Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during the first half of an NBA game on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The NBA will officially release the complete 2025–26 regular-season schedule on Thursday, but the league shared an early look at several key matchups on Tuesday. Boston, missing Jayson Tatum as he recovers from a torn Achilles, will not play on opening night or Christmas Day. However, the Celtics will face the Pistons in a nationally televised Martin Luther King Jr. Day game on Monday, Jan. 19. That matchup will close out a four-game slate on NBC Sports, with Boston playing in Detroit at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, following Bucks–Hawks, Thunder–Cavaliers, and Knicks–Mavericks.
This season marks the NBA’s return to NBC for the first time since 2002, with the network set to air up to 100 regular-season games, including five games per week during select periods, on both NBC and Peacock. Regular Celtics analyst Brian Scalabrine will join the network’s commentary team.
Additional matchups announced Tuesday include the Oct. 21 opening night doubleheader on NBC featuring Thunder–Rockets and Warriors–Lakers, marking the first NBA games on the network in 23 years. On Oct. 22, the Cavs will meet the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on ESPN. Boston is expected to open its season later that same night. The full Celtics schedule will be released Thursday afternoon.
Be the first to comment