Rematch of Most-Watched NBA Finals in ABC History: Defending Champion Golden State Warriors Host Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC
Stars on Christmas: LeBron James | Stephen Curry | Kevin Durant | James Harden | Russell Westbrook | Chris Paul | Carmelo Anthony | Kyrie Irving | Isaiah Thomas | Top Draft Pick Markelle Fultz
For First Time Since 2006 NBA Christmas Day & ESPN’s Monday Night Football Align for Significant Day of Live Sports on ESPN Platforms
ESPN’s Four-Game Season-Opening NBA Schedule in October to Feature Warriors, Cavaliers, Spurs, Timberwolves & More
A Christmas tradition: for the 16th consecutive year, ESPN and ABC will be home to blockbuster NBA action on Christmas, Monday, December 25. The networks will combine for day-long NBA coverage, highlighted by a rematch of the most-watched NBA Finals in ABC history as the Golden State Warriors – led by Stephen Curry and NBA Finals M.V.P. Kevin Durant – host their rivals, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving at 3 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App.
The NBA Finals rematch is part of a first-ever ABC Christmas triple-header, which will include a 5:30 p.m. rematch of the 2016 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals – the Boston Celtics with Isaiah Thomas and new acquisition Gordon Hayward host the Washington Wizards and John Wall. The triple-header concludes with a special prime-time 8 p.m. broadcast when Western Conference heavyweights collide as the Oklahoma City Thunder, with reigning NBA M.V.P. Russell Westbrook and new acquisition Paul George host the Houston Rockets, led by James Harden and new teammate Chris Paul.
ESPN’s NBA Christmas quadruple-header tips off from Madison Square Garden at noon as the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis host the Philadelphia 76ers with top NBA Draft pick Markelle Fultz and “The Process” Joel Embiid. NBA Countdown will air two pre-game episodes on Christmas, including a one-hour edition at 11 a.m. on ESPN, and a 2:30 p.m. show on ABC.
For the first time since 2006, NBA Christmas action and ESPN’s Monday Night Football will align for a significant day of live sports across ESPN platforms. The 2017 season finale of Monday Night Football will air at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Oakland Raiders in a matchup of emerging quarterbacks – Derek Carr leads the Raiders against Carson Wentz and the Eagles.
ESPN’s season-opening schedule
ESPN will televise four NBA season-opening games across two doubleheaders in mid-October, showcasing several of the league’s top teams and most popular stars. On Wednesday, October 18, the 76ers and top pick Fultz will visit the Wizards and Wall at 7 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. perennial Western Conference contenders, the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard, will host the emerging Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler. On Friday, October 20, the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cavaliers will visit the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 7 p.m. In the nightcap, the defining NBA Champion Warriors will visit the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis in a star-studded matchup at 9:30 p.m.
Christmas 2017
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| Mon, Dec. 25 | 12 p.m. (Noon) | Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks | ESPN, ESPN App |
| 3 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics | ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio | |
| 8 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder | ABC, ESPN App | |
| 8:30 p.m. | ESPN Monday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles at Oakland Raiders | ESPN, ESPN App |
Opening Week 2017
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| Wed, Oct. 18 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards | ESPN, ESPN App |
| 9:30 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs | ESPN, ESPN App | |
| Fri, Oct. 20 | 7 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks | ESPN, ESPN App |
| 9:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans | ESPN, ESPN App |
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ESPN NBA contacts: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @Ben_ESPN;
Gianina Thompson at 860-766-7022 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @Gianina_ESPN
