Ranking the top 10 games of the 2018-19 NBA schedule

4. Oct. 16/Dec. 25, 2018 — Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (TNT/ABC)

In last year’s playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers were ousted in five quick games by a Celtics team that didn’t have Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward. Suffice it to say they still have to prove themselves as the team that has “next” in the East now that LeBron’s gone. That journey starts on opening night.

In their season opener on the road, the Sixers will square off with a revamped Celtics squad that has its eyes on an NBA Finals appearance. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and especially Markelle Fultz will be on a mission to show they shouldn’t be overlooked in that conversation.

This is a great, budding rivalry that has plenty of history behind it and has received a recent jolt of new life thanks to last year’s playoff series and the ascending trajectory of both young teams. The NBA is certainly aware of it, since they will face off four times in 2018-19 and all four games will be on national TV.

For our purposes though, the season opener and a primetime Christmas Day showdown are juicy matchups that will provide an early look at where these two Eastern powerhouses rank among the true contenders.