Heat get Christmas game against 76ers at Kaseya Center
MIAMI — While the full NBA’s 2023-24 regular-season schedule is not expected to be released until next week, the South Florida Sun Sentinel has confirmed through an NBA source that the Miami Heat, coming off their Eastern Conference championship, will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day at Kaseya Center.
The time of the matchup has not been announced, although it appears the game will be 8 p.m.
It will be the Heat’s first Christmas game since 2020, when they hosted the New Orleans Pelicans in a game played in the void of fans due to the COVID pandemic.
The Heat are 11-2 all-time on Christmas, including 8-0 with Erik Spoelstra as coach and 6-0 at home.
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Dwyane Wade, who is being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, has started 11 of the team’s 13 Christmas games. Wade holds the Heat’s Christmas franchise scoring record, with 40 points in a 101-85 2006 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
The Athletic reported the other Christmas games are Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks, Boston Celtics at Lakers, Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets.
While teams advancing to the NBA Finals typically play on Christmas, they also typically play on opening night. That, however, is not the case this coming season, according to The Athletic report, with that Oct. 24 doubleheader on TNT to feature Lakers at Nuggets and Suns at Warriors. The Nuggets defeated the Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
The NBA typically waits until midsummer to release its schedule in order to get a better handle on rosters for the coming season. This summer, however, uncertainty remains regarding the Heat’s attempt to acquire Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who has requested a trade to Miami. The 76ers’ roster also potentially is in flux, with guard James Harden seeking a trade.
The NBA has flexibility to alter start times during the season to accommodate national television.
The NBA again will have NFL competition on Christmas, going up against Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens.
The next aspect of the 2023-24 schedule will be released Tuesday at 3 p.m., with the unveiling of the scheduling for the NBA’s first-even in-season tournament. That announcement will be on ESPN.
Heat Christmas results
1997 at Chicago L 90-80
2004 at L.A. Lakers W 104-102 (OT)
2005 vs. L.A. Lakers W 97-92
2006 vs. L.A. Lakers W 101-85
2007 at Cleveland L 96-82
2009 at New York W 93-87
2010 at L.A. Lakers W 96-80
2011 at Dallas W 105-94
2012 vs. Oklahoma City W 103-97
2013 at L.A. Lakers W 101-95
2014 vs. Cleveland W 101-91
2015 vs. New Orleans W 94-88 (OT)
2020 vs. New Orleans W 111-98
