One of the five games scheduled for the upcoming NBA Christmas Day slate is a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks, offering a potential reunion between former teammates now squaring off as opponents.
After winning the 2022 NBA title, the Warriors worked to upgrade their roster and extend their championship window around Stephen Curry. However, the team ultimately moved on from Klay Thompson, who joined the Mavericks. This Christmas Day, fans will have the chance to watch Thompson face his former team on one of the biggest stages a regular-season game can provide.
How To Watch the NBA Christmas Clash Between the Warriors and Mavericks
Even before Thompson left Golden State for Dallas, the two teams had a budding rivalry. Curry and the Warriors eliminated Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in the 2022 Western Conference finals, adding fuel to the matchup.
Although the Mavericks made their presence felt by advancing to the 2024 NBA Finals, the team has struggled this season and appears diminished, particularly after transitioning leadership from Dončić to rookie Cooper Flagg in the offseason. Flagg now pairs with one of the game’s greatest shooters in Thompson and star big man Anthony Davis. Even with that talent, the Mavericks enter the Christmas Day matchup as underdogs with their backs against the wall.
Major broadcast outlets, including ABC and ESPN, along with the ESPN app, will carry traditional telecasts of the NBA Christmas games. In addition, ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD are expected to air alternative presentations aimed at reaching a broader audience.
The Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Mavericks falls in the middle of the NBA’s packed holiday schedule. Fans should note that tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Those without access to the listed broadcast options can turn to streaming services, which also serve international audiences. Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV are among the available platforms for watching the NBA’s Christmas Day games.
Per the NBA, Flagg is set to become the youngest player to appear in a Christmas Day game since LeBron James in 2003. The game will also mark Thompson’s lone regular‑season appearance in San Francisco.
Both the Warriors and Mavericks have underperformed to open the season, a trend reflected in their win-loss records. With viewership expected to far exceed that of a typical regular-season game, stars on both sides will face increased pressure and are expected to rise to the occasion.
