The Dallas Mavericks may be without Luka Doncic for an extended period of time. 

Doncic exited the Mavericks’ 105-99 Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter. With the Mavericks trailing 48-38 with 2:55 remaining in the first half, Doncic appeared to suffer a non-contact leg injury. He limped to the sideline as play continued and headed back to the locker room. The Mavericks ruled him out for the remainder of the contest with a left calf strain.

Doncic may be out longer than expected. According to ESPN, Dallas is preparing for Doncic to miss “an extended period of time” with the calf injury. Doncic reportedly exited American Airlines Center on crutches and will undergo an MRI on Thursday.

Doncic is averaging 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 21 games this season. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

All things Mavs: Latest Dallas Mavericks news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

There’s no such thing as the “symbolic halfway point” for Major League Baseball’s offseason, which can devolve from winter wonderland to grim slog through the tundra for a job, any job.

With that, happy holidays!

It’s somewhat fair to say Christmas morning marks a turning point. Simply, free agents want to be signed by then. Front offices would prefer having the bulk of their heavy lifting done – though patience remains a virtue in both trade talks and the mid-range free agent market.

As it stands, just a little more than half – 11 of 20 – of our top free agents have signed contracts, with just four of 10 and 34 of 120 overall finding their forever homes.

That means plenty more to come in the eight weeks before spring training camps open. A look at the teams and players in great shape, those poised for a winning winter and others with plenty of shopping remaining:

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

Love, actually

New York Yankees: A remarkable pivot from losing the game’s greatest free agent hitter and somehow improving upon a roster that made it to the World Series. Acquiring Cody Bellinger for, essentially, a modest lump of cash solves a lot of problems. While the Paul Goldschmidt add may not work out for a few reasons (another aging right-handed hitter?), the risk is low, with decent upside. Easily the favorites in the AL East, and probably to defend their pennant, too.

Philadelphia Phillies: A lineup full of nine-figure contracts and positional inflexibility always made a Juan Soto play and other massive outlays unrealistic. So the Phillies attacked their liabilities on the fringe, trading for Jesús Luzardo to ensure Taijuan Walker heads to the bullpen and signing outfielder Max Kepler, limiting light-hitting Johan Rojas’s exposure. A once-vaunted bullpen looks a little light if Jordan Romano is the lone high-leverage add, but the overall staff depth looks nice with the low-cost signing of Joe Ross.

Texas Rangers: After a one-year pause in the free agent waters after assessing their TV rights situation, the 2023 champs are acting the part again. Re-upping playoff hero Nathan Eovaldi on a $75 million deal takes a ton of pressure off several arms, be it Jacob deGrom’s return to full-time duty to the expected impact from rookies Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. The position-player pool is now deep and flexible, with Jake Burger and Joc Pederson adding beef to the right and left sides and Kyle Higashioka giving the catching position more sock. Bouncebacks from outfielders Evan Carter and Adolis Garcia would make this a very dangerous squad.

Die hard

Toronto Blue Jays: It wouldn’t be a holiday card display without a “wish you were here” from a major free agent. This time, it’s Soto sending his regrets. Yet the Blue Jays remain determined to exploit their diminishing Vlad Guerrero (and Bo Bichette) window, and trading for Andrés Giménez filled a fairly big hole. Now, to find a rotation piece, a third baseman, bullpen help – and meet Guerrero’s spring training deadline for an extension. A high-wire act, indeed.

San Francisco Giants: At long last, a big-time free agent took their money before daylight savings kicked in. Willy Adames brings charisma, home-run pop and excellent middle infield defense to the mix. Now, to land Corbin Burnes – which might make the Dodgers look up from their Clase Azul shot glasses and take notice.

Boston Red Sox: Boston remains a non-destination for the major free agent. So, bully for the Red Sox to dip into their prospect capital and bring in the most attractive arm on the trade market – cheap, dominant Garrett Crochet, who gives their rotation immediate credibility. Walker Buehler will be determined to shove in his one year in Boston. Bouncebacks and breakouts from returnees and those vaunted prospects make the BoSox interesting again – finally.

The holdovers

Baltimore Orioles: Is this as good as it gets? No big-money free agent, no major prospect capital spent on a Crochet-like trade asset? Keep in mind that GM Mike Elias didn’t swing a trade for rental ace Corbin Burnes until Feb. 1, so even though plenty of work remains, there’s also lots of time. Yet the first winter with new owner David Rubenstein seemed to confirm an Orioles fan’s worst fear – a dalliance with high-end prizes like Burnes, but a decided lack of smoke once it gets down to big-boy bidding. With righty slugger Tyler O’Neill and soft-tossing Japanese import Tomoyuki Sagano the big additions so far, Orioles fans’ challenge to Rubenstein remains the same: Prove us wrong.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Only in L.A. could the $182 million signing of Blake Snell and classically clever add of lefty slugger Michael Conforto leave fans with lingering questions. Well, just one, really: Where’s Teo? As the winter crawls on and there remains no reunion between charismatic slugger/World Series hero Teoscar Hernández and the club that rode his one season in L.A. to a championship, the likelihood increases that the club and the All-Star who has patiently awaited a proper payday may not find common ground. Minus Hernández and Buehler, are the Dodgers with Snell and Conforto better than the club that won the World Series? Probably – but not in the vibes department.

