The 2025-26 Boston Celtics season is just around the corner, and we now know their full schedule for what should be a rather interesting campaign.
Though Jayson Tatum’s injury might be a severe hindrance to the Celtics making a championship run, the team still has plenty of talent to compete in the East. And what is perhaps a change from recent years, there will be an added emphasis and importance on the regular-season results for Boston.
With that in mind, NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics broadcast team of Drew Carter and Brian Scalabrine spent some time pointing out what they’re looking forward to and expecting in the upcoming 2025-26 schedule in the latest Celtics Talk Podcast.
Opening Night vs. Philadelphia
Scal’s immediate reaction was noticing that the Celtics won’t be involved in a premier opening night game.
“Interesting not being on the main where we’re raising a banner or we’re going to a place that’s raising a banner. It does seem interesting we’re not playing on official opening night,” Scal said. “But we [NBC Sports Boston] get opening night, which is great.”
That game will take place against the 76ers on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with a 7:30 tip at TD Garden. Neither Carter nor Scalabrine sees the Sixers as a real title contender, though Scal is excited to see their backcourt in action.
“I do think their backcourt is young and dynamic. Tyrese Maxey has grown into a pretty good player and they have some young guys,” he said. “To me, I think those guards are going to be must-see TV. I think V.J. Edgecombe is a serious high flyer and could be really fun to watch.”
No Christmas game for C’s; tough trip around New Year’s
Not only are the Celtics not involved with the NBA’s opening night, they’re also not playing on Christmas Day for the first time since 2015. The injury to Tatum (who was still two years away from being 19 years old in 2015) is likely why the C’s will be spending Christmas morning in their own homes instead of playing on national TV.
And right after Christmas, the Celtics will head out on a five-game road trip that will take them through Indiana, Portland, Utah, Sacramento and L.A. to face the Clippers. With the tough timing and a New Year’s Day matchup with the Kings out west, Drew asked Scal if that will be a tough one for the players.
“I don’t think NBA players look at it like that,” Scal said. “I don’t really remember what day it is. I know you play on Christmas Day [or] you don’t, whatever. But once that’s over, you’re back into it. It is what it is. So I think, I feel like this team will be fine. And I don’t think a lot of guys got kids or anything like that. So you know, [not playing on Christmas] might be a nice little break.”
Welcoming back old friends
It’s obviously been an offseason of change for the Celtics, most notably with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis being traded away. Those two players will be returning to Boston in back-to-back games in January, with Holiday’s Trail Blazers visiting Boston on January 26 and Porzingis’ Hawks arriving two nights later.
🔊 Celtics Talk Podcast: Scal & Drew break down the Celtics’ 2025-26 regular season schedule | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
“The nostalgia of these guys winning a championship is awesome,” Scal said. “And it’s great when you get a chance to watch the tribute videos and then you remember the moments. You know, a lot of times you’re covering a team, it all gets blended together. But Holiday had some big moments and so did Porzingis.
“So, I’m excited about seeing those guys back, and it’s just different. When a guy has won a championship and he comes back to the Garden and he gets a tribute video, I think those moments are really gonna be special.”
Though Porzingis was only a Celtic for two seasons and dealt with injuries throughout that tenure, Drew anticipates an emotional return for the Latvian big man who really embraced Boston.
“I actually think KP might cry when when his tribute video happens, because that guy like — he seems to feel, he’s got a real flair for just the city of Boston and what people appreciate,” Carter said. “And if you think about Game 1 of the Finals against Dallas, that’s about as electric of a moment as we had in the playoffs last year.”
First look At Flagg
The hope of the Dallas Mavericks and pride of Maine, Cooper Flagg, will face the Celtics twice this season. The first time will be in Dallas on Feb. 3, and the Mavericks will visit Boston a month later on March 6. It figures to be a big one, with Carter dubbing it “The Maine Event.”
“We’ve got both the Celtics-Mavericks games on NBC Sports Boston. The big one is March 6, when they are in the house and it’s Cooper Flagg. Half the population of Maine is going to be in the building,” Carter said, adding that Kyrie Irving may be nearing a return to the court around this time as he works back from a torn ACL. “So this game just has a massive feel, right?”
“Yeah,” Scal agreed. “I think as soon as the tickets are available to buy, I think people will buy — from Maine — will buy this game and it’ll sell out. And I have a direct line to the secondary market. … I think that this secondary market will end up going crazy. This might be one of those games where people buy just because they want to hold on to the ticket because it is Cooper Flagg’s debut in Boston. A family that loved the Celtics — the player, his mom, his dad.
“Cooper Flagg grew up loving the Boston Celtics. I don’t know if they’re gonna do anything for the people of Maine or whatever, but it does feel like you’ll feel like the whole state is in the Garden.”
Also in this episode:
- Scal’s outlook on the Knicks after firing Tom Thibodeau and hiring Mike Brown
- Drew and Scal’s read on the entire Eastern Conference
- Some debate on the ageless LeBron James and whether the Lakers are a title contender
- Breakdowns on the NBA Cup matchups
- What to expect from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the whole team this year
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