After starting with an inconspicuous tweet from James Harden saying, “Christmas in the garden!” it has been confirmed that the Sixers will face off with the Knicks on Christmas Day this upcoming season.
That one tweet caused many to speculate if Philadelphia was indeed returning to play on the NBA’s premier showcase. It was eventually confirmed by Shams Charania of The Athletic that the Philadelphia 76ers would be a part of the five-game Christmas Day slate.
Philadelphia hasn’t played on Christmas Day since the 2019-20 season, when they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 121-109 at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers also played on Christmas in the 2018-19 season against the Celtics and the 2017-18 season against the Knicks at MSG. The Philadelphia 76ers have an all-time record of 18-14 on Christmas day and look to add to the win column this coming season.
With the Sixers having both Joel Embiid and James Harden on the roster, the team is expected to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, making them a great candidate to play on Christmas. By the time these teams jump center, their rosters could like different in their own right.
What thing to remember about these two teams is the stars they have been tied to. The Knicks have been rumored to be interested in trading for Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, while the Sixers have been linked to the Nets’ Kevin Durant. If both teams can pull off those moves, this game will be even more intriguing.
The tip-off time has not been confirmed yet, but you can bet the Sixers will most likely be playing at 12:00 PM or 3:30 PM. Regardless of the tip-off time, expect Sixers fans to make their way to Madison Square Garden to cheer on their squad.
