The New York Knicks will face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas this year in a matchup that could prove dramatic.
A New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Christmas is a tradition. The Knickerbockers have become a fixture as the first game folks can tune into after opening presents left by St. Nick.
This year, the Knicks will face the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo on Dec. 25 according to a report from Marc Stein of the New York Times. The NBA loves to schedule marquee matchups filled with star power on Christmas. Unfortunately, Kristaps Porzingis’ status is still very much up in the air. The Greek Freak will bring the star power that the NBA craves.
But a dramatic Porzingis return is not out of the realm of possibility. Of course, there’s speculation that KP may not play a game all season, but by all accounts, Porzingis’ recovery is going well. The Knicks and his camp are playing this one very close to the chest.
Although very unlikely, a return to face the team that he tore his ACL against would be an awe-inspiring return for the Unicorn. The roof on Madison Square Garden may come off if this happens.
The entire city is on notice. Kristaps Porzingis' left knee is in serious doubt. #Knicks pic.twitter.com/4uYzy8x5SH
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) February 7, 2018
Many New Yorkers were hoping the Knicks would draw the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas. Both teams are in the middle of rebuilds and both are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The crosstown matchup would have been fun, but it lacks the star power with no guarantee of a healthy Porzingis. Giannis guarantees that the league will have at least one superstar for the casual fan to watch.
The official Christmas schedule isn’t set to release until Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 2:00 p.m. according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. In addition to the Christmas matchups, the NBA will release the schedule for the first week of the regular season and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
