Insider reveals NBA schedule for Christmas

The Toronto Raptors have another free weekend over Christmas.

This news will come as no surprise to the organization, as the team has only played on Christmas twice in its 29-year history. The league will reportedly announce a five-game schedule for December 25, featuring 10 of the league's most exciting and star-studded teams.

According to Shams Charania, San Antonio will travel to New York to face the Knicks. The Dallas Mavericks will host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to town. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers will face Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Finally, the Phoenix Suns will host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Toronto last played a game against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day in 2019, after the organization finished its championship season. The Raptors lost the game 118-102 to a Celtics team featuring Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward.

Before that, Toronto's only other Christmas Day game came in 2001, when Vince Carter's popularity forced the league to give the Raptors a prime-time game. Toronto lost 102-94 to the New York Knicks, with Carter scoring a disappointing 15 points.

Toronto is not expected to make the playoffs next season, and the fact that Canadian television ratings do not factor into American television ratings has always hampered the organization's ability to secure coveted nationally televised game slots in the United States.

The league's full schedule is expected to be announced later this month.