The last time the 76ers (22-10) hosted a Christmas Day game in South Philadelphia was in 1988 -- a win over Washington.
Thirty-one years later, the Sixers will hope for the same outcome against a different, and formidable, opponent in the Milwaukee Bucks (27-4).
The significance of the matchup isn’t lost on Tobias Harris:
Boasting the best record in the league, the Bucks and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will face the Sixers for the first of four times this season.
Record aside, Milwaukee also leads the league in scoring (120.6 ppg), rebounding (51.3 rpg), net rating (13.0), and defensive rating (101.4).
“It’s a well-balanced team, and they really feed off [Giannis] and his obvious skillset,” Brett Brown said. “They shoot a lot of threes, and let him just play. It’s just going to be a great game, we’re all looking forward to it.”
After sharing a career-high 17 assists (along with 16 points and 13 rebounds) Monday, Ben Simmons is welcoming the challenge ahead.
“We haven’t played them yet, so it’s going to be a good test for us, definitely,” Ben Simmons said following Monday’s win in Detroit. “So, we’re looking forward to it. It’s a Christmas Day game, it’s going to be exciting.”
Monday’s decisive 125-109 victory over the Pistons set a promising tone for the Sixers, posting 33 assists on 52 field goals, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, and shooting 54.7% overall.
The group will hope to keep that momentum going as they host the league’s leader Wednesday, before embarking on a challenging road trip Thursday.
For Brown, like many others, there’s a nostalgic significance in being tapped to play on Christmas Day.
“I can’t wait. Christmas Day NBA games matter. As a kid, you just couldn’t wait to go turn the TV on,” Brown said. “To be able to have that opportunity against such a high-quality team on Christmas Day is unique and special, and we’re very much looking forward to it.”
Wednesday’s contest tips at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Opponent Outlook:
The Bucks have won three straight heading into the Christmas Day matchup, including impressive wins over the Pacers (21-10) and Lakers (24-6).
After winning his first MVP last season, Antetokounmpo’s game has only grown, as he’s averaging a career-high 31.0 points and 12.9 rebounds this season. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledoe have proven themselves as impressive secondary options for Milwaukee, averaging 18.0 points and 15.0 points per game this season, respectively.
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