Knicks Set to Host Cavaliers in Fifth Consecutive Christmas Day Game

The New York Knicks are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day 2025 at Madison Square Garden, marking their fifth consecutive Christmas Day appearance and the 58th in franchise history. This highly anticipated matchup features two of the top Eastern Conference contenders and serves as a rematch of their 2023 playoff series, with the Cavaliers having swept the Knicks in all four regular-season meetings last year. The Knicks, eager to prove themselves against strong competition, have made significant roster and coaching changes, including hiring Mike Brown as head coach and adding key bench scorers, aiming for a deep playoff run after falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Both teams are considered favorites in the East, with the Cavaliers finishing atop the conference last season before their playoff exit, and the Knicks looking to leverage their healthy roster and elite offensive talent to contend for the top seed. The Christmas Day game will be a critical early-season gauge of the Knicks’ championship aspirations and their ability to overcome previous struggles against the Cavaliers. Alongside this marquee Eastern Conference battle, the NBA’s Christmas Day slate features high-profile Western Conference matchups, including games involving the Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Nuggets.