Ratings for NBA games on Christmas Day since 1999. In 1998, Christmas Day games were canceled, thanks to the NBA lockout. Ratings for games on cable are national ratings, with coverage area ratings presented in parentheses ().
1999
3.6: Knicks at Pacers (7:00 PM NBC)
4.5: Spurs at Lakers (9:30 PM NBC)
2000
2.5: Magic at Pacers (3:00 PM NBC)
4.0: Blazers at Lakers (5:30 PM NBC)
2001
2.7: Raptors at Knicks (6:00 PM NBC)
3.7: 76ers at Lakers (8:30 PM NBC)
2002
N/A: Pistons at Magic (2:00 PM ESPN)
2.5: Celtics at Nets (6:00 PM ABC)
4.5: Kings at Lakers (8:30 PM ABC)
2003
1.8 (2.2): Cavaliers at Magic (2:30 PM ESPN)
3.1: Mavericks at Kings (6:00 PM ABC)
4.1: Rockets at Lakers (8:30 PM ABC)
2004
2.9 (3.5): Pistons at Pacers (12:30 PM ESPN)
7.3: Heat at Lakers (3:00 PM ABC)
2005
3.9: Spurs at Pistons (12:30 PM ABC)
4.8: Lakers at Heat (3:00 PM ABC)
2006
3.5: Lakers at Heat (2:30 PM ABC)
