It is somewhat arduous to consider, however the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have but to play within the 2024-25 NBA season.
That can change Wednesday, when certainly one of sports activities’ greatest rivalries renews itself at TD Backyard in a Christmas Day matchup.
That is the ninth consecutive 12 months the Celtics have performed on Christmas – a date usually reserved for the league’s marquee groups and gamers. The Celtics are 17-20 all-time on Christmas, however Wednesday’s recreation might be simply their fifth residence recreation on Christmas.
The Celtics have performed very properly at Christmas in recent times, profitable six of their earlier 9 video games on the vacation.
Boston beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on the street in final 12 months’s Christmas Day recreation. Kristaps Porzingis scored 28 factors with 11 rebounds and two blocks.
Six gamers completed in double figures because the Celtics completed their West Coast journey with a giant win over the Lakers.
Here is a recap of the Celtics’ final 9 Christmas video games:
- to the Lakers, 2023: 126-115 victory
- vs. Bucks, 2022: 139-118 victory
- at Bucks, 2021: 117-113 defeat
- vs. Nets, 2020: 123-95 defeat
- at Raptors, 2019: victory 118-102
- vs. 76ers, 2018: 121-114 victory (OT)
- in opposition to the wizards, 2017: 111-103 defeat
- to the Knicks, 2016: victory 119-114
- to the Nets, 2012: victory 93-76
The Celtics are not any strangers to Christmas video games. Jaylen Brown has probably the most expertise on the workforce with eight Christmas Day video games, and he is averaging 17.8 factors in these matchups.
Brown wants three factors to cross John Havlicek and transfer into fourth place on the workforce’s all-time Christmas scoring checklist. The reigning NBA Finals MVP additionally wants two rebounds to cross Havlicek for fourth place on the Celtics’ all-time Christmas rebounds leaderboard.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 23.6 factors by means of seven Christmas video games. He wants 23 factors to cross Invoice Sharman and transfer into second place on the workforce’s all-time Christmas leaderboard. Bob Cousy is No. 1 with 223 factors in 11 video games.
Tatum’s 41 factors in opposition to the Bucks in 2022 are the second-most by a Celtics participant on Christmas, behind Tommy Heinsohn’s 45 factors in opposition to Syracuse in 1961.
The 76ers have been taking part in higher currently, however their 10-17 file is properly under expectations for a workforce thought of a respectable title contender earlier than the season. A convincing win in opposition to the Celtics on Christmas may probably function a catalyst for Philly to show its season round.
This is without doubt one of the explanation why this recreation is essential for the Celtics. They will cease the Sixers’ momentum and ship a message to the remainder of the league that the street to the Jap Convention title nonetheless runs by means of Boston.