Atlanta Braves: The early-shopping window has closed on GM Alex Anthopoulos, whose best work often comes before Black Friday. But this year it’s only brought goodbyes to next-door neighbors Fried and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who was non-tendered and signed with the Angels. Now, the Braves need improvements in all areas, and don’t want to overly rely on recovering stars (Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider) and the return to All-Star form for Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Sean Murphy. Time for Alex to cook.

Home alone

San Diego Padres: After earning the unofficial designation as “probably the second-best team of 2024 but lost to the eventual champs in the NLDS,” the Padres have been virtually radio silent since, an odd position for an A.J. Preller-helmed club. They once again need a left fielder and DH, and probably won’t find a Jurickson Profar-like All-Star performer for such a bargain this time. Winning the Rōki Sasaki sweepstakes would be a huge boon for a club minding its bottom line. But for now, they’ve slipped well behind the Dodgers with the Giants closing fast.

Houston Astros: Perhaps the Kyle Tucker trade brought a needed infusion of “controllable years” to a squad in constant contention mode for a decade. The Christian Walker add was nice. Yet right now, minus Alex Bregman and with essentially replacement-level (or worse) production at all three outfield spots, it’s hard to imagine this squad staggering to 88 wins and an AL West title in ’25 – especially with the division all improved around them.

Pete Alonso: Uh, anybody need a dude who posted three 40-plus homer seasons before he was 30? We get it: Alonso is thrust into the mega-free agent derby and right now has nobody to dance with. His number will be called soon, probably in a reunion with the Mets, but in a just world, there’d be a dozen power-hungry teams with their hat in the ring, rather than the same old suspects rounding out their lineup.

Nolan Arenado: A strange limbo for an eight-time All-Star who just two years ago produced an NL-best 7.7 WAR. Arenado holds some sway over his trade destination, yet it’s undoubtedly an odd spot knowing the Cardinals have little interest in contending while others may hesitate to pay the $64 million owed Arenado – the Rockies are picking up $10 million more – the next three years.

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The NBA and Christmas go together as well as any other festive paring this time of year.

This year, the league has gifted fans five games sprinkled throughout the day, starting at noon ET with the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, who have played more games on Christmas Day (56) than any team in the NBA. That matchup will be followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Dallas Mavericks (2 p.m.), the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the Boston Celtics (5 p.m.), the Golden State Warriors hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m.) and the night will be capped by the Denver Nuggets traveling to face the Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m.).

NBA games today 

New York Knicks 117, San Antonio Spurs 114
Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Dallas Mavericks 99 
Philadelphia 76ers 118, Boston Celtics 114 
Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN 
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC 

76ers vs. Celtics highlights

Final: 76ers 118, Celtics 114

The Boston Celtics are green with envy after losing a close Christmas Day contest to the Philadelphia 76ers, 118-114. 

The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown struggled early in the contest — he was held to two first-half points — but the Finals MVP came up clutch in the second half. He knocked down a fadeaway 3-pointer to bring the Celtics within two, 116-114, with 4.2 seconds remaining. Boston immediately fouled Joel Embiid, who converted both of his free throws to extend the Sixers’ lead back to 118-114 with 2.8 seconds remaining. The Celtics weren’t able to get off a final shot, however, after Derrick White stepped out of bounds. The Sixers dribbled out the clock. 

Tyrese Maxey finished with a team-high 33 points and 12 assists, while Joel Embiid had 27 points and nine rebounds. 

Jayson Tatum had 32 points and 15 rebounds. Brown added 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss. 

End of 3Q: Celtics 82, 76ers 82

Things are all even after three quarters. 

Joel Embiid is on double-double watch, leading the 76ers with 23 points and eight rebounds. Tyrese Maxey has 20 points and nine assists, one away from a double-double of his own. 

Jayson Tatum has 21 points and 13 rebounds. After being held to only two points in the first half, Jaylen Brown exploded for 14 points in the third quarter, bringing his total to 16 points. 

Halftime: 76ers 66, Celtics 58

The 76ers led by as many as 16 points in the first half and take a 66-58 lead over the Celtics into the locker room at halftime. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each have 18 points through the first half. Philadelphia is shooting 53.1% from the field collectively and is outscoring Boston 30-14 in the paint.

The Celtics are shooting 43.8% from the field. Jayson Tatum has 16 points and four rebounds, while Jaylen Brown has been held to two points, shooting 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-1 from 3.

End of 1st quarter: 76ers 30, Celtics 25

Philadelphia is off and running behind 12 points by Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid has eight points and four rebounds. The 76ers are shooting 52% from the field.

Al Horford leads Boston with nine points, and Jayson Tatum has five points, four rebounds and two assists.

76ers starting lineup vs. Celtics

Tyrese Maxey, PG
Kelly Oubre, SG
Paul George, SF
Caleb Martin, PF
Joel Embiid, C

Celtics starting lineup vs. 76ers

Derrick White, PG
Jaylen Brown, SG
Jayson Tatum, SF
Al Horford, PF
Kristaps Porzingis, C

Timberwolves vs. Mavericks highlights

Final score: Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 99

Following a missed 3-pointer by Klay Thompson, the Timberwolves got two big free throws by Julius Randle to effectively clinch the victory for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards makes crucial bucket

After Kyrie Irving missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer for the Mavericks, Anthony Edwards followed with a layup to give the Timberwolves a 103-99 lead with 18.6 seconds left.

