NBL Christmas games: Watch Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United
It's the most wonderful time of year for the NBL.
While Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United is a Christmas Day first for the NBL, it's just one of many special games this festive season.
The NBL is having the 12 Games of Christmas across the holiday period. It comes with only 7 rounds left in the regular season.
When is Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United?
The Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United Christmas NBL game takes place at Qudos Bank Arena from 6:30pm AEDT on Sunday 25 December.
How to watch every NBL game live
Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies and Foxtel, on Channel 10 if you're in Melbourne or Sydney or on 10 Peach elsewhere around the country.
Only a couple of games each round are broadcast live on free-to-air TV, but ESPN broadcasts every game of the NBL live.
You can stream ESPN via Kayo Sports or Foxtel Now or watch via Foxtel iQ or Fetch TV.
Kayo Sports allows you to watch every NBL game live and ad-free. New customers can use this 7-day free trial and test it all out.
Stream Kayo Sports for 7 days FREE and no lock-in contract
Take Kayo for a spin and stream over 50 sports live completely free for 7 days.
Subscriptions to Kayo then start from $25 a month after your free trial. This lets you watch on 1 device at a time.
All up, the platform has more than 50 sports for you to choose from including NBA, tennis, Scottish Premiership football, French football league Ligue 1, the EFL Championship and more.
It comes with a bunch of special features users can interact with. You can watch 4 sports at once, get condensed versions of games, jump to key highlights and more.
You can also stream every NBL game with Foxtel Now, where new customers get a 10-day free trial.
10-day free trial of Foxtel Now
No installation and no lock-in contract. New customers only. Sign up now.
To live stream further NBL games and other sports on Foxtel Now, you will need the Sport pack.
You can only get this on top of the base Essentials pack, which brings the total to at least $54 a month to stream sports with Foxtel Now once your free trial ends.
Despite its high cost, you do get access to entertainment options too. You can watch hit shows such as The White Lotus and House of the Dragon.
Live stream NBL on Kayo: Start your 7-day FREE trial now
What is the NBL 12 Games of Christmas?
The NBL's 12 Games of Christmas is a special run of games from 22 December 2022 to 1 January 2023.
Even though Christmas games are a regular and popular occurrence in the NBA, this is the first time the NBL has scheduled a Christmas Day game.
In fact, it's the first time any Australian professional sport has been played on Christmas Day.
Aside from the Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United clash on Christmas Day, there is the Open Air Game in Melbourne, a Christmas Eve match in Adelaide, a Boxing Day game in Tasmania, the Grand Final rematch between Sydney and Tasmania, New Year's Eve games in Illawarra and Cairns, plus New Year's Day games in Tasmania and Brisbane.
It comes at a busy time after the recent resumption of the NBL, with NBA and NBL championship-winning guard Ian Clark signing with Adelaide 36ers and expected to play their Christmas Eve clash.
This will be a big boost for the 36ers as they're in a tight race for the sixth spot and a position to contest the NBL's new Play-In format at the end of the season and progress to the play-offs.
Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United preview
Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United last met back in round 2, with the Kings emerging 20-point victors after United led at quarter-time.
Since then, their seasons have deviated. The Kings are second on the ladder, just behind the New Zealand Breakers on points.
Melbourne United are sitting eighth, but are in the race for the all-important sixth spot to ensure a chance to get to the play-offs.
The Kings suffered a 1-point double-overtime loss to the Phoenix last round, but that won't be hurting them the most.
The Sydney Kings may have to go into the match vs Melbourne United without MVP candidate Xavier Cooks, who has an ankle injury.
Even without one of their star players, the Sydney Kings still should be able to get the points vs Melbourne United.
For full details on watching every game, you can check out our NBL comprehensive guide here.
