Ratings and viewership for each NBA game on Christmas Day dating back to 2001, ranked by viewership. (* The 2011 Christmas Day slate doubled as NBA opening day due to the owners’ lockout of players.)
| Time | Game | Net | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ||||
| 2:28 PM | Warriors/Cavaliers | ABC | 4.9 | 10.14M |
| 5:18 PM | Bulls/Spurs | ABC | 2.8 | 5.47M |
| 12:00 PM | Celtics/Knicks | ESPN | 2.0 | 3.69M |
| 10:34 PM | Clippers/Lakers | ESPN | 0.95 | 1.61M |
| 7:59 PM | T’Wolves/Thunder | ESPN | 0.8 | 1.39M |
| 2015 | ||||
| 5:00 PM | Cavaliers/Warriors | ABC | 5.7 | 11.12M |
| 2:30 PM | Bulls/Thunder | ABC | 3.2 | 5.85M |
| 8:00 PM | Spurs/Rockets | ESPN | 2.0 | 3.88M |
| 12:00 PM | Pelicans/Heat | ESPN | 1.9 | 3.17M |
| 10:30 PM | Clippers/Lakers | ESPN | 1.6 | 2.89M |
| 2014 | ||||
| 5:09 PM | Cavaliers/Heat | ABC | 4.8 | 9.33M |
| 2:26 PM | Thunder/Spurs | ABC | 3.3 | 5.89M |
| 8:14 PM | Lakers/Bulls | TNT | 2.1 | 4.04M |
| 10:43 PM | Warriors/Clippers | TNT | 1.7 | 3.08M |
| 11:59 AM | Wizards/Knicks | ESPN | 1.8 | 3.04M |
| 2013 | ||||
| 5:07 PM | Heat/Lakers | ABC | 4.2 | 7.83M |
| 2:27 PM | Thunder/Knicks | ABC | 3.0 | 5.45M |
| 8:00 PM | Rockets/Spurs | ESPN | 2.0 | 3.40M |
| 11:59 AM | Bulls/Nets | ESPN | 1.6 | 2.78M |
| 10:34 PM | Clippers/Warriors | ESPN | 1.8 | 2.73M |
| 2012 | ||||
| 5:54 PM | Thunder/Heat | ABC | 5.1 | 9.63M |
| 2:57 PM | Knicks/Lakers | ABC | 4.8 | 8.73M |
| 12:00 PM | Celtics/Nets | ESPN | 2.2 | 3.74M |
| 10:35 PM | Nuggets/Clippers | ESPN | 1.5 | 2.31M |
| 7:59 PM | Rockets/Bulls | ESPN | 1.4 | 2.39M |
| 2011* | ||||
| 5:25 PM | Bulls/Lakers | ABC | 5.6 | 11.01M |
| 2:33 PM | Heat/Mavericks | ABC | 4.9 | 9.02M |
| 12:00 PM | Celtics/Knicks | TNT | 3.4 | 5.87M |
| 10:39 PM | Clippers/Warriors | ESPN | 1.9 | 3.01M |
| 7:58 PM | Magic/Thunder | ESPN | 1.6 | 2.57M |
| 2010 | ||||
| 5:16 PM | Heat/Lakers | ABC | 6.4 | 13.11M |
| 2:30 PM | Celtics/Magic | ABC | 4.6 | 8.68M |
| 12:00 PM | Bulls/Knicks | ESPN | 2.3 | 4.02M |
| 7:59 PM | Nuggets/Thunder | ESPN | 1.2 | 2.03M |
| 10:44 PM | Blazers/Warriors | ESPN | 1.1 | 1.73M |
| 2009 | ||||
| 5:23 PM | Cavaliers/Lakers | ABC | 4.4 | 8.32M |
| 2:31 PM | Celtics/Magic | ABC | 3.3 | 5.86M |
| 12:00 PM | Heat/Knicks | ESPN | 1.7 | 2.65M |
| 10:31 PM | Nuggets/Blazers | ESPN | 1.2 | 1.78M |
| 8:00 PM | Clippers/Suns | ESPN | 0.9 | 1.59M |
| 2008 | ||||
| 5:15 PM | Celtics/Lakers | ABC | 5.3 | 9.98M |
| 2:36 PM | Spurs/Suns | ABC | 3.2 | 5.77M |
| 12:00 PM | Hornets/Magic | ESPN | 1.3 | 2.19M |
| 8:16 PM | Wizards/Cavaliers | TNT | 1.2 | 2.14M |
| 10:47 PM | Mavericks/Blazers | TNT | 1.0 | 1.57M |
| 2007 | ||||
| 5:23 PM | Suns/Lakers | ABC | 3.5 | 5.99M |
| 2:35 PM | Heat/Cavaliers | ABC | 3.1 | 5.02M |
| 8:02 PM | Sonics/Blazers | ESPN | 1.0 | 1.47M |
| 2006 | ||||
| 2:26 PM | Lakers/Heat | ABC | 3.5 | 5.47M |
| 2005 | ||||
| 3:01 PM | Lakers/Heat | ABC | 4.8 | 8.06M |
| 12:28 PM | Spurs/Pistons | ABC | 3.9 | 6.01M |
| 2004 | ||||
| 3:14 PM | Heat/Lakers | ABC | 7.3 | 13.18M |
| 12:30 PM | Pistons/Pacers | ESPN | 2.9 | 4.33M |
| 2003 | ||||
| 8:42 PM | Rockets/Lakers | ABC | 4.1 | 7.22M |
| 6:04 PM | Mavericks/Kings | ABC | 3.1 | 5.03M |
| 2:30 PM | Cavaliers/Magic | ESPN | 1.8 | 2.74M |
| 2002 | ||||
| 8:34 PM | Kings/Lakers | ABC | 4.5 | 7.49M |
| 6:01 PM | Celtics/Nets | ABC | 2.5 | 3.96M |
| 2:00 PM | Pistons/Magic | ESPN | 1.3 | 1.94M |
| 2001 | ||||
| 8:32 PM | Sixers/Lakers | NBC | 3.7 | 5.94M |
| 5:57 PM | Raptors/Knicks | NBC | 2.7 | 4.09M |
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