ESPN is continuing its tradition of broadcasting a lineup of Christmas Day games in the National Basketball Association, presenting five compelling matchups throughout the holiday. The network will present these matchups across various Disney-owned platforms, including ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+. The first matchup on the schedule tips off at 12 p.m. EST when Victor Webanyama and the San Antonio Spurs take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks from Madison Square Garden.
The traditional broadcast of the game will feature Ryan Ruocco, Cory Alexander and Cassidy Hubbarth on the call. Taking place on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+ will be the animated telecast, Dunk the Halls, which will recreate the gameplay from Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on its Main Street, USA. This presentation will feature Mickey and Friends, along with animated commentators Drew Carter and Monica McNutt. Daisy Duck will be the sideline reporter for the matchup where she will interview the players. Furthermore, this is the second animated broadcast of the month for ESPN, which presented a special edition of Monday Night Football featuring characters from The Simpsons earlier in the month.
Starting at 2:30 p.m. EST, the Minnesota Timberwolves will visit American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Mavericks. The Western Conference matchup will feature play-by-play announcer Mark Jones, analyst Jay Bilas and reporter Jorge Sedano. The Eastern Conference takes over the action at 5 p.m. EST when the Philadelphia 76ers face the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics. Play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch, analyst Tim Legler and reporter Katie George will be on the broadcast as these two teams battle for victory.
The prime time matchup at 8 p.m. EST will mark a new chapter in the history of games between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. As the Los Angeles Lakers travel to Chase Center to face the Golden State Warriors, viewers will listen to the game broadcast with Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson and Lisa Salters. For Jefferson, it marks another assignment with the lead broadcasting booth after he had called the Emirates NBA Cup from Las Vegas. ESPN has yet to name a permanent second analyst following the departure of JJ Redick, who accepted the job to become the new head coach of the Lakers.
Capping off the 14 consecutive hours of live NBA coverage across ESPN platforms is a Western Conference matchup with Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets facing Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. This game will commence from Footprint Center at 10:30 p.m. EST and contain a commentary team of Michael Grady, Stephanie White and Angel Gray.
Outside of the Dunk the Halls animated broadcast, all matchups throughout Christmas Day will air on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+. Malika Andrews will host a one-hour edition of NBA Countdown with analysts Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins before the Spurs take on the Knicks. New ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania will also take part in the show to provide insights and expertise surrounding the teams. Throughout the day, Andrews will lead the halftime coverage for Christmas Day games as well, along with conducting a sit-down interview with Stephen Curry that will air across coverage as well.
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