The NBA has finalized its traditional schedule of games for December 25th, an emblematic date for the league and for fans around the world. The Christmas Day schedule will feature five consecutive games, including the highly anticipated matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, which will be played in prime time. The schedule also includes matchups between the Cavaliers and Knicks, Spurs and Thunder, Mavericks and Warriors, and the closing game with the Timberwolves against the Nuggets. The order of the games, all in Eastern Time, will begin at noon with Cleveland in New York. Then, San Antonio will visit Oklahoma City at 2:30 pm, Dallas will face Golden State at 5:00 pm, Houston will take on the Lakers at 8:00 pm, and Minnesota will play in Denver at 10:30 pm, thus completing the traditional five-game Christmas Day lineup. For Jalen Williams, star of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the day has a special plan. “Presents in the morning and then a game in the afternoon,” summarized the player, who considers playing a Christmas Day game a unique experience. "As a basketball player, I feel like you grow—really, if you're a fan of the sport—watching games on Christmas Day. To be able to be a part of that is really cool," he stated. Williams also highlighted the timing of his game: "What time do we play, 1:30 (Central Time)? Yeah, we're like the ideal game. The presents have already been opened and everyone is watching the games. I'm really looking forward to that moment," AP reported.

LeBron, Records, and the December 25 Tradition

The Rockets-Lakers clash will have a historical element if LeBron James plays. If he does, it will be his twentieth Christmas Day game, a number higher than the total number of Christmas Day games played in the entire history of 17 current NBA franchises. “I'd rather be at home with my family,” James acknowledged. "But it's a game, it's the game I love, it's the game I watched as a kid on Christmas Day, watching a lot of the greats play. It's always been an honor to play on this day. I'm going to be completely honest: I'd like to be on the couch with my family all day, but we get called up, so we have to go out there and deliver.”

James already leads several all-time Christmas Day game categories, including games played, points (507), wins (11), field goals made (180), and three-pointers made (31, tied with James Harden). This year, he could continue to climb the rankings in assists, steals, and free throws made.

The schedule also marks the Thunder's return to the Christmas Day lineup after feeling excluded last year, and it will be only Victor Wembanyama's second Christmas Day experience with the Spurs, following his 2014 debut with 42 points and 18 rebounds against New York.