ESPN has announced full coverage details for the NBA on Christmas Day special.
The network will broadcast basketball non stop from midday ET until the early hours of the morning.
ESPN stars Stephen A. Smith and Malika Andrews face a busy day on Christmas with five NBA games live on the network[/caption]
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will take center stage against the Golden State Warriors[/caption]
Five games will be shown back to back, all live on national television.
They will all be shown live on ABC as well as ESPN throughout the holiday.
The action kicks off with NBA Countdown on ESPN from 11 am ET.
And the first live action sees the San Antonio Spurs visit the New York Knicks from midday ET.
That game will also have a Mickey Mouse themed simulcast on ESPN2.
Next up will be the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Dallas Mavericks from 2.30 pm ET.
And the Philadelphia 76ers face the Boston Celtics from 5 pm ET.
The main game at 8 pm ET sees the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors.
ESPN’s top team of Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson and Lisa Salters will be on the call for that game.
It will see another showdown between two modern-day greats LeBron James and Steph Curry.
And the action will conclude with the Denver Nuggets taking on the Phoenix Suns in a 10.30 pm ET tip-off.
Christmas Day is one of the biggest in the NBA calendar.
It traditionally marked the first time in the season in which games appear on national, network television.
That changed in recent years with the finals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas earlier in December.
The NBA has also faced competition in recent years from the NFL on Christmas Day.
NBA on Christmas Day schedule
12 pm ET – San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks
2.30 pm ET – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks
5 pm ET – Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics
8 pm ET – Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors
10.30 pm ET – Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns
That has intensified this year with two football games live on Netflix.
The NFL tended to schedule games on Christmas only when they fell on regular gamedays – Thursday, Sunday or Monday.
But this year they have gone out their way with a Wednesday doubleheader live on the streaming service.
The Kansas City Chiefs face the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 pm ET.
And the Baltimore Ravens visit the Houston Texans at 4.30 pm ET with Beyonce performing a halftime show.
