Philadelphia 76ers: 3 must-win games in the month of December

3. Sixers @ New York Knicks — Dec. 25

The New York Knicks are off to quite the start at 11-11. Kristaps Porzingis is putting up career numbers in the scoring department, averaging 25.8 points per game. He’s been the Knicks’ best player in the aftermath of all the drama that surrounded last season’s 31-51 performance.

This season, Porzingis should give Joel Embiid all he can handle in a marquee Christmas matchup. There’s also a rookie faceoff that looms as rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina has found his groove in the Knicks’ rotation. Ntilikina is averaging 4.9 points, 3.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals through 19 appearances for New York.

The Sixers face the Knicks for the first time all season in Madison Square Garden. When playing on the big stage, Embiid typically brings his A-game and he’ll need to if Philadelphia hopes to remain in playoff contention. It will be Simmons and Embiid vs. Ntilikina and Porzingis, figuratively speaking. The Sixers will need to be ready to play on Christmas as they’ll face a scrappy Knicks squad.