3. vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Dec. 25
The Sixers will host a Christmas Day game this season, a refreshing change after spending the last couple holidays on the road. It gives hometown fans a chance to splurge on tickets, while others can enjoy it at home with family. The matchup carries plenty of intrigue as well.
Milwaukee and Philadelphia are widely accepted favorites in the Eastern Conference. While teams like Boston, Brooklyn and Miami are intriguing, the Bucks and Sixers have a much clearer path to contention.
The Sixers lost Butler, but added a multi-time All-Star in Al Horford, as well as a top-flight defender in Josh Richardson. The Bucks won 60 games last season and brought back a similar roster — Malcolm Brogdon being the one glaring omission.
If those predictions come to fruition, there’s a chance Christmas Day offers a preview of the conference finals. While it’s too early to predict Philadelphia’s success with absolute conviction, the odds this matchup carries significant weight are high.
Plus, it features the conference’s two most marketable stars — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. While the league soaks up profits from a loaded Western Conference field, it’s also important to keep national eyes on the East. No two teams are better equipped to do so.