Mavericks trail by two in final minute

Dallas has the ball with 48.5 seconds left and Minnesota leads 101-99. Kyrie Irving has 39 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

Mavericks-Timberwolves score: Dallas within six

Kyrie Irving’s scorching hot fourth quarter continues with an and-one that brings the Mavericks’ deficit down to 97-91.

Mavericks on the comeback trail

Dallas has started the fourth quarter on an 18-7 run to cut its deficit to 11 points at 97-86 with 5:32 remaining. Kyrie Irving scored the first six points of the quarter and leads all scorers with 32 points.

In addition, Klay Thompson moved into fifth place in NBA history for most career 3-pointers.

End of 3rd quarter: Timberwolves 90, Mavericks 68

Things only got worse for Dallas after halftime. With Luka Doncic out, Minnesota opened up a 22-point lead behind the balanced attack of Anthony Edwards (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Julius Randle (19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists).

Luka Doncic out for Mavericks vs. Timberwolves

Dallas announced that star forward Luka Doncic will not return after suffering a left calf strain during the second quarter.

Mavericks-Timberwolves halftime leaders

Timberwolves

Points: Anthony Edwards 13
Rebounds: Rudy Gobert 8
Assists: Julius Randle 7

Mavericks

Points: Luka Doncic 14
Rebounds: Dereck Lively II 6
Assists: Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie 2

Halftime score: Timberwolves 57, Mavericks 40

Minnesota’s defense held Dallas to just 16 second-quarter points and the Timberwolves opened up a 17-point lead to take into the locker room.

Anthony Edwards (13), Julius Randle (11) and Rudy Gobert (10) are all in double digits for the T-Wolves, with Randle adding seven assists and Gobert adding eight rebounds.

Luka Doncic is pacing the Mavericks with 14 points and Kyrie Irving has 13. Doncic left the game with 2:31 left in the half with what looked to be a leg injury.

Luka Doncic exits with apparent injury

Mavericks star Luka Doncic exited the game with 2:31 left in the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury. He went to the locker room with the Timberwolves leading 51-38.

Mavericks-Timberwolves score

Minnesota has opened up a 42-33 lead with 7:00 to go in the half. Donte DiVincenzo has helped the T-Wolves’ run and is up to nine points now.

The Timberwolves are shooting 45.5% from the field and 53.3% from 3-point land.

End of 1st quarter: Timberwolves 26, Mavericks 24

Minnesota and Dallas played a tight first quarter, with the Timberwolves clinging to a two-point lead. The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic leads all scorers with 11 points, while Julius Randle leads the T-Wolves with 10 points and five assists. Anthony Edwards has eight points and four assists.

Mavericks-Timberwolves score

Minnesota is off to a 19-18 lead at Dallas with Anthony Edwards leading the way with eight points. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic, who scored 50 points on Christmas Day last year, has 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

Mavericks starting lineup vs. Timberwolves

Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving
Klay Thompson
P.J. Washington
Dereck Lively

Timberwolves starting lineup vs. Mavericks

Mike Conley, PG
Anthony Edwards, SF
Jaden McDaniels, SF
Julius Randle, PF
Rudy Gobert, C

Spurs vs. Knicks highlights

Final score: Knicks 117, Spurs 114

What a way to start a five-game slate! In the end, Mikal Bridges and the Knicks pulled out the victory over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

San Antonio pulled within three points when Chris Paul nailed a 3-pointer with 41.1 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Jalen Brunson’s jumper missed, but Josh Hart’s rebound kept the ball out of the Spurs’ hands and clinched the win.

Bridges finished with 41 points on 17-of-25 shooting, including six 3-pointers.

Though it came in a losing effort, Wembanyama was beyond impressive. San Antonio’s second-year star had a game-high 42 points with a game-high 18 rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Like Bridges, Wemby had six 3-pointers.

Knicks-Spurs score: New York holds late lead

For just the third time in NBA on Christmas Day history, we have a dueling 40-point battle. Victor Wembanyama had led the Spurs with 42 points and Mikal Bridges’ 41 points has the Knicks with a 117-114 lead with less than a minute to play.

Victor Wembanyama helps Spurs pull ahead

Wembanyama is having quite the Christmas Day game debut. He’s put in 42 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Spurs have gone ahead 102-100 with 5:16 left in the game.

End of 3rd quarter: Knicks 88, Spurs 83

Victor Wembanyama is up to 31 points, but Mikal Bridges (26), Karl-Anthony Towns (21) and Jalen Brunson (20) teamed up to help the Knicks blow past the Spurs in the third quarter. New York ends the quarter on a 10-0 run.

Knicks surge ahead in third quarter

New York is up 66-64 with 6:35 left in the third quarter. The Knicks have outscored the Spurs 15-6 in the period, during which Karl-Anthony Towns has taken over. Towns is up to 21 points and eight rebounds.

Knicks-Spurs halftime leaders

Knicks

Points: Mikal Bridges 16
Rebounds: Josh Hart 6
Assists: Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart 4

Spurs

Points: Victor Wembanyama 24
Rebounds: Victor Wembanyama 11
Assists: Tre Jones 6

Halftime score: Spurs 58, Knicks 51

It’s been the Victor Wembanyama show during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Wemby put an exclamation point on a 24-point first half with a 3-pointer with 9 seconds left in the second quarter.

