Sixers-Celtics game in London is official

The 76ers' regular-season matchup against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 11 in London has been finalized.

The Atlantic Division rivals will square off in NBA London Game 2018 at the O2 arena. A league source confirmed to philly.com in July that the game was in the works. The game was officially announced Thursday.

Tickets will go on sale for the matchup in October. The contest is designated as a home game for the Sixers. As a result, the team will play for 40 games at the Wells Fargo Center this season instead of the normal 41.

However, the Sixers are prepared to accommodate their season-ticket holders for losing a home game. Those with automatic-payment plans will not be charged for the game. Season-ticket holders who have paid in full can request to get a game's ticket price back.  They can also roll over the refund for future game purchases, playoff tickets or use it to go towardthe following season's tickets.

"I look forward to coming back to London with the Sixers after visiting for the first time this summer," Joel Embiid said in a statement. "We are a young, hungry team and will be sure to give the fans an exciting game against Boston in January."

Embiid traveled to England in June to be on hand for a celebrity exhibition soccer match in Wales.

The last time the Sixers went overseas was during the 2013-14 preseason. They played Bilbao Basket in Bilbao, Spain, on Oct. 6, 2013. Two days later, they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in Manchester, England.

The Sixers, who finished 28-54 last season, have a lot of buzz surrounding the team. They drafted Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick in the draft in June. They also signed free agents J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson. Ben Simmons, the first overall pick in 2016, is also expected to make his debut.  He missed the entire 2016-17 season after surgery to repair a broken right foot.

The Celtics finished last season with the Eastern Conference's best record at 53-29. They advanced to the conference finals, losing in five games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This matchup will mark the NBA's eighth regular-season game in London.

"I am delighted the NBA continues to bring the world's best basketball to our great city in what has now become a well-established and eagerly anticipated event on London's sporting calendar," said Sadiq Khan, London's mayor. "I know Londoners will be thrilled to see the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics up close at our world-famous O2."

The Sixers open training camp, tentatively, on Sept. 26 at their practice facility in Camden.