Can you feel the NBA season getting closer? Here are two key dates to put on your calendars.
First, opening night. The Sixers will kick off the 2017-18 regular season on Oct. 18 against the Wizards at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Second, Christmas day. The Knicks will host the Sixers at 12p.m. on Dec. 25 at Madison Square Garden.
"This is another reminder that coach Brett Brown and our young, talented and competitive Sixers team are getting the attention of those in the know in and around the game of basketball," Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil said. "We are happy the game will be in New York as it will allow our players to hopefully deliver a present to our fans with a win, and then a few presents to friends and family when they get back home to Philadelphia.”
Christmas day games are highly regarded in the NBA. The league selects only a handful of teams to play in the nationally televised matchups. This is the Sixers’ 30th Christmas Day game in franchise history, the last played in 2001 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Sixers are 16-13 on Dec. 25.
Both opening night and Christmas day will be aired on ESPN. The local television schedule has yet to be announced.
Adding to the list of notable games, the Sixers also will play the Celtics at the O2 Arena in London on Jan. 11, 2018 (see story). CSN will broadcast that game.
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The Sixers will begin the preseason on Oct. 4 when they face the Grizzlies at the Wells Fargo Center. The remainder of the regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.