Wembanyama also enters halftime with 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Knicks-Spurs score

The Knicks have come storming back and trail 45-44 with 5:22 left in the half.

While Wembanyama is up to 19 points, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have combined for 21 points for the Knicks.

Victor Wembanyama leads Spurs second quarter run

San Antonio has put together a 12-4 run to start the second quarter, with Victor Wembanyama scoring five of those points. Wembanyama is up to 15 for the game and there’s 9:28 remaining in the first half.

End of 1st quarter: Knicks 28, Spurs 27

The Knicks hold the one-point lead after one quarter. The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama leads all scores with 10 points, and he also has four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Mikal Bridges leads the Knicks with nine points, while Karl-Anthony Towns has eight points and two rebounds.

Jeremy Sochan hair

Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has the do to match the day.

Knicks-Spurs score

The Spurs lead 16-15 at the first timeout. Victor Wembanyama already has four points, four rebounds and two blocks with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter.

Spurs starting lineup vs. Knicks

Chris Paul, PG
Devin Vassell, SF/SF
Harrison Barnes, SF/PF
Jeremy Sochan, PF
Victor Wembanyama, C

Knicks starting lineup vs. Spurs

Jalen Brunson, PG
Mikal Bridges, SF/SG
Josh Hart, SF/PF
OG Anunoby, SF/PF
Karl-Anthony Towns, C

How to watch NBA games on Christmas Day

ESPN and ABC will broadcast all five NBA games on Christmas Day.

How to stream NBA games on Christmas Day

All five NBA games on Christmas will be streamed on ESPN+ and on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

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Which NBA teams have played most Christmas Day games? 

The New York Knicks have played in 55 games on Christmas, more than any team in the league.  

Which NBA teams have won most Christmas Day games? 

The New York Knicks’ 24 wins on Christmas are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the league record. The Philadelphia 76ers are third with 19. All three teams play on Christmas this year.

Which player has the most wins on Christmas Day? 

LeBron James and his former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade are tied for the most Christmas wins with 10. James has a chance to pass Wade if the Lakers can beat the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. 

Patrick Mahomes perked up at the chance to play on Christmas Day again.

“Until I realized it was on Wednesday,” the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said Monday.  

Under the Christmas tree awaiting the players from the four teams in action Wednesday aren’t presents, but a pronounced set of bruises, aches and pains.

To play on a Wednesday, four teams took the field Saturday – the Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers host the Chiefs at 1 p.m. ET, while the Ravens and Texans kick off in Houston (with a halftime performance from Beyoncé) at 4:30 p.m. ET. 

A four-day turnaround has become a more common occurrence in the NFL. Teams that play on “Thursday Night Football” often must prepare in that time frame. But the league’s desire to play on Christmas Day, despite the holiday’s long standing association with the NBA, coupled with the introduction of a new media partner in Netflix, made Wednesday’s games a reality.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

“I think it is really cool playing the first Netflix game, playing on Christmas Day in front of the whole nation,” said Mahomes, who noted the chance to make up for last year’s Dec. 25 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, their final defeat on the way to a second straight Super Bowl title. 

His teammates don’t necessarily agree. 

“When it came out, I thought it was horrible,” safety Justin Reid said, per the Kansas City Star. “And I still think it’s horrible. But it is what it is.”

Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is inactive for Wednesday’s game with a calf injury, said he will be taking up the scheduling quirk with the NFL Players Association.

‘I think that’s a conversation to be had this offseason,’ said Jones.

The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prevents the the NFL from scheduling games on Saturday until the second weekend of December. That opened Dec. 21 – going against two of the three College Football Playoff games that day – as a day to slot the four Christmas Day teams to provide the minimum rest required to trot teams out there less than 96 hours after they left the field.

“I think we have a good understanding of how to play short-week football,” NFL chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp said last month while speaking on a panel at Sports Business Journal’s Innovators Conference.

He added: “I don’t feel like we’re splitting the atom here. … I think we’re always thinking about where the best windows are to play from a media standpoint, the competitive nature of the game, and the health and safety of the games first. We started playing short-week games in 2006, and we started with six games, and we have gradually been getting smarter and better about it.” 

For the Chiefs, it’s a stretch of six games in 31 days. This is their third short week in that span, since they played the Raiders on Black Friday. They’re the first team since the 1927 Yankees – not the famous ‘Murderers’ Row’ Major League Baseball squad that featured Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig – to play on every day of the week except Tuesday in the same season.

Mahomes is dealing with a sprained ankle; head coach Andy Reid went from Arrowhead Stadium to the Chiefs’ training facility to log a few hours of prep Saturday. At this point in the season, every team is managing some sort of ailment. 

“It’s part of what you’ve gotta do,’ Reid told reporters Monday.

Following Saturday’s loss to the Ravens, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward was asked if having this compact scheduling at this point in the season was unfair.

“Nope,” he replied. “It’s what you signed up for. It’s football. No matter who it is, you sign up for it every day. I know everybody in our locker room does. The schedule’s made. You just play. If we had won three (in a row), would we really be talking about it? We’ve had opportunities.” 

The team talked about the schedule challenges ahead, Heyward said, and those who value their professionalism would find a way to recover Sunday while starting their preparation for the Chiefs or reviewing their performance against the Ravens. 

“That’s how we roll,” Heyward said. “We don’t make excuses. We deal with what we got and move on.” 

