How to Watch the NBA Christmas Day Games 2026 Without Cable

Christmas Day is the NBA's biggest regular season showcase, and in 2026 it lands on a Friday, December 25. Five games run back to back from noon until well past midnight on the East Coast, which means you can open presents, eat, nap and still catch a tip-off whenever you sit back down. The best part for cord cutters: every single game airs on ABC, so you do not need a pricey cable package to see all of it.

This guide gives you the full schedule with times in every US time zone, explains which channels you need, and shows how to set up the whole family on KrushTV before the big day.

NBA Christmas Day 2026 Schedule

All five games are on Friday, December 25, 2026, and every one is broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

West Coast families get the friendliest slate: the opener tips at 9 AM Pacific, right around the time the wrapping paper is cleared, and the nightcap ends at a normal bedtime. On the East Coast, the late game is for the night owls who want to stretch Christmas as long as possible.

The Games Worth Planning Around

76ers vs Lakers: LeBron Comes Back to LA

The headline game of the day is at 5 PM ET. LeBron James returns to Los Angeles, this time wearing a Philadelphia uniform, to face the Lakers. Whatever you think of the move, this is the one the whole family will want to see together, so plan dinner around it rather than on top of it.

Spurs vs Knicks: The Noon Opener

New York always hosts a Christmas game, and this year San Antonio comes to town to kick off the day. It is the perfect background game while everyone is still in pajamas.

Heat vs Celtics: An Eastern Rivalry

Miami and Boston have built a real rivalry over the years, and a 2:30 PM ET tip makes it an easy afternoon watch.

Thunder vs Timberwolves and Nuggets vs Warriors

The evening belongs to the Western Conference. Oklahoma City and Minnesota take prime time at 8 PM ET, then Denver visits Golden State to close the night at 10:30 PM ET.

What Channel Do You Need?

All five games air on ABC, with ESPN also carrying them. That simplifies things a lot. You do not need a sports tier or a regional sports network for Christmas Day. If you can watch your local ABC station, you can watch every game.

KrushTV includes local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations in many US cities, so ABC is your channel for the entire day. KrushTV does not promise the main ESPN channel, but you will not need it here since ABC has all five games. If you want to know more about how local stations work on IPTV, read our guide to local channels on IPTV.

The easiest way to find each game is the Sports Guide in the KrushTV app. It lists today's games with live scores and the exact channel each game is on, so on Christmas you just open it, tap the game, and you are watching. Between games, the live scores help you see which matchup is close without flipping around.

Christmas Day Cost: KrushTV vs Other Options

Here is roughly what it costs to have live TV for Christmas with the common options. Prices are standard published rates and can change.

A full year of KrushTV costs less than one month of most live TV streaming services. See every plan on the pricing page.

Watching With the Whole Family

Christmas is when everyone is home, and not everyone wants the same game. Every KrushTV plan includes 2 screens at the same time, so the living room can have the Lakers game while someone else watches a movie in the den. Need more? On the 1 Year plan you can add 1 more screen for $20 or 2 more screens for $40. Our guide on watching on multiple TVs covers how to set that up.

A few app features help on a busy holiday:

• Family PIN: hides adult content, so kids can browse safely between games.
• My List: save the holiday movies the family wants to watch after the late game.
• Continue watching: pick a movie back up right where you paused it for tip-off.

With 70,000+ movies and series in the library, there is plenty for the non basketball fans in the house too. For more ideas, see our post on the best IPTV for families.

How to Get Set Up Before Christmas

1. Request a free trial. Message KrushTV on WhatsApp at +1 949-594-8817 or use the chat on krushtv.com. It is free for 3 days with no credit card. Start it a few weeks early so you can test every TV.
2. Install on your devices. On Firestick, Fire TV and Android TV, use the KrushTV app with Downloader code 6826306. Android phones and tablets also run the KrushTV app. On iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Smart TVs and PCs, use a player app such as IPTV Smarters or TiviMate. Step by step instructions are on our setup guides page.
3. Pick a plan. Pay once by debit or credit card, Cash App or Bitcoin. There is no monthly plan and nothing auto-renews.
4. Check the Sports Guide on December 25. Open it to find each game and its channel.

If anything comes up on the holiday, support is available 24/7 on WhatsApp, or by email at support.krushtv@gmail.com.

A Year of KrushTV as a Gift Idea

Looking for something for the basketball fan who has everything? A 1 Year plan is $75 with a one-time payment that never auto-renews, so there is no surprise bill for them later. It covers the rest of the NBA season after Christmas, plus 10,000+ live channels from the US, Canada and the UK. To be clear, there are no holiday discounts; the price is the same all year. Questions about setting it up for someone else can go to support on WhatsApp.

FAQ

What channel are the NBA Christmas Day 2026 games on?

All five NBA Christmas Day games on Friday, December 25, 2026 air on ABC and ESPN. Because every game is on ABC, you can follow the whole day on a local ABC station.

Can I watch the NBA Christmas games on KrushTV?

KrushTV includes local ABC stations in many US cities, and all five Christmas Day games are on ABC. The Sports Guide in the KrushTV app lists each game with live scores and the channel it is on, so you can jump straight to it.

How many TVs can watch KrushTV at the same time on Christmas?

Every KrushTV plan includes 2 screens at the same time. On the 1 Year plan you can add 1 more screen for $20 or 2 more screens for $40.

Is there a free trial before Christmas Day?

Yes. KrushTV offers a free 3-day trial with no credit card. Message KrushTV on WhatsApp at +1 949-594-8817 or use the chat on krushtv.com to request it, or head to the free trial page.

Can I give KrushTV as a Christmas gift?

A 1 Year KrushTV plan is $75, a one-time payment that never auto-renews, which makes it a simple gift idea for a basketball fan. There are no holiday discounts, the price is the same year round.