The NBA announced an unforeseen matchup for Christmas Day, which has grown over the years from a double-header to a five-game event over the course of the day. The Philadelphia 76ers will face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden as the opening game of the celebrated holiday, matching up center Joel Embiid against forward Carmelo Anthony to tip-off the slate of games.

https://twitter.com/SpikeEskin/status/895406344022487040

The league is clearly making an effort to showcase teams on the rise like the Sixers, who now have two No. 1 selections in the past two NBA Draft. Also, they are a team hoping to align its arsenal of young talent and translate it into wins over the course of the season.

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The Knicks face plenty of questions, mainly if Anthony will be part of the roster by the start of the season after expressing his displeasure to the front office and remaining firm on only dropping his no-trade clause to go to the Houston Rockets.

Should Anthony remain on the roster by Christmas, this could make for an entertaining start to the day with two Atlantic Division rivals going at one another.