The Boston Celtics' 2025-26 regular-season schedule is now out. It's projected to be a gap year for the franchise, with hopes their removal from title contention doesn't last longer.
However, as previously explored, from Joe Mazzulla to those on the roster, there are significant developments to monitor in the upcoming campaign.
Let's dive into the 18-time NBA champions' must-see matchups and games fans should consider appointment viewing while following those plot lines.
Celtics' season opener
Boston's season gets underway Wednesday, Oct. 22. The Celtics will host the Philadelphia 76ers. That tilt at TD Garden represents their home and regular-season opener.
Two days later, comes another rivalry clash. That night, they'll face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. That playoff rematch will kick off the inaugural edition of Amazon's airing of Friday night doubleheaders on Prime Video throughout the upcoming campaign.
For those who want to see the Knicks play at TD Garden, the first opportunity this season arrives Dec. 2.
The Celtics' reunions
Keeping this list to players who were on last year's roster, Boston's reunions start with a visit to Portland. Dec. 28, Jrue Holiday and the Trail Blazers will host the Celtics.
Fans will have to wait for Jan. 26 to give Holiday his flowers for helping the franchise raise banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters.
As for Kristaps Porzingis, he'll be in Boston Jan. 17. That's the first time he'll face his former team since getting traded. Mar. 27, the Celtics will also host the Atlanta Hawks. Mar. 30, the two will square off in "The Peach State."
Jan. 10, Luke Kornet returns to Boston. File that away, since it's also a chance to see burgeoning star Victor Wembanyama. Plus, the San Antonio Spurs could catapult into title contender status this season. Mar. 10, they will welcome the Celtics to the "Alamo City."
And should Al Horford find himself on the Golden State Warriors this season, as many expect, his return to TD Garden would happen on Mar. 18. Stephen Curry and Co. host Boston on Feb. 19.
The NBA's most iconic rivalry
The Celtics and Lakers combine to form one of the most storied rivalries in sports. It unquestionably holds the top spot in that category in the NBA.
The two franchises helped launch the league in its infancy and then helped elevate an Association in need during the 80s.
There are plenty of spicy storylines entering this year's regular-season series.
For starters, there's a chance this is LeBron James' farewell tour. Even if it's not, fans should appreciate that they're running out of time to watch a player on the short list of basketball's all-time greats.
Flanking James is the now svelte Luka Doncic. The latter was on the losing side as Boston bested the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. He is now the face of the Celtics' archrivals and at the root of whether their near future will include any championship banners.
Dec. 5, when the Lakers arrive in Boston, it will also represent Marcus Smart's first game at TD Garden since signing with the purple and gold this summer.
At his introductory press conference in Los Angeles, Smart said of what he anticipates that evening: "I'm expecting a lot of boos," adding, "I'm expecting a lot of hate, and it's okay, I understand it."
The Lakers will get their turn to host the Celtics Feb. 22 at Crypto.com Arena.
When will the Celtics face Cooper Flagg?
Boston's two-tilt regular-season series against the Mavericks will begin in Dallas on Feb. 3. A month later, on Mar. 6, this year's No. 1 draft pick, Cooper Flagg, will step foot in TD Garden for the first time in his career.
The latter matchup figures to be one of the hottest tickets of the season in Boston because of Flagg's Maine roots.
Best of the best
The Celtics will first face the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in a road contest on Mar. 12. Thirteen days later, on Mar. 25, they will host last year's league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Co.
Like Boston a year ago, the Thunder enter the upcoming campaign with talks of whether they can usher in the Association's next dynasty.
Nikola Jokic wasn't the MVP last season, but he is currently the best basketball player on the planet. Whether it's in person or on TV, when he faces the Celtics, consider that a must-see matchup.
Jan. 7, the Denver Nuggets will be at TD Garden. The roles will reverse Feb. 25 in the "Mile High City."
The first chance to see Boston take on Giannis Antetokounmpo is Feb. 1 on the TD Garden parquet. Mar. 2, the two teams will tango in Milwaukee. Apr. 3, the Bucks will also host the Celtics.