Nets-Lakers, Celtics-Bucks top five-game slate on Christmas Day

The NBA unveiled its five-game Christmas Day slate on Tuesday afternoon, which features the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and the re-tooled Los Angeles Lakers. The Christmas Day action begins at noon ET with a rematch of last year’s first-round NBA playoff matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks on ESPN. Last season, the Hawks defeated the Knicks in five games, thanks in large part to the play of Trae Young. Young also became the villain to many New York fans.

After the Hawks and Knicks battle it out at Madison Square Garden, the Boston Celtics will travel to Fiserv Forum to play the defending champion, Bucks at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Bucks will look to pickup a signature win led by their trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. Meanwhile, the Celtics led by new coach Ime Udoka will try to take down the champs.

Then at 5:00 p.m. ET, the Golden State Warriors will play the NBA Finals runner-up, Phoenix Suns on ABC. At 8:30 p.m. ET, the best game of the night will be between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on ABC/ESPN. The last game of the night will be at 10:30 p.m. ET with the Dallas Mavericks taking on the Utah Jazz at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Christmas Day schedule

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks — 12:00 p.m., ESPN
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks — 2:30 p.m., ABC
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns — 5:00 p.m., ABC
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 8:00 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz — 10:30 p.m., ESPN