February 17, 2026
Providence College's Student-Run Newspaper Since 1935
by Izzy Mignardi ’27 and Dorothée Durivage ’28 on December 11, 2025
Christmas is just around the corner and holiday magic can be felt anywhere. The NBA is no exception, as it has annually played games on Christmas Day since the league’s inception in the late 1940s. As tradition wants it, Christmas games are the perfect opportunity to spotlight the top teams, rivalries, and stars, bringing in some of the best ratings of the season. This year’s games will be no different; the league has set up five consecutive nationally televised games. In an attempt to highlight special narratives and heated rivalries, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be playing against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, pitting two competitive Eastern Conference teams against each other. The Knicks have played the most Christmas Day games out of all 30 NBA teams, with this game marking their 58th appearance. The league’s defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be receiving the San Antonio Spurs in Oklahoma City for an opportunity to play against the Spurs’ rising star, Victor Wembanyama. Christmas Day’s main rivalry will take place in Los Angeles when the Lakers face the Houston Rockets, with two rival stars, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, fighting for their team’s win. LA’s Lakers are tied with the Knicks for the team with the most wins on the holiday, with 25 each. The NBA’s youngest player, Cooper Flagg, will be making his first appearance in a Christmas Day game since being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks last June. Dallas will travel to San Francisco for their game against the Golden State Warriors. With a Western Conference meeting to close off this Holiday’s games, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be heading to Denver to play the Nuggets, pitting Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic against each other. This game in the West will close out a 13-hour run of nonstop games for the league, making it a day packed with exciting matchups. – Dorothée Durivage ’28 Sports Staff
Turkey in the oven, cranberry sauce on the stove, family around the table, and football on the TV. Thanksgiving Day football is an American pastime, a staple of the holiday. Even those who couldn’t care less about the sport find comfort in the sound of the games on TV while holiday preparations begin.
This year, while food was still in the oven, the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions 31–24. Then, the game might have been muted while dinner was served as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a tight game, with a final score of 31–28. Finally, as the holiday came to a close, the Cincinnati Bengals won against the Baltimore Ravens 32–14.
Whether or not your team is playing, the games bring together everyone in the house. An argument or two might arise if someone wants to flip channels back and forth to the parade. Like the parade, the games and the holiday are forever linked. This tradition is one incomparable to any other sport, because not only does it unite (or divide) families in their homes, but it unites people across the country. 57.2 million people tuned into the Cowboys vs. Chiefs 4:30 p.m. game, making it the most viewed regular season game in NFL history.
Other sports, like basketball, average around 5.25 million viewers on their holiday games, proving that Thanksgiving Day football is truly unparalleled in its importance for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.– Izzy Mignardi ’27 Sports Staff
