While Thanksgiving features turkey and NFL games, Christmas Day means presents and marquis NBA matchups. Generally perceived as the de facto opening night of professional basketball of the year, the league makes sure it showcases its best and most high profile teams and players in a day of non-stop basketball action.
This year, a slate of five games starts at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and will run until close to midnight when it’s all said and done. The Boston Celtics will play the New York Knickerbockers at Madison Square Garden at 11 a.m.; the Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers at 1:30 p.