The NBA schedule trickling out signals that the upcoming campaign is on the horizon. We already know that the 2026-27 season starts with the Boston Celtics squaring off against the Detroit Pistons.
In a surprising twist, not only does the Association's opening matchup not include the reigning champions, the New York Knicks, but it tips off at 3 PM ET. The early reveals also include the Christmas slate, which features a rivalry clash with the Miami Heat and their new star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, at TD Garden.
While we must wait until Thursday at 3 PM ET to learn the full schedule, there is now clarity about Boston's road to the Emirates NBA Cup.
The C's are in Group C in the East. That pits them against the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls.
The @emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Draw results!
— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2026
Starting October 30, all 30 teams will compete for the Emirates NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the Championship held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, December 11! pic.twitter.com/OiBSSVkxpm
To determine that, each team was a part of a "pot" based on its record in the 2025-26 regular season. Pot 1 consisted of those with the top-three records in a conference. Pot 2 was for the group with the fourth- through sixth-best records in a conference this past campaign, and so on through Pot 5.
But enough of what was known. Now for what's new, and what makes it such a challenging path for the Celtics to capture their first NBA Cup.
Evaluating the Celtics' NBA Cup group stage matchups
Group play games take place on designated "Cup Nights." Those run every Friday from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27. There will also be additional "Cup Nights" on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
For the C's, their group play destiny, and whether they reach the knockout rounds is in their hands.
Group play begins for Boston with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on Oct. 30.
The Bulls drafted former North Carolina star Caleb Wilson fourth overall in this year's draft. They also signed Norman Powell and acquired Nic Claxton.
And while Billy Donovan is no longer at the helm, Chicago landed on its feet, poaching Thiago Splitter from the Portland Trail Blazers after he impressed as their interim head coach last season.
The Bulls have the talent to improve on last year's 31-win campaign. However, a postseason appearance seems unlikely.
After that, the Celtics will face the Hornets in Charlotte on Nov. 6.
At one point, the Hornets were the hottest team in the league last season. However, their campaign fizzled out, losing 121-90 to the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament.
Now, looking to build off a 44-win season in Charles Lee's third year at the helm. They're hoping a trade that sent LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and brought Naz Reid to the Queen City will help them achieve that.
Charlotte used the last pick in this year's lottery on Hannes Steinbach, a skilled center with an impressive feel for the game. Four picks later, they selected Christian Anderson, a sharpshooting guard from Texas Tech. His arrival is intended to help address what they'll miss from sending Ball to the Twin Cities.
Re-signing Coby White was another significant move made this summer. However, what's most important to the Hornets' success this coming campaign is the growth of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, who will shoulder more responsibility offensively after jettisoning Ball.
After a bit of a break, it's onto a showdown with the Washington Wizards in D.C. on Nov. 24.
The Wizards selected Massachusetts native AJ Dybantasa with the top choice in this year's NBA Draft. At Summer League, he made good on his first chance to live up to the hype. Washington also kept Anthony Davis in the nation's capital and reached a new deal with Trae Young.
Those moves, and a budding young nucleus that includes Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, are why the Wizards have legitimate postseason aspirations.
The final tilt on the Celtics' NBA Cup group play schedule is a home tilt against the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 27.
Atlanta is coming off a 46-36 season. The Hawks finished sixth in the East before getting eliminated in a competitive first-round series vs. the Knicks.
This summer, they added Luguentz Dort at the expense of former first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. That will make a stingy defense even more formidable. Atlanta also acquired one of Dort's former teammates in Oklahoma City, Aaron Wiggins, drafted Kingston Flemings with the No. 8 pick, and selected Henri Veesar and Zuby Ejiofor.
Pairing that cast with Jalen Johnson, who earned an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu won't have pundits projecting them atop the East. However, they certainly have the talent to return to the playoffs.
For the Celtics to be one of the eight teams that reach the knockout rounds, they must either finish atop Group C in the East or get in as the conference's wild card team. That distinction will go to whoever finishes second in their group with the best record in group play competition.
Boston must navigate group play against two teams that turned into buzzsaws and went on lengthy win streaks last season and three that picked in the top ten in this year's NBA Draft.
However, one would much rather face those foes than the gauntlet that Group B in the East must go through. That pits the Knicks, Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers against each other.
The favorite doesn't always prevail, but the Celtics will enter group play with that distinction, sitting in the driver's seat, as they try to steer their way to the knockout rounds.
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