Holiday games have become a mainstay in professional sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, and NHL, giving fans a unique way to see their favorite teams play. The tradition has spread to the college ranks with top-tier NCAA bowl games scheduled around New Year’s Day.
Below, we will take a closer look at who is playing in 2022 Christmas and New Year’s Day games and how you can sneak one in during the rest of your winter festivities.
NBA on Christmas Day
This year marks the 75th edition of the NBA on Christmas Day. Dubbed “The Five Games of Christmas,” this exciting lineup tips off with the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks at 12 p.m. E.T. and closes with the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. E.T. Other games include the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, and the Memphis Grizzlies against the Golden State Warriors. This will be the Grizzlies’ Christmas Day debut.
Part of what makes NBA on Christmas Day so special is the history of incredible performances included in the series. In 1961, for example, Wilt Chamberlain scored 59 points and pulled down 36 rebounds in a double-overtime loss to the Knicks. In 1984, his scoring record was broken by Bernard King, who dropped 60 in a loss to the New Jersey Nets. Two decades later, in 2004, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant met for the first time after Shaq’s trade to the Miami Heat. O’Neal turned in a 24-point, 11-rebound performance to help Miami overcome Bryant’s 42 points.
NFL Christmas Tripleheader
For the first time in league history, the NFL has a tripleheader scheduled for Christmas Day. The Green Bay Packers will travel to Miami and face the Dolphins in the first game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. The Denver Broncos face the Los Angeles Rams at 4:30 p.m., and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Arizona Cardinals at 8:20 p.m., in the other two games. There are 11 NFL games scheduled for Dec. 24 and one on Dec. 26 to close out Week 16.
On New Year’s Day, the NFL will feature a standard Sunday slate with 14 games. The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers meet in the Sunday Night Football game at their shared venue, SoFi Stadium.
NHL on New Year’s Day
The NHL takes a few days off over Christmas, but will feature a five-game slate on New Year’s Day. The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils meet in the first game at 3 p.m. ET. Then, on Jan. 2, the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks will compete in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston. This is the 14th edition of the NHL Winter Classic. The Bruins and Penguins will don special-edition jerseys for the event and the NHL will also be hosting a free outdoor fan festival on Dec. 30 and 31 with Boston alumni and the Stanley Cup.
Bowl Games
There are four NCAA Bowl Games scheduled for New Year’s Eve including both College Football Playoff Semifinals where No. 3 TCU will face No. 2 Michigan in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl and No. 4 Ohio State will meet No. 1 Georgia in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl. Winners will advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium.
In the other two New Year’s games, Iowa and Kentucky will meet in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, and Alabama and Kansas State will face off in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Four additional games are scheduled for Jan. 2 including the annual Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. That game features Penn State and Utah.
Making Memories
With a few extra days off from work and school, this is the perfect time to make some new memories with friends and family. Whether you are more of a college football fan or a hockey diehard, there is something for everyone on the schedule of 2022 Christmas and New Year’s Day games.
