Isaiah Hartenstein sends a message to Joel Embiid ahead of the clash of the Knicks and 76ers Christmas rivalry

ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN can’t wait for the holiday showdown with Joel Embiid at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks forward will not wish the Philadelphia 76ers star a Happy Holidays.

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Instead, the German-American Embiid should slow down.

The Knicks and 76ers begin the NBA’s Christmas program with their showdown in Manhattan.

And Hartenstein, 24, told The Sun: “They have an MVP candidate on their team, so it’s going to be a big challenge.

“If Joel Embiid comes in, it will be a special game and a fun game.

“They’re only a three-hour drive away, so it’s kind of a rivalry between the two fan bases.

“I’ve already played at Christmas but especially here in New York I think it’s going to be a great experience.”

The Knicks enjoyed an eight-game winning streak in December after losing many close games earlier in the season.

They’ve lost their last two and are hoping to get back on their feet at home on Christmas Day.

Hartenstein averaged 20 minutes a game as a substitute and injected energy into the rotation.

And the 24-year-old is counting on the festive energy of the New York crowd to get them over the line.

He said, “We’re trying to represent the city of New York. It’s a lot of hard work and passion. We try to reflect that in our game.

“There’s always good energy at MSG and it’s always great to play here.

“In New York you see a lot of Christmas movies and stuff.

“It’s always a great blessing to play and be in New York on Christmas Day.”