Baltimore and Houston, at least, had the benefit of a Week 14 bye, providing an opportunity to recharge and regain health late in the NFL calendar. The Chiefs (Week 6) and Steelers (Week 9) weren’t as lucky. 

“Every team that plays on Wednesday has to deal with it, so we’re not complaining,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. It’s just a part of the business.

“It’s kind of nice getting them out of the way – just boom, boom, boom – three games done, and now we have Cleveland after this week and going to the playoffs, but like I said, we’re taking it … I was going to say one week at a time, but it’s really just one game at a time. We’re playing like four times a week, but I don’t think it’s on anybody’s mind. We’re just going out there to play the game.”

The Texans played the New York Jets on Halloween, a Thursday, earlier this season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said the team will follow their schedule from that week. Recovering mentally, he said, will be essential, as the team watched wide receiver Tank Dell leave Saturday’s game via an ambulance after suffering a severe leg injury that included a dislocated kneecap and torn ACL while catching a touchdown against Kansas City. 

The chance to play on Christmas is also “a unique opportunity for us … everybody watching, tuned in,” Ryans said. 

That doesn’t mitigate the challenge of playing on short rest, even if it is Christmas. 

“It’s hard,” Heyward said, “but who said football was easy?” 

This story has been updated with a new photo and new information.

On Christmas Day, four NFL teams will play on the holiday for the fifth consecutive season, but this year the games will be streamed on Netflix. The event will also include a star-studded halftime show featuring Beyoncé, who made a playful dig at the streaming platform.

Beyoncé will headline the second game on Christmas Day, where the Baltimore Ravens will face off against the Houston Texans. This game is a fitting backdrop for her most recent album, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ a tribute to her Texas roots and a blend of country and R&B. The megastar took to social media to promote her upcoming performance with a clip, humorously poking fun at the streaming giant that recently experienced technical issues during the Logan Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight.

In the 30-second video, Beyoncé is playing a banjo while the clip lags when focused on her face as she winks. The streaming giant, in response to the recent technical issues, has made significant efforts to optimize their technology and ensure a smooth viewing experience for the Christmas Day games.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

How to watch the NFL games on Netflix

The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch NFL Christmas Games?

NFL viewers can subscribe to any Netflix plan to access Wednesday’s doubleheader broadcast, starting with the ‘standard with ads’ option for $6.99 per month, up to the ‘premium’ plan at $22.99 per month. However, there are some exceptions to this. Fans who have the NFL’s premium subscription service, NFL+, can stream each game on their mobile devices using the NFL app.

When is Beyoncé performing?

Beyoncé halftime show will take place during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game which will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET.

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Hoops fans and holiday revelers will once again get that perfect intersection on Christmas day with a loaded slate of NBA games.

From the defending-champion Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, there will be no shortage of star talent on view during the all-day quintuple-header that starts at noon eastern.

The NBA on Christmas is a tradition that goes back to 1947, the league’s second season. In fact, since 1947, there has only been one season when the NBA has not played at least one game on a Christmas: the 1998-99 season, which began in February because of a lockout.

Here’s a ranking of the NBA Christmas Day slate from worst to best.

5. San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks; noon ET

This is an interesting one because San Antonio has been hot recently, winning four of their past six, and climbing into play-in territory in the West. Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has similarly been on a tear, and this presents a fascinating matchup between a pair of the game’s best stretch bigs – Wembanyama, and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks. Towns leads the NBA in rebounding and New York has been one of the best offensive teams this season. Plus, Christmas in the Garden is a vibe that is sure to be electric.

4. Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics; 5 p.m. ET

A month ago, this matchup was looking pretty brutal. But, the Sixers have mostly course-corrected as their stars have returned to health. While some may not enjoy Joel Embiid’s style — 31.5% of his points come from the free throw stripe — he is the difference maker in this lineup. Jayson Tatum is contending for an MVP, the Celtics are launching (and hitting) 3-pointers at record levels, and Boston still looks like the most balanced and ignitable team in the entire NBA. This presents a nice test for Philadelphia to see if it can contend against the defending champs.

3. Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns; 10:30 p.m. ET

The Suns have hit a rough patch recently, losing six of their past eight, calling into question the legitimacy and sustainability of the roster, particularly the Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Granted, Phoenix has faced injuries and has had a tough time having all three on the floor at the same time. Booker (groin) missed Monday’s game against the Nuggets and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to go Christmas Day. The Nuggets have steadied recently, but they have struggled all season on the road.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks; 2:30 p.m. ET

While the Timberwolves have been inconsistent, Anthony Edwards is appointment viewing — especially as he has not shied away from honest assessments of his team’s performance. But, aside from being a rematch of the Western Conference Finals from last season, this should be a study of contrasts; the Timberwolves have reinvested in their defensive effort, while the Mavericks, led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, rank fourth in the NBA in offensive rating. Dončić has been battling a left heel injury, so his status could be in question.

1. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors; 8 p.m. ET

LeBron and Steph, two aging greats who have been friends and teammates on Team USA, are the headliners in this matchup. And while both squads have been up-and-down at different points this season, the star power is certainly there. It also presents an interesting storyline in that these two teams are so close together in the standings, with the Lakers holding the No. 7 seed and the Warriors sitting at No. 8.

And, there will be a little extra in terms of bragging rights: this will mark the fourth time Curry and James face off on Christmas, with James holding a 2-1 edge.

