Celtics 2025-26 Early Season Schedule Games Revealed

May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Celtics will visit the Knicks in the first national NBA game shown on Amazon Prime on Oct. 24, the league announced. It will mark Boston’s second scheduled game following a home opener earlier in the week, based on historic schedules. The season begins on Oct. 21 with an NBC double-header between the Rockets and Thunder, Oklahoma City’s ring night, then the Warriors at the Lakers in the late game.

Boston starts its NBA Cup schedule one week after the playoff rematch with the Knicks at Philadelphia.

Oct. 31 at Sixers, 7:00 EST, Prime
Nov. 7 at Magic, 7:00 EST, NBCSB
Nov. 21 vs. Nets, 7:30 EST, NBCSB
Nov. 26 vs. Pistons, 5:00 EST, ESPN

Alongside the Celtics’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day trip to Detroit (Jan. 19, 8 EST, NBC), three of the team’s first six games announced will be shown nationally. Their removal from the opening week slate, however, previewed a likely reduction over their constant national presence following Jayson Tatum’s injury and various offseason losses. The Celtics will not play on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

The NBA opening week slate also includes Cavs-Knicks and Spurs-Mavs on Oct. 22 on ESPN. Another double-header on the network features a Thunder-Pacers Finals rematch on Oct. 23 followed by Nuggets-Warriors. ESPN will air ESPN games on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and occasionally Friday. NBC received Tuesday games and select Sundays later in the season following football season. On streaming, Prime hosts Friday night and some Thursdays after Thursday Night Football ends, while Peacock takes on Monday nights.

Last year, Boston hosted the season opener against the Knicks, a Christmas Day loss to the Sixers and played in nationally 26 times, 34 including NBA TV, with only the Lakers and Warriors appearing in more. The Celtics only received seven in 2015-16.

Gary Washburn reported a seventh game on Oct. 29 at home against the Cavaliers. The NBA will release the full schedule on Thursday. Boston’s preseason slate has already been announced, and will be shown on NBC Sports Boston:

Oct. 8 at Memphis, 8 EST
Oct. 10 at Toronto, 7 EST
Oct. 12 vs. Cavs, 7 EST
Oct. 15 vs. Raptors, 7:30 EST

Bobby Manning

Boston Celtics beat reporter for CLNS Media and host of the Garden Report Celtics Post Game Show. NBA national columnist for Boston Sports Journal. Contributor to SB Nation's CelticsBlog. Host of the Dome Theory Sports and Culture Podcast on CLNS. Syracuse University 2020.