Typically a time to celebrate and spend with loved ones, this year the holiday season offers far more than just gift exchanges and delicious food. Sports fanatics around the country will be bursting with joy as December and January promise to deliver an array of must-see live sporting events. 

Much to the delight of basketball fans, the NBA regular season is set to resume Tuesday, December 22nd following its brief two month hiatus. The league recently released its schedule for the first half of its 72 game regular season, with the very first night offering star-studded action no fan will want to miss. The first game features two-time Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors up against the 2013 league MVP Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. This highly anticipated game, which will be aired at 7:00 p.m. on TNT, is the first time the two will be on the floor in almost a year due to injury. Shortly thereafter, LeBron James and the defending 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers take on their cross-town rival in Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Tipoff begins at 10:00pm and will also be on TNT. Additionally, the annual Christmas day slate of games will feature five nationally televised contests, tipping-off at 12:00 p.m. ET with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Miami Heat on ESPN. That game will be followed by the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks at 2:30 p.m. on ABC, then the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics at 5:00 p.m. on ABC, the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00 p.m. on ABC, and closing the night off, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Alongside professional basketball, the National Football League is offering a myriad of top-notch competition throughout the holidays. On Christmas Day, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings visit the Superdome in Louisiana to take on future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. On the following day, three games will be played keeping  the holiday cheer and spirit alive. The action begins with the seemingly ageless quarterback Tom Brady as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Detroit Lions for a 1:00p.m. game on NFL Network. Next, the Arizona Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers at 4:30p.m.  Subsequently, the Miami Dolphins visit  the Las Vegas Raiders t at 8:15 p.m. on NFL Network. 

Ultimately, the 2020 holiday season promises to be different in a multitude of facets. While some may worry that COVID-19 will dampen the spirit of this festive time of year, sports fans can rejoice knowing the NBA and NFL have a full plate of action that just may be the answer to any pandemic gloom.