A real-time animated version of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks game will air on Disney+ Christmas Day for the second year in a row. The game will take place in Magic Kingdom, featuring festive décor, a parade, and more.

Second-Annual NBA Dunk the Halls Game

Disney, ESPN, and the NBA are teaming up for the second year in a row to present Dunk the Halls, a real-time animated version of the Christmas Day game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. For the first time this year, Stitch will also be joining the game.

According to the press release by ESPN, the story of the game is:

Mickey’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus once again brings the NBA to Magic Kingdom for a magical, animated matchup – and this year, the troublemaker Stitch’s arrival turns the celebration upside down. His unpredictable holiday cheer and out-of-this-world energy make for an even more spirited Dunk the Halls adventure.

Using Sony’s Beyond Sports real-time visualization and Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking, each player of the game will appear as a motion-tracked animated version of themselves.

Broadcaster Drew Carter is returning to serve as a play-by-play commentator, alongside ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt and Daisy Duck as a sideline reporter. Carter and McNutt will also be animated in the same style of the players and will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Main Street, U.S.A in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

The traditional Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks game will also be available to watch and will feature commentators Ryan Ruocco and Doris Burke and reporter Jorge Sedano.

Highlights

Viewers can look forward to the following highlights:

• Stitch joining the cast of characters for the first time.
• An animated Christmas parade down Main Street, U.S.A. at halftime featuring floats with Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and Pluto, and Stitch. All are vying for the title of “Best Christmas Parade Float.”
• The Cavaliers and the Knicks playing in a virtual Magic Kingdom setting, complete with festive decorations, snowfall, and other surprises.
• Daisy Duck returning as a sideline reporter to interview NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
• Santa’s elves returning as camera operators, with Santa piloting ESPN’s “SkyCam.”
• Disney characters giving pregame and halftime speeches and decorating a large Christmas tree during the broadcast.

You can view the Dunk the Halls announcement video posted by ESPN below:

Where to Watch

The animated version of the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks game will be available on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and the ESPN app. The regular game can be watched on ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and the ESPN app. Both games will start at noon ET on December 25.

Are you excited to watch Dunk the Halls on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments below.

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