Sixers-Knicks: Preview and Start Time

Things are going to be a little bit light today when it comes to preview, live tweets, and recap, due to it being, you know, Christmas Day. So let’s just take a quick look at Christmas past.

Most know that Bernard King of the Knicks still holds the record for the most points scored in a Christmas game with 60 in 1984 against the Nets.. The Knicks are also on the wrong side of many records. The second most points on Christmas was 59 by the Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain in a double-overtime game at New York in 1961. Jerry West dropped 47 there in 1963. Wilt had a record 36 rebounds there in that same 1961 game, while Guy Rodgers dished a record 18 assists there in 1966. Derrick Rose and Michael Jordan both notched 6 steals in 2010 and 1986 respectively. Wilt also reportedly blocked 23 shots against the Suns on Christmas day in 1968 as a Laker before it was officially kept as a statistic, just to note how freakishly amazing he was.

When it comes to Sixers records on the holiday, Billy Cunningham holds the points record with 41 in 1969. Rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks are owned respectively by Wilt (25, 1967), Andrew Toney (11, 1984), Maurice Cheeks and Julius Erving tied (3, 1987 and 1984), and Dr. J and Sedale Threatt (3, 1986 and 1984). All but that point total is likely up for grabs as the Sixers play their first Christmas game since 2001. In that last game, the Sixers lost to the Lakers in an NBA Finals rematch 88-82. The Sixers went 3-for-8 from long range in the game.

The Sixers and Knicks faced off on Christmas six times between 1968 and 1978. The teams literally alternated wins back and forth, both escaping with a 3-3 record in the matchups. Basketball in 2017 could not be more different than the game played in 1968, but the Sixers hope to make their record 4-3 today.

12:00 PM / Madison Square Garden / ESPN