The NBA lockout has finally been broken. The most competitive basketball league in the world will debut with five games on Christmas.

The team owners and the players’ representatives reached an agreement last week, ending a five-month lockout. The league had already cancelled six weeks’ worth of games.

The 2012 NBA season, which normally has 82 games per team, will now be shortened to 66.

In keeping with tradition, the league has set up premiere matchups for its Christmas day opening, including a pairing of the 2011 NBA finals competitors: Miami Heat and, the defending champion, Dallas Mavericks.

Other games include: Orlando Magic against Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers versus Golden State Warriors.

The revised league schedule will be announced next week.