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Washington Wizards to Open Season vs. Sixers and Play at Celtics on Christmas Day

ByRyan Eugene|
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics on March 20, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics on March 20, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Washington Wizards fans finally get some initial schedule news. The NBA released its Christmas Day schedule and primetime games during the first week of the season. Let’s take a look. The Wizards will play on both of occasions.

The NBA usually releases its full schedule for the upcoming season in early to mid August. Well that’s officially where we are in the month. News began trickling earlier in the week about agreed upon consequences for players resting, and the number of times teams will play four games in five nights. Thursday, we got some more news, this time more specific to the Wizards.

As I had hoped the Wizards will play in Boston on Christmas Day.

The league is capitalizing on the budding rivalry between the Wizards and Celtics. The Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the two in May was arguably the second best series of the entire playoffs. There were game winning shots, 50 and 40-point performances, and some illegal body blows.

Additionally, this matchup could feature four All-Stars in John Wall, Bradley Beal, Isaiah Thomas, and Gordon Hayward. This game will mark the second time in the last four years the Wizards will play on Christmas Day, the most decorated day of the regular season.

The NBA also released some of the Tip Off games, and the Wizards will do something they haven’t done in a long time. They’ll not only open at home (first time in five years), but they’ll open the season on primetime. Washington will host Philadelphia on October 18th on ESPN.

The game will mark the first regular season game for the past two number one picks, Ben Simmons and DeMatha graduate Markelle Fultz.  Philly is projected to be much better this season than previous years, but no one is expecting them to approach the level of the Wizards. Hopefully, the Wizards can start off the season on a better foot than they did last year.

Next: Deeper Look into Scott Brooks' First season in DC

Expect the full schedule to be released in the next week or two.

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