NBA 'preparing contingencies' in case of Christmas postponements

The Utah Jazz mascot Jazz Bear delivers gifts to fans. Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 'preparing contingencies' in case of Christmas Day postponements

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 12/21/21

The NBA hasn't gone on an official pause yet, like the NHL will do until next week, but the league is preparing for anything to happen, particularly with regard to the scheduled five-game slate on Christmas Day.

The NBA has informed teams playing on Christmas Day that the league is preparing contingencies in case a Christmas Day game is postponed, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2021

The NBA told Christmas Day teams to be prepared for game times to shift as late as Dec. 24 with a priority on filling the ABC windows of 2:30 PM ET, 5 PM and 8 PM, according to memo shared with the 10 teams playing on Saturday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2021

There are currently no NBA games scheduled for Christmas Eve on Friday. There are five tilts slated for Christmas Day on Saturday, all of them on national broadcasts.

The Atlanta Hawks (14-15) and New York Knicks (13-17) are supposed to get things started at 12 p.m. ET, followed by the Boston Celtics (15-16) and Milwaukee Bucks (19-13) at 2:30 p.m. ET.

A matchup between the two top teams in basketball — the Golden State Warriors (25-6) and Phoenix Suns (24-5) — is tentatively at 5 p.m. ET, while the Brooklyn Nets (21-9) and Los Angeles Lakers (16-15) are slated for 8 p.m. ET. The quintuple-header finale will be the Dallas Mavericks (14-15) and Utah Jazz (21-9) at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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