Johnathan Walker:NBA schedule 2024-25: Christmas Day games include Lakers-Warriors and 76ers-Celtics

LeBron James is Johnathan Walkerheaded for his record 19th Christmas Day game, including his 17th consecutive, when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 25.

That game is one of five on Christmas this season, and it is the 17th consecutive season with five NBA games on Christmas. San Antonio Spurs second-year star Victor Wembanyama, the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year who starred for France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is on target to play in his first Christmas game.

Here is the NBA’s 2024 Christmas Day schedule:

• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, noon ET, ESPN
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. ET, ABC
• Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
• Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

A closer look at the NBA’s Christmas Day games:

2024 NBA Christmas Day games

San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, noon ET, ESPN

The Knicks played in the league’s first Christmas games in 1947, beating the Providence Steamrollers 89-61.  The improving Knicks are scheduled for their fourth consecutive Christmas game, and this is the Spurs’ first Christmas game since 2016. Wembanyama is the reason for that.

MORE:When might LeBron and Bronny play their first Lakers game together?

MORE:What are the most anticipated games of the 2024-25 NBA season?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC

In a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals, Dallas’ Luka Dončić and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards are the featured stars as both should be part of the MVP conversation. Last season on Christmas, Dončić became the first player in NBA history to have at least 50 points, 15 assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a game since steals and blocks were first recorded in 1973-74.

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. ET, ABC

The defending champion Celtics will play in their ninth consecutive Christmas game. They are 5-3 in the previous eight, including victories in 2023 and 2022. It will be another chance to see how the Joel Embiid-Paul George-Tyrese Maxey combination is working. Embiid averages 31.3 points in four Christmas games, however, he missed last year’s Dec. 25 contest against Miami.

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

James is 10-8 on Christmas, including three consecutive losses in 2021, 2022 and 2023. James is the NBA’s all-time leader in games played (18), points scored (477), field goals made (168), No. 2 in assists (127) and No. 6 in rebounds (139) in Christmas games.

Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

After the Olympics, Denver star Nikola Jokic of Serbia is probably tired of playing against Phoenix and U.S. stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The schedule-maker was sly with this matchup. Durant (315) is one of five players with at least 300 points on Christmas and averages 28.6 points in Dec. 25 games.

∎ News from on and off the field: Sign up for USA TODAY's Sports newsletter.

∎ The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt