Celtics Schedule Challenging but Provides Chance to Stay in the Mix

The Celtics tip-off the 2025-26 season against the 76ers at home on October 22 before visiting them the following week on October 31 to begin the NBA Cup, games that both Joel Embiid and Paul George could miss after undergoing surgeries this offseason. It’s part of a manageable stretch of games through the Celtics’ opening month that could allow them to stay in the mix in a weaker eastern conference.

They also see tough games early, a trip to Madison Square Garden for a playoff rematch with the Knicks starts a three-game road trip following the opener through Detroit and New Orleans. The Cavaliers visit for an ESPN showcase on Oct. 29, placing three out of the Celtics’ first six games on a national showcase. Boston will appear in 25 games shown nationally, a smaller reduction from 34 last season than anticipated.

• The Celtics are tied for the fewest back-to-backs with 13, though they also see the fewest number of opponents playing on back-to-backs with 11.
• The longest road trip is five games this season between December and February, compared to six in March last year.

Here are some other notes from Boston’s schedule, announced by the NBA today…

November:

vs. HOU (11/1, B2B, 8:00), vs. UTA (11/3, 7:30), vs. WAS (11/5, 7:30), @ ORL (11/7, 7:00, NBA Cup), @ ORL (11/9, 6:00), @ PHI (11/11, 8:00, NBC), vs. MEM (11/12, B2B, 7:30), vs. LAC (11/16, 3:30), @ BKN (11/18, 7:30), vs. BKN (11/21, 7:30, NBA Cup), vs. ORL (11/23, 6:00), vs. DET (11/26, 5:00, NBA Cup), @ MIN (11/29, 5:00), @ CLE (11/30, B2B, 6:00) 

Ime Udoka and Kevin Durant visit Boston for the first time since reuniting in Houston, marking Udoka’s third trip back since leaving the Celtics. Georges Niang visits Boston with Austin Ainge’s still-rebuilding Jazz two days later, a chance to build on a strong start or recover from a slow one between Utah and Washington. Back-to-back games what could prove a stacked Magic team could look far different than their playoff series in April did. Boston sees them three times across two weeks. A Nets home-and-home provides more potential relief after a potentially difficult stretch continues against the Sixers, Grizzlies and Clippers. Memphis might be without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey after offseason surgeries. The Pistons, Wolves and Cavs on a road back-to-back close out a challenging month with bruising front courts, though Darius Garland (toe) could miss the Cleveland matchup. A start above .500 for Boston would prove more surprising than finishing below, especially as the Celtics acclimate to a new roster and roles for players.

December:

vs. Knicks (12/2, 8:00, NBC), @ WAS (12/4, 7:00), vs. LAL (12/5, B2B, 7:00, Prime), @ TOR (12/7, 3:30, Prime), In-Season Tournament (12/9-12/17, 2 games), vs. MIA (12/19, 7:00), @ TOR (12/20, B2B, 7:00), vs. IND (12/22, 7:30), @ IND (12/26, 7:30, Prime), @ POR (12/28, 6:00), @ UTA (12/30, 9:00) 

Marcus Smart joins Luka Dončić and LeBron James with the Lakers for what would mark on his second game played at his former Celtics team since departing in 2023. It comes on a back-to-back and third day in four nights with travel in-between. The NBA Cup follows shortly after, which the Celtics hadn’t participated in even during their championship contention seasons. Boston will need wins in at least three early games against the Nets, Magic, Sixers and Pistons to qualify. They see Toronto only two weeks after their first trip north of the border, the second a back-to-back as part of three games in four nights. That’s followed by a Christmas break, then the start of a rare west coast swing that only includes the Clippers, not the Lakers. They see Jrue Holiday and perhaps Robert Williams III for the first time since their trades on Dec. 28 in Portland. Realistically, this is another .500 month, or maybe slightly above depending on who they draw in Cup week.