The Kansas City Chiefs might not be home for Christmas, but they’ll be home for the playoffs.

K.C.’s bunch is feeling holly and jolly after a 29-10 blowout win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh, securing the AFC’s top seed in the process. That present left under the tree also comes with a first-round bye, something the Chiefs will need before gearing up for the chance at a three-peat.

While the Chiefs celebrate an easy victory, Pittsburgh was visited by the ghost of Christmas future. In a potential playoff preview, the Steelers looked overmatched all afternoon, struggling to keep up with the AFC’s juggernaut.

Missed opportunities and untimely turnovers were ultimately Pittsburgh’s undoing in what is its third consecutive loss. The offense has struggled to produce during that span, averaging just 13.3 points per game, and is becoming a major issue that could derail their dreams of making a long postseason run.

This is also the third consecutive week that Pittsburgh has failed to hold its opponent to under 27 points, which has only highlighted the offense’s shortcomings. The Steelers no longer control their own destiny for the AFC North crown, with the Baltimore Ravens able to take the division if they win their last two games.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

On the opposite side, Patrick Mahomes is looking like he never suffered an ankle injury. The quarterback is moving and grooving with ease out there, toying with defenses and having fun while doing it.

Regardless, it’s all smiles in Kansas City, as the Chiefs have assumed their perch atop the league once again. Turns out, that franchise might just be Santa’s favorite.

Here’s a look at how the action unfolded on Christmas day in Pittsburgh.

AFC North standings

The Steelers no longer control their own destiny in the AFC North race. If the Ravens win their final two games, they clinch the division. Here’s a look at the standings heading into the second half of the Christmas doubleheader.

Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
Cleveland Browns (3-12)

Chiefs clinch AFC No. 1 seed

With the win, the Chiefs have clinched the AFC’s top spot, securing a bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They’ll wrap up the regular season next week in Denver, but can rest players without fear of losing any ground in the playoff picture. We should expect to see the starters in limited action at best in Week 18.

Steelers turnover on downs

With 10 minutes to go, the situation is getting dire for Pittsburgh. They are forced to go for it on fourth-and-20, but the pass falls incomplete and K.C. is in the driver’s seat.

Isiah Pacheco injury update

The Chiefs’ running back came off the field in pain after a carry early in the fourth quarter. The team is calling it a rib injury and he is questionable to return.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Travis Kelce passes Tony Gonzalez for most TD catches in franchise history

Well, this one might be a wrap. Hopefully it’s some of that good, decorative wrapping paper though. The Chiefs turn the Freiermuth fumble into a touchdown, a record-breaking one at that. Mahomes finds Kelce for six, No. 77 of his K.C. career, and the tight end passes Tony Gonzalez for the most touchdown catches in franchise history.

To celebrate the occasion, Kelce breaks out the signature dunk celebration that Gonzalez was known for, but the no fun league was having none of that, even on a holiday. Craig Wrolstad, known as Ebenezer Wrolstad on this day, tosses a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct for the celly. It’s unlikely Kelce, or anyone really cares, especially up 19. Chiefs 29, Steelers 10

Pat Freiermuth’s fumble gives the Chiefs the ball back

Needing a score with time winding down, the Steelers must’ve visited with the Grinch instead of Santa. Everyone is getting sick this time of year and Freiermuth coughing up the fumble is just insult to injury. K.C. takes over threatening to score again.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Kareem Hunt punches it in for the TD

K.C. kicks off the fourth quarter by adding to its lead, this time with a rushing touchdown from Hunt. In the place that used to be known as Heinz Field, it’s fitting that another ketchup brand, Hunt’s, got in on the fun. The two-point conversion attempt, however, like Harry and Marv’s attempt to rob Kevin in ‘Home Alone,’ is unsuccessful. Chiefs 22, Steelers 10

Steelers-Chiefs score: Chris Boswell cuts into the KC lead with a FG

Anything Butker can do, Boswell can do better, at least in this case. The Pittsburgh kicker knocks through the 36-yard field goal attempt to cut the deficit back to six. Chiefs 16, Steelers 10

Justin Reid injury update

After momentarily leaving the action, the Chiefs’ safety was evaluated for a concussion, but cleared to return, per the broadcast.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Harrison Butker extends the KC lead with FG

The first drive of the second half doesn’t end in the end zone for the Chiefs, but they do add three points to the board. Butker knocks through the 32-yard field goal to make this a two-possession game. Chiefs 16, Steelers 7

Is Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game today?

NFL fans will be treated to a halftime show performance from Beyoncé in the second half of the Christmas day doubleheader, but there is no sign of the pop star, Swift, in Pittsburgh today. Travis Kelce has been mostly quiet through one half, so those curious about the romance are likely disappointed to this point. The Chiefs won’t have another home game until the playoffs, so Swifties might be waiting into the new year for her next football appearance.

Halftime: Chiefs lead at the break

We’re halfway home on Christmas in Pittsburgh and the Chiefs have the 13-7 edge over the home side. K.C. came out of the gates hot, racing out to a 13-0 lead, but the game slowed and Pittsburgh got back into it. Neither side could get that coveted score in the final two minutes, but the Steelers do profile as more of a second-half team. They’re allowing the third-fewest points per game in the final two quarters, 8.6, so this could get tight down the stretch. The Chiefs get the ball to start the third quarter.

