The Boston Celtics know who they’ll be playing in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. A 115-108 Brooklyn Nets win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night took care of that for the Celtics, with the Nets locked into the East’s No. 7 seed.
And now they know when they’ll be playing, as the NBA has announced the complete schedule of the second straight first-round showdown between the Celtics and Nets.
The full schedule goes as follows…
Mar 6, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)
Game 1: Sunday, Apr. 17 at TD Garden (3:30 p.m., ABC)
The fun between the rivals will begin with an Easter Sunday showdown at TD Garden.
The game, which is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff on ABC, will mark the first time that the Celtics have started the postseason at home at TD Garden since their 2019 first-round series with the Pacers. That was also a Sunday afternoon tilt at TD Garden, though it was not an Easter Sunday showdown.
Mar 6, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)
Game 2: Wednesday, Apr. 20 at TD Garden (7 p.m., TNT)
4-20 will certainly feature some green in Boston, with the Celtics and Nets set to resume their series with after a full two-day break between Games 1 and 2. This game is set for a 7 p.m. tip on TNT, according to the NBA.
The Celtics are 6-3 in Game 2 contests since 2018, and are 4-0 in their last four Game 2 games at TD Garden.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 08: Patty Mills #8 of the Brooklyn Nets is defended by Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics in the first half at Barclays Center on February 08, 2022 in New York City. (Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Game 3: Saturday, Apr. 23 at Barclays Center (TBD, ESPN)
After yet another full two-day break between games, the Celtics and Nets will take their head-to-head to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for a Saturday Game 3. The game, which does not have a start time as of right now, will air on ESPN.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 06 Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics guards Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets during a game at TD Garden on March 6, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Game 4: Monday, Apr. 25 at Barclays Center (TBD, TBD)
Game 4 will come with mark the start of an every-other-day series finish between the sides.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 06 Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket past Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets during a game at TD Garden on March 6, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 27 at TD Garden (TBD, TBD)
The Nets eliminated the Celtics in five games last year. This time around, if necessary, the Celtics will have the home court advantage in that Game 5. The Celtics have wins in five of their last seven Game 5 showdowns. They’ve been eliminated in both of those Game 5 defeats (2019 against Milwaukee and 2021 against Brooklyn).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles as Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics defends during the second half of Game Five of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at Barclays Center on June 01, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Game 6: Friday, Apr. 29 at Barclays Center (TBD, TBD)
Weird-and-likely-meaningless stat: The Celtics were 8-8 on Fridays in 2021-22. That was tied with a 10-10 record on Wednesdays for their worst winning percentage on any day of the week during the 2021-22 season. The Nets, meanwhile, had wins in 10 of their 12 games on Friday nights. That was their best day of the week record-wise.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 06 Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket past Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets during a game at TD Garden on March 6, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Game 7: Sunday, May 1 at TD Garden (TBD, TBD)
The Celtics have not had a Game 7 at the Garden since the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
