The 2026-27 NBA regular-season schedule is now out. As fans parse through it, here are the dates Celtics fans need to know.
That includes when the league's most iconic rivalry will take place. They'll first face the Lakers on Thursday, Jan. 7. That game will take place in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena, the artist formerly known as the Staples Center. Tip-off time is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET. It will stream on Amazon Prime.
Then, Luka Doncic and Co. will travel to TD Garden for Round 2 of this rivalry clash on Tuesday, Feb 2. That matchup is set to get underway at 8:00 PM ET. It will air nationally on NBC and Peacock. Locally, fans can watch it on NBC Sports Boston.
The Celtics are on a three-game win streak vs. their rivals in purple and gold. That includes sweeping their two tilts last year, improving to 169-135 in their 304 regular-season contests. In the playoffs, they are 43-31 against the Lakers.
Ahead of their clashes in 2026-27, with the era of the Jays ending in Boston and LeBron James departing from Los Angeles, both teams are starting a fresh chapter.
Clashing with Luka's Lakers: What Celtics fans need to know about LA's outlook
LeBron James has now joined forces with Jaylen Brown in the City of Brotherly Love. While they happened to land with the Philadelphia 76ers, it seems they were more likely to become teammates than it initially seemed when the offseason began.
The franchise James leaves behind is now fully built around Doncic. Rob Pelinka, their president of basketball operations, traded for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. He paid a premium to do so, surrendering two unprotected first-round selections plus two first-round pick swaps.
In free agency, the purple and gold signed with Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton. They also kept Austin Reaves in the fold to the tune of a four-year, $185 million maximum contract. It's the most lucrative deal for an undrafted free agent in NBA history.
Despite lengthy absences for Doncic, James, and Reaves last season, the Lakers still finished in the top 10 in offensive rating. They could be even better on that side of the ball this year, especially if they experience better luck on the health front.
The reason they're most likely to remain in the upper-middle of the pack in the Western Conference is their defense. There is a lot of pressure on Kessler to protect the rim. However, having him anchoring the back line also empowers LA's perimeter defenders to operate aggressively. While the latter is a major area of concern for JJ Redick's team, that strategy can mask this shortcoming and force turnovers.
Even so, this is not a particularly well-balanced roster. Los Angeles certainly isn't on the same tier as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. A year after going 53-29 and finishing fourth in the West, they'll probably end the 2026-27 campaign with a similar record and spot in the standings.
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