaged in mini-rivalry over the last four years. The two teams have met in the playoffs twice during that span. They’ve each reached the conference semifinals three times, at minimum, since 2018. Giannis Antetokounmpo has established himself as the league’s most productive player in the regular season, virtually guaranteeing the Bucks a top-four seed. The Celtics don’t have a winning record, though Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain one of the NBA’s best pair of young teammates.

Prediction: Boston over Milwaukee

Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns, 5:00 p.m. EST (ABC)

The Warriors and Suns are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, establishing themselves as the NBA’s best teams in the first half of the season. Phoenix and Golden State split their first two meetings, though Devin Booker didn’t play because of a hamstring injury in the Warriors’ 118-96 rout of the Suns on Dec. 3. Three nights earlier, Phoenix beat Golden State 104-96 as Stephen Curry was held to 12 points on 4-21 shooting.

Prediction: Phoenix over Golden State

Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:00 p.m. EST (ABC/ESPN)

The Nets and Lakers entered the season as heavy favorites to meet in the 2022 NBA Finals. Brooklyn has held up its end of the bargain, sitting atop the Eastern Conference as Kevin Durant plays arguably the best basketball of his career. It’s been a much different story for the Lakers. Anthony Davis is out for at least a month with an injury. LeBron James has battled injuries for much of the season, while the addition of Russell Westbrook hasn’t helped L.A. be more than a borderline playoff contender.

Prediction: Brooklyn over Los Angeles

Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz 10:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)

The Jazz have picked up where they left off from the 2020-21 regular season, on pace for a 55-plus-win season. Utah has the NBA’s best offense, while Rudy Gobert is in contention to win yet another Defensive Player of the Year award. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have been underwhelming. Luka Doncic admitted to starting the season out of shape. Both the star guard and Dallas have failed to take the leap that some expected they might his season.

Prediction: Utah over Dallas