Two-minute warning: Steelers driving for a score before the half

After a couple of uneventful drives, Pittsburgh is aiming to put some more points on the board before we reach halftime. Bailed out by a Chiefs’ penalty on fourth down, the Steelers have the ball with a second-and-long at their own 48.

Who is announcing the Steelers vs. Chiefs game?

A new broadcast means there are some new combinations in the broadcast booth. Luckily for NFL fans, these are familiar voices for the Steelers vs. Chiefs contest, with Ian Eagle handling the play-by-play while J.J. Watt and Nate Burleson provide analysis. All three are typically part of the NFL on CBS for football Sundays.

How much did Netflix pay for NFL Christmas games?

Netflix struck a deal with the NFL for three seasons, giving them the rights to broadcast today’s games. The streaming giant gave the league 150 million reasons to take the deal, courtesy of the $150 million check they cut. In other words, Netflix paid $75 million for just the Steelers vs. Chiefs game, with the other $75 going to the Texans vs. Ravens contest later on.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Russell Wilson runs in for the TD

It appears the Steelers are going to let Russ cook on this holiday. Pittsburgh gets the response they were looking for, as Wilson caps off the 11-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The paying fans in attendance rejoice as their team gets back into the game. Chiefs 13, Steelers 7

End of first quarter: Chiefs in control early

We’ve seen a few flashes from the Steelers, but the Chiefs look like a team that has some great gifts under the tree to play with. K.C. is looking to take care of business quickly. For a squad that’s struggled to pull away, the next score will tell us whether we’re in for a blowout or a close fight to the finish.

Steelers’ TD called back, Russell Wilson tosses an interception

You’ve heard of the ‘Nightmare before Christmas,’ but the ‘Nightmare on Christmas’ might be more relevant now. Pittsburgh punched it into the end zone with a run from Jaylen Warren, but Darnell Washington’s holding penalty negated the score. On the next play of football, Russell Wilson gave to us an interception. Bah humbug.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Justin Watson extends the Kansas City lead with TD catch

Moments after the Mahomes highlight, the quarterback follows it up with a 49-yard dart to Justin Watson. A few plays later, it’s Mahomes-to-Watson again, this time for six. Butker adds on the extra point, giving Kansas City the two-score lead. The Steelers offense needs to get going quickly. Chiefs 13, Steelers 0

Highlight: Patrick Mahomes flips it to Samaje Perine for the first down

Mahomes is toying with the mighty Steelers defense, this time pulling off a little flip to Perine, picking up 14 yards and the first down. You’ll want to get a look at this.

Steelers-Chiefs score: Xavier Worthy opens the scoring with TD catch

Eight plays, 42 yards and 3:59 later and the Chiefs are dancing in the end zone. Patrick Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy for the 7-yard touchdown out of the backfield. However, Harrison Butker pushes a 48-yard extra point wide right after Worthy committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following the score. Guess you can say Worthy is worthy of a spot on the naughty list. Chiefs 6, Steelers 0

Netflix NFL scorebug

If you were wondering what the NFL on Netflix would look like, wonder no more. The streamer has debuted a fancy scorebug for the big occasion.

Steelers go three-and-out on opening drive

Pittsburgh didn’t get the start it was hoping for, with a quick punt less than two minutes into the game. The Steelers flirted with disaster, but Russell Wilson was able to recover a fumble before it got out of control. However, Nikko Remigio came up with a big return, resulting in just a nine yard net on the punt.

Steelers vs. Chiefs start time

Start time: 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT)

The Steelers vs. Chiefs Christmas matchup will kick off at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT.

Steelers vs. Chiefs TV channel, live stream

Live stream: Netflix
TV channel (local):

The Steelers-Chiefs Christmas Day matchup will air exclusively on Netflix for a national audience. For viewers in local markets, the game will air on CBS. In Kansas City, that’s KCTV5, while fans in Pittsburgh should tune in to KDKA-TV.

Steelers vs. Chiefs predictions, picks

Who will find a lump of coal in their stocking? Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels about the Steelers-Chiefs tilt on Christmas:

Lorenzo Reyes: Chiefs 25, Steelers 17
Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 25, Steelers 20
Richard Morin: Chiefs 25, Steelers 23
Jordan Mendoza: Chiefs 20, Steelers 17

Steelers vs. Chiefs live stream 

Live stream: Netflix 

For Christmas Day viewers looking to watch the Steelers-Chiefs game, you can turn to Netflix. Netflix is the exclusive home of both Christmas Day games.

Steelers vs. Chiefs odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Steelers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Chiefs (-3) 
Moneyline: Chiefs (-160); Steelers (+135) 
Over/under: 43.5 

Where is Steelers vs. Chiefs? 

The Steelers and Chiefs clash in Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Christmas.

Chiefs inactives vs. Steelers

Chamarri Conner, DB
Joshua Uche, DE
C.J. Hanson, OL
D.J. Humphries, OL
Ethan Driskell, OT
Malik Herring, DE
Chris Jones, DT

Steelers inactives vs. Chiefs

Justin Fields, QB
Ben Skowronek, WR
Joey Porter Jr., CB
Preston Smith, DE
Dean Lowry, DE

Chris Jones out for Chiefs vs. Steelers

The Kansas City Chiefs started Christmas Day with a lump of coal, as defensive tackle Chris Jones will miss Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a calf injury.

