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The NFL might have a monopoly on Thanksgiving, but Christmas is all about the NBA. The league brings out the best teams and players for marquee matchups all day, and the Spurs, during their dynasty years, were often a fixture. The Spurs have played 11 games on Christmas and are 5-6 all-time.
Their last matchup was a 19-point win over the Chicago Bulls in 2016. This year, the Spurs will travel to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks, with tipoff scheduled for 11:00 AM CST. The game will be broadcast with a traditional crew on ABC and ESPN, but Disney characters will present an alternative broadcast on ESPN2.
© Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images According to an ESPN press release , the Spurs and Knicks showdown will be the first Dunk the Halls, a real-time animated game presented by Disney, which owns ESPN. The game will be animated using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology.
The game will be played in New York, but the alt-cast will be broadcast from “Main Street, USA.” Special features include a halftime dunk contest featuring Mickey Mouse and other characters, Santa operating the sky cam from his sleigh, and Goofy having a churro-eating contest (Charles Barkley would like a word). Daisy Duck will be the game's sideline reporter.
Related: What Numbers Support Stephon Castle's Elite Defense? The alt-cast will be aired on ESPN2, but fans without cable who have small kids can watch on Disney+. Last March the Spurs beat the Knicks in overtime. Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 61 points, but Victor Wembanyama's 40 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and three "stocks" were too much to overcome, and Wembanyama threw the game ball into the stands, upsetting Brunson and the Knicks, and kicking off a budding rivalry.
Related: How Did Chris Paul Hurt His Thumb?.
