Early Tuesday morning the NBA announced its lineup of games for opening night. The Boston Celtics were included, but they’ll be playing at 3 p.m. ET. Meanwhile the Philadelphia 76ers visit the New York Knicks for their banner night at 7 p.m., and the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference Finals rematch at 9:30 p.m.
It’s tradition for the reigning champs, unfortunately the Knicks in this case, to open the season at home to raise their NBA Championship Banner. Many fans speculated that the Celtics would be the team looking on in New York as Madison Square Garden added its first NBA Championship banner in 53 years. WFAN’s Tiki Barber went as far to say he’d been told by minority owner Marc Leder that Boston would indeed be the opponent.
Man, did all of us in Celtics land catch a break, or what?
Celtics avoid being at MSG for banner night https://t.co/VWOdIADxiE pic.twitter.com/ufqbGjT5Kt
— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) August 11, 2026
I truly couldn’t think of a worse way to start a season than being forced to watch the Knicks celebrate a championship. As whack as the 3 p.m. tip-off time in Detroit is, I’d take it over the alternative 100 times out of 100.
LeBron and the 76ers have served as a human shield for Lucky and the Celtics
You know what? I’m going to write a brand-new sentence; one I’ve never uttered or typed ever before.
Shoutout to LeBron James, man.
Had he not chosen to join the 76ers last month, then Boston very well could’ve been forced to open their season in New York. Thanks to all of the hype, pomp, and circumstance that he’s brought with him as he heads to Philly, the league had no choice to stick the Sixers across the court from the Knicks.
Philadelphia has gotten tons of love this summer -- deservedly so. They landed Jaylen Brown from the Celtics and got off of Paul George’s $113 million owed over the next two seasons in one singular trade. They signed LeBron to a minimum contract and now have one of the better starting fives in recent memory.
James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe have the potential to win a lot of games. Some would even go as far to say that if they don’t win a title, this season should be considered a complete and utter failure.
Even as someone who isn’t a fan of the team or LeBron, I’m dying to watch these guys play.
As for those waiting for Celtics vs. Knicks, they won’t have to wait very long. Boston will host New York on Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET. They, along with the Houston Rockets and Spurs will fill out Amazon Prime’s first Friday night slate of the new season.
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