The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day and Celtics center Al Horford is excited to go up against Sixers All-Star big man Joel Embiid.

Al Horford returned to the Celtics' lineup on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets after missing seven-straight games due to a sore knee. The five-time All-Star played 19 minutes and finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists in Boston's 119-103 victory.

Joel Embiid has put up good individual numbers versus Al Horford and the Beantown team, but Boston has dominated this rivalry in the win column. The Celtics beat the Sixers in five games in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals and won on opening night as well against Philly.

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Horford says the Celtics are lucky to be playing on Christmas Day against a good Sixers team led by Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons.

“It's great,” Horford said of going up against Embiid, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “I have a lot of respect for Joel. I've always been a big fan of his game, and just how he is. He's a guy that you want to see play, and I feel like you want him around you, right?”

“It's one of those games we are lucky to be one of the few teams playing on Christmas Day, and it is nationally televised. It's one of those fun games, and we're here at home, so it's good for us.”

Horford and the Celtics are 19-13 on the season, while Embiid and the Sixers are 22-12. It should be a great matchup at the TD Garden.