Christmas is the biggest day on the NBA's regular-season calendar, and the league has packed the schedule with five marquee games. Seven of the teams in action are among the top-10 championship contenders, and two games are rematches from the second round of last year's playoffs.

The NBA Christmas schedule starts at noon ET and features a new standalone game every two and and half to three hours. Viewers can watch every game on ESPN and ABC. A live stream is available with WatchESPN and the ESPN app for each contest, as well.

The first game on the NBA Christmas schedule will also be available on ESPN+.

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers start the action at 12 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden. The Knicks and 76ers are two of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference.

New York and Philadelphia are among the hottest teams in the entire league. They've both been winning games with top-five defenses during the month of December. Joel Embiid is routinely putting up 30-point double-doubles for the 76ers.

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Dallas Mavericks for a 2:30 p.m. ET start time. The Lakers have the worst record of all the teams that are on the Christmas schedule, and they are Sunday's biggest underdogs. Anthony Davis is out with a foot injury that has put Los Angeles' playoff hopes in peril, though LeBron James is still one of the league's most productive offensive players.

Dallas is in the midst of a disappointing season, as well. Coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks would have to make the playoffs through the play-in tournament if the season ended on Christmas. Luka Doncic is a top-three MVP candidate.

The highlight of the Christmas schedule is the 5 p.m. ET matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. The Celtics beat the Bucks in a seven-game, second-round series during the 2022 playoffs. The two teams have the best records in the league and are viewed as the top championship contenders.

Khris Middleton is back after missing the entire playoff series against Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum are the league's top MVP contenders. The Bucks beats the Celtics 117-113 on Christmas 2021.

The Golden State Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies at 8 p.m. ET. Golden State knocked Memphis out of the playoffs on its way to winning the 2022 Finals, but the Grizzlies are road favorites Sunday. Stephen Curry continues to miss time with a shoulder injury.

Without Curry, the Warriors are one of the worst teams in the entire league. Golden State does play much better at home than on the road, going 12-2 at Chase Center. The Grizzlies are tied for the best record in the West two days before Christmas.

The Phoenix Suns visit the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET to conclude the Christmas action. Denver and Phoenix are both in contention for the No. 1 seed in the West. Nikola Jokic is making a bid to win his third straight MVP award.

No NBA games are scheduled for Christmas Eve.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics gestures during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on May 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images