Jones left Saturday’s victory against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. He was listed as ‘DNP’ in a practice participation estimate for Sunday and did not practice Monday; Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seemed discouraged about Jones’ chances of playing when asked two hours before kickoff. — Chris Bumbaca

Steelers vs. Chiefs weather updates 

Fans hoping to see Mother Nature get involved on Wednesday may be in a little bit of luck. Temperatures around kickoff should hover around freezing and there’s a slight chance of precipitation (10%).  

What happened to Patrick Mahomes? 

Mahomes suffered an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ win over the Browns. He tried to move around the pocket while attempting a pass on a fourth-and-3, but his protection collapsed in on him. 

Mahomes was able to get up eventually but slowly hobbled to the sideline. He had his right ankle heavily taped on the bench and was ruled ‘questionable’ to return. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz played the final five minutes of the game in his stead. 

Mahomes didn’t miss any time. He played in the Week 16 matchup vs. the Texans and looked just fine.

NFL best bets: Steelers vs. Chiefs

Looking to make the Steelers-Chiefs matchup more interesting? Here are some of the best bets: 

Xavier Worthy OVER 4.5 receptions; 
Samaje Perine OVER 9.5 receiving yards; 
Travis Kelce anytime TD. 

It may be Christmas week, but you can bet the NFL won’t be taking any kind of Holiday break. The league will hold Week 17 games on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – multiple gifts for fans, not so much for the players, especially those on the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens (both teams had Yuletide duty in 2023 as well).

A year ago, K.C. used a Christmas loss to the lowly Las Vegas Raiders to ignite their latest Super Bowl run. This year, the Chiefs can lock up a first-round bye and home-field advantage by beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. That game will be followed by the Ravens’ visit to Houston, where they’ll face the Texans and maybe catch part of Beyoncé’s halftime show.

The final Thursday night game of the year is less appealing, but the Seattle Seahawks will likely have to beat the Chicago Bears to keep their NFC West title hopes alive. If not, the Los Angeles Rams could clinch the division Saturday by beating the Arizona Cardinals. The LA Chargers and Denver Broncos can also secure wild-card bids Saturday.

That makes for a light Sunday – just nine games – though the Green Bay Packers’ rematch with the Minnesota Vikings could be the game of the weekend … though the Vikes will have far more at stake given the Pack cannot win the NFC North at this point.

The Detroit Lions can win the NFC North (plus the conference’s No. 1 seed) – and might do so Monday night by beating the 49ers in Northern California … if Green Bay knocks off Minnesota first.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts will attempt to guess what’s in the Week 17 packages before they get unwrapped …

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

LeBron James and Steph Curry come bearing gifts this holiday season. 

Two of the NBA’s biggest stars will be showcased this evening as James’ Los Angeles Lakers visit Curry’s Golden State Warriors. It’s the first time the Western Conference rivals will play this season, and it’s the fourth of five games played on Christmas Day.

The Lakers had their three-game losing streak snapped while hosting the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The Warriors, meanwhile, have lost four of their past five games. Golden State’s most recent setback came while hosting the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

When is Lakers-Warriors game? 

Opening tip will be Wednesday, Dec. 25 at about 8 p.m. ET.

Where is Lakers-Warriors game? 

The Warriors will host the Lakers from Chase Center in San Francisco. 

How to watch Lakers-Warriors game on TV 

The game will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN. 

How to stream Lakers-Warriors game 

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and on Fubo, which offers a free trial. 

NBA games today

New York Knicks 117, San Antonio Spurs 114
Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Dallas Mavericks 99 
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN 
Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN 
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC 

Lakers vs. Warriors odds, line 

The Golden State Warriors are favorites to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers during their Christmas Day matchup, according to the BetMGM odds. 

Spread: Warriors (-4.5) 
Moneyline: Warriors (-190); Lakers (+155) 
Over/under: 222.5 

Lakers vs. Warriors all-time record 

The Lakers and Warriors have played 438 times against each other in the regular season, with Los Angeles leading the series 262-176. This is their first meeting this season. The last time they played was last season, with the Warriors winning 134-120 on April 9, when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 50 points. LeBron James had 33 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds. Golden State was 3-1 against Los Angeles last year. 

Most points in NBA history on Christmas Day

LeBron James holds the record for most points scored (476) on Christmas Day. Below are the top single-game scoring performances on Christmas: 

Bernard King, Knicks – 60 in 1984 
Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors – 59 in 1961 
Luka Doncic, Mavericks – 50 in 2023 
Rick Barry, Warriors – 50 in 1966 
Jerry West, Lakers – 47 in 1963 
Tracy McGrady, Magic – 46 in 2002 
Dominique Wilkins, Hawks – 45 in 1987 
Tom Heinsohn, Celtics – 45 in 1961 
Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors – 45 in 1959 
Kevin Durant, Thunder – 44 in 2010 
Jerry West, Lakers – 44 in 1965 

Which NBA teams have played most Christmas Day games? 

The New York Knicks have played in 55 games on Christmas, more than any team in the league.  

NBA players to watch on Christmas 

Christmas brings out the NBA stars. 

From Dolph Schayes to Bill Russell to Oscar Robertson to Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant to LeBron James to Kevin Durant to Steph Curry, the biggest names and best players have been a part of the league’s Christmas schedule. 

This Dec. 25 is the same. 

Jeff Zillgitt details the top NBA players to watch during the 2024 Christmas Day games. 

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