What happened: San Antonio visits New York at noon ET before Philadelphia-Los Angeles tips at 5 p.m. Oklahoma City-Minnesota starts at 8, followed by Denver-Golden State at 10:30.
Why it matters: Christmas Day remains one of the NBA's showcase dates, with each matchup receiving its own window. The closing doubleheader keeps Western Conference teams in focus from 8 p.m. onward.
By the numbers: Five games feature 10 teams. Tipoffs are separated by 2.5, 2.5, 3 and 2.5 hours, spanning 10.5 hours from the first start to the last.
What to watch: The full 2026-27 schedule will establish the travel and rest context surrounding each Dec. 25 matchup.