What has seemed like an incredibly long wait for the Boston Celtics’ 2024 playoff run is almost over. While the C’s still don’t have a first-round opponent, on Wednesday the NBA announced the schedule for their first-round series.
The series will begin this Sunday, at 1 p.m. ET at TD Garden. It could run as late as May 5, if it goes seven games. Here’s a look at the schedule. Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will/would be in Boston while Games 3, 4, and 6 will/would be on the road.
Celtics playoff schedule: First round
Game 1: Sunday, April 21 at 1 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 at 6 p.m.
Game 4: Monday, April 29 at TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, May 1 at TBD*
Game 6: Friday, May 3 at TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 5 at TBD*
*If necessary
Coverage for all Celtics playoff games will start half an hour before the scheduled tip off on the BetMGM 98.5 The Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network. Postgame analysis can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub immediately following the game.
Now, all that’s left is to figure out who the Celtics will be playing in this first round series. That will be determined via the NBA’s play-in tournament, which takes place this week. The four teams contended in the East are the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks.
The Sixers and Heat will play in the No. 7-No. 8 seed matchup Wednesday night. The winner will get the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, while the loser will face the winner of the No. 9-No. 10 game between the Bulls and Hawks – also being played on Wednesday night. The Celtics will face the winner of that third game (7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner), which will be played on Friday night.
Which team should Celtics fans be hoping to see? Here’s a quick look at the four options…
Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 02: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunderat the Wells Fargo Center on April 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid missed most of the second half of the season with a knee injury, which caused the Sixers to drop in the standings. Since he returned at the beginning of April though the Sixers haven’t lost, closing the season on an eight-game winning streak (Embiid played in five of those games).
In the regular season, the Celtics lost their first matchup of the year against the Sixers then won the next three. The teams split the two games that Embiid played in. Last year the Celtics and Sixers met in the second round of the playoffs, with the Celtics winning in seven games after falling behind 3-2.
Miami Heat
DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 07: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat celebrates making a basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 07, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Don’t sleep on the Heat, who made it to the NBA Finals last year from the play-in tournament. This team has a history of turning the corner once the postseason comes around, and with players like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin still on the roster there’s no reason to think they’re any less of a threat this year.
Miami also added former Celtics guard Terry Rozier at the deadline, in a swap for Kyle Lowry. Rozier has started 30 games for Miami since the trade, averaging 16.4 points in 31.5 minutes per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from three.
It was the Heat that eliminated the Celtics in the playoffs last year, after going up 3-0 only to see the Celtics take the series to seven games. This year, the Celtics went 3-0 in the regular season against Miami.
Chicago Bulls
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH 7: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a three-point jump shot against Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at Chase Center on March 7, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)
Despite losing Zach LaVine to a season-ending foot injury in February, the Bulls were able to scrape together enough to get into the play-in at 39-43. DeMar DeRozan remains a threat – he averaged 24 points per game this year, but the Bulls have also gotten strong contributions from fifth-year guard Coby White, who averaged a career-high 19.1 points per game this year. Nikola Vucevic averaged a double-double as Chicago’s starting center with 18 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
The Celtics swept the Bulls in their three regular season meetings this year. It’s been seven years since the Celtics and Bulls last met in the playoffs – the Celtics won a first-round series in six games in 2017.
Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 10: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket against Tre Mann #23 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Hawks were once again one of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA this year, ranking fifth averaging 118.3 points per game. They also ranked 28th in defense, allowing 120.5 points per game.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray lead Atlanta’s scoring attack, averaging 25.7 and 22.5 points per game respectively. Clint Capela still leads the team in the front court, and averaged 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, as well as 1.5 blocks per game this year. In total the Hawks had eight players average double-figures this year, but three of them – Jalen Johnson, Saddiq Bey, and Onyeka Okongwu are currently dealing with injuries.
The Hawks gave the Celtics some issues later in the season this year. After the Celtics won the first two games early in the season at home they then had to go to Atlanta for a back-to-back in late March. After blowing a 30-point lead in the first game, the Celtics lost in overtime three days later as the Hawks managed a split in the season series.
