The tradition continues as Christmas will be home to the NBA on ABC and ESPN for the 15th consecutive season. On Sunday, Dec. 25, ABC and ESPN will combine to present over 13 consecutive hours of NBA ACTION over five games, highlighted by the much-anticipated rematch of the most-watched NBA FINALS in ABC history - the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving host the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant - at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The
NBA FINALS broadcast team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson will call their seventh Christmas day together and will handle Cavaliers-Warriors duties with sideline reporter Lisa Salters. NBA Countdown, featuring the return to
ABC of Earvin "Magic" Johnson, precedes the game at 2 p.m. ET alongside Michelle Beadle, hosting her first
NBA COUNTDOWN on Christmas, Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups.
In the second game within ABC's afternoon doubleheader, the Chicago Bulls and Dwyane Wade will visit the San Antonio Spurs and Pau Gasol, at 5 p.m. Mark Jones and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown will provide commentary. Israel Gutierrez will serve as the sideline reporter.
The five-game Christmas slate tips off at 12 p.m. (noon) when the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony host the Boston Celtics and Isaiah Thomas at Madison Square Garden. Ryan Ruocco and Curt Gowdy award-winner Doug Collins will call the action with sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth.
ESPN will also televise a prime-time Christmas night doubleheader, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and triple-double king Russell Westbrook host the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns. Adam Amin will call his first Christmas game with analyst Doris Burke. In the final game of the day, the LA Clippers visit the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season. Dave Pasch will handle play-by-play with analyst Jon Barry and sideline reporter J.A. Adande.
To complement
ESPN Deportes' coverage of the NBA during Christmas Day and in an effort to serve a broader Hispanic audience,
ESPN2 will simulcast
ESPN Deportes' Spanish-language coverage of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers telecast.
Throughout the day,
ESPN will create several alternate viewing experiences for its NBA Christmas games on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. For the three
ESPN telecasts, ESPN3 will air the games utilizing NBA Surround DataCenter, which will include graphic displays of in-game data, stats and information. For the
ABC doubleheader, ESPN3 will implement NBA Surround Multiview, which will feature unique and alternative camera angles for the games. All five Christmas games will include live, in-arena pre-game coverage beginning 45 minutes prior to the tip, on ESPN3.
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