January

@ SAC (1/1, 10:00), @ LAC (1/3, 10:30), vs. CHI (1/5, 7:30), vs. DEN (1/7, 7:30), vs. TOR (1/9, 7:00), vs. SAS (1/10, B2B, 8:00), @ IND (1/12, 7:30, Peacock), @ MIA (1/15, 7:30), @ ATL (1/17, 7:30), @ DET (1/19, 8:00, NBC), vs. IND (1/21, 7:30), @ BKN (1/23, 7:30), @ CHI (1/24, B2B, 8:00), vs. POR (1/26, 8:00, Peacock), vs. ATL (1/28, 7:30), vs. SAC (1/30, 7:30)

Luke Kornet, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis all return to the Garden for the first time since their departures in January, Porziņģis seeing his former team first in Atlanta in the middle of the month. Holiday and Porziņģis play at the Celtics only two days apart later. The Celtics see a Pacers team similarly trying to navigate life without their star three times in less than one month. The new-look Nuggets are a must-watch game on Jan. 7. This month could become the Celtics’ first squarely above .500 depending how the Kings, Bulls, Raptors, Spurs and Blazers fare compared to expectations. All begin the season in similar territory as the Celtics do.

February

vs. MIL (2/1, 3:30, ESPN), @ DAL (2/3, 8:00, NBC),  @ HOU (2/4, B2B, 8:00, last game before 2/5 trade deadline), vs. MIA (2/6, 7:30), vs. NYK (2/8, 12:30, ABC), vs. CHI (2/11, 7:30), AS Break (2/12-2/18), @ GSW (2/19, 10:00, Prime), @ LAL (2/22, 6:30, NBC), @ PHX (2/24, 9:00), @ DEN (2/25, B2B, 10:00, ESPN), vs. BKN (2/27, 7:30) 

Only play 11 games with the long all-star break with two tough back-to-backs mixed in. Kyrie Irving should be back by the first Mavericks meeting. The Celtics will see Al Horford for the first time if he signs with the Warriors as expected to begin a four-game west coast trip that includes a Nuggets trip on the second half of a back-to-back. Only three games are slam dunks with more tricky travel through this month, which could set up a sizable dip below .500 depending on where Boston’s health (and roster after the deadline) stand by late February.

March

vs. PHI (3/1, 6:00), @ MIL (3/2, B2B, 7:30, Peacock), vs. CHA (3/4, 7:30), vs. DAL (3/6, 7:00, ESPN), @ CLE (3/8, 1:00, ABC), @ SAS (3/10, 8:00), @ OKC (3/12, 9:30, Prime), vs. WAS (3/14, 6:00), vs. PHX (3/16, 8:00, Peacock), vs. GSW (3/18, 7:00, ESPN), @ MEM (3/20, 8:00), vs. MIN (3/22, 8:00, NBC), vs. OKC (3/25, 7:30), vs. ATL (3/27, 7:30), @ CHA (3/29, 6:00), @ ATL (3/30, B2B, 7:30)

Make-or-break month for the Celtics if they’re still in the mix with plenty of winnable games against potential rivals for seeding at the lower half of the conference like the Sixers, Bucks and Hawks. Al Horford returns to TD Garden if he joins the Warriors, travel is moderate and nine games are at home. This is where Boston will need to get on a run to make the playoffs comfortably. The defending champion Thunder visit Boston on Mar. 25 after hosting the Celtics less than two weeks earlier. Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks visit Boston on Mar. 6, Flagg’s first trip to his native New England since being drafted as the top pick out of Duke in June.

April

@ MIA (4/1, 7:30), @ MIL (4/3, 8:00), vs. TOR (4/5, 3:30), vs. CHA (4/7, 7:30), @ NYK (4/9, 7:30, Prime), vs. NOLA (4/10, B2B, 7:30), vs. ORL (4/12, 6:00)

Critical stretch against conference rivals and playoff contenders continues through the end of a four-game road trip at Miami and Milwaukee. The Raptors also present a potential important seeding game before the Knicks and Magic might have their playoff positions secured by this point. It wouldn’t be stunning to see the Celtics playing for the playoff lives at this point, but there’s also a world where they’re positioning for the lottery if things go sideways before the final month.