CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs will spend Christmas in New York.
For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the last year of the LeBron James era, Cleveland is reportedly part of the NBA’s marquee five-game Christmas Day lineup — a slate reserved for the league’s premier teams and brightest stars.
One of two Eastern Conference teams to receive this year’s honor, the Cavs are set to play the rival Knicks at famed Madison Square Garden. Tipoff time has not yet been announced — although the highly anticipated showdown between the two East contenders could be the day’s opening act at 12 p.m.
The other four games will be San Antonio at Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Lakers hosting new-look Houston, Dallas at Golden State and Minnesota at Denver.
The Cavs last played on Christmas in 2017 — a hyped NBA Finals rematch against the Warriors.
After a 64-win regular season in 2024-25, one of the best in franchise history, the Cavs lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals — the second consecutive year heavily favored Cleveland failed to advance beyond the second round.
Despite the latest playoff setback, the retooled Cavs are viewed as an East power once again. Christmas is likely to be one of many national TV games Cleveland receives, especially given that conference mainstays Indiana and Boston are primed to take a step back because of season-ending Achilles injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum.
The Cavs, meanwhile, return their top five scorers — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter and Jarrett Allen. They also have a few new pieces, including free agent pickup Larry Nance Jr. and trade acquisition Lonzo Ball — both of whom are expected to fortify a team that finished with the most wins in the conference and second-most in Cavaliers history.
Earlier Friday afternoon, ESPN reported that NBA Opening Night will be Oct. 21, featuring four Western Conference teams — Houston at Oklahoma City and the Lakers hosting Golden State.
The full 2025-26 schedule will likely be unveiled at some point next week.
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