The Garden feels different this year. It’s a bit quieter without Al Horford’s steadying presence or Kristaps Porzingis’ floor-spacing gravity, but that’s the reality of the Boston Celtics basketball schedule in 2026. If you haven't been paying attention, the roster looks like a puzzle with a few missing pieces. Jayson Tatum has been sidelined with that brutal Achilles injury, and honestly, it’s a miracle Joe Mazzulla has this group sitting at 24-15. They’re currently third in the East, clawing at the heels of the New York Knicks and—surprisingly—the Detroit Pistons.
Look, the early season was a rollercoaster. Starting 0-3 was a gut punch. But Jaylen Brown has been playing like a man possessed, averaging nearly 30 points a night. You've seen the highlights. He’s carrying a load that would break most guys. But the schedule isn't doing him any favors.
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The Brutal January Road Swing
Right now, we are in the thick of it. Tonight, January 15, the Celtics are in South Beach to face the Miami Heat. If you’re looking for a "get right" game, this isn't it. Miami is always a grind. Erik Spoelstra probably spends his summers dreaming of ways to trap Jaylen Brown at the level of the screen.
After Miami, it’s a sprint.
- January 17: At Atlanta Hawks.
- January 19: At Detroit Pistons (this is a big one—Detroit is actually good now).
- January 23: At Brooklyn Nets.
- January 24: At Chicago Bulls (the second night of a back-to-back).
That Chicago game on the 24th is going to be emotional. It’s Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement night at the United Center. Expect the crowd to be deafening. The Celtics will be tired, leg-heavy, and facing a Bulls team that will be playing with 110% energy for their franchise legend.
The Returns: Mark Your Calendars
February and March are basically a "Long Goodbye" tour. Because the Celtics lost some fan favorites in the offseason, the Boston Celtics basketball schedule is packed with emotional reunions.
On January 26, Jrue Holiday comes back with the Portland Trail Blazers. Then, just 48 hours later on January 28, the "Unicorn" Kristaps Porzingis returns to the Garden wearing an Atlanta Hawks jersey. That one is going to sting. Seeing him in Hawks red after what he did for the 2024 title run? It’s gonna be weird.
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But the biggest date is March 18. If Al Horford ends up finishing the season with the Golden State Warriors as expected, his return to TD Garden will be the standing ovation of the decade. Al is the soul of this era of Celtics basketball. Period.
TV and Streaming: Where to Actually Watch
Getting the games on your TV has become a bit of a headache this season. Gone are the days of just flipping on TNT. The new rights deal is in full swing, and it’s a mix of old school and very new school.
NBC Sports Boston still handles the bulk of the local stuff (67 games), but the national windows are scattered. You’ve got the returning "NBA on NBC" for big Sunday games, but you also need an Amazon Prime subscription.
The upcoming game against the Knicks on February 8 is an ABC 12:30 p.m. start. That’s a "prestige" slot. It shows the league still views Boston as a needle-mover even without Tatum. If you’re a cord-cutter, you basically need a cocktail of Peacock, Amazon Prime, and a streaming service like YouTube TV to catch every minute.
Can They Survive the West Coast Trip?
The real "make or break" stretch happens in late February. Coming out of the All-Star break, the Celtics hit the road for a four-game West Coast swing that looks like a gauntlet.
- Feb 19: At Golden State (The Horford Game/Prime Video)
- Feb 22: At Los Angeles Lakers (The Rivalry/NBC)
- Feb 24: At Phoenix Suns
- Feb 25: At Denver Nuggets (Back-to-back at altitude)
Honestly, if they go 2-2 on that trip, you call it a massive win. Going into Denver on the second night of a back-to-back to face Nikola Jokic is essentially the hardest task in professional sports right now.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re planning on catching a game in person, the prices are only going up as the playoff race tightens. The April 9 game at Madison Square Garden is already trending as one of the most expensive tickets of the season.
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Keep a close eye on the injury report. Jaylen Brown dealt with some lower-back spasms recently, and with the way he’s been carrying the scoring load, any missed time could see the Celtics slip into the play-in tournament territory.
Pro-tip: Check the schedule for those 12:30 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. Sunday starts. The Celtics have historically been "sleepy" in early games, and those often provide the best value if you're looking for an upset or a closer-than-expected contest.
Check your local listings for the Peacock-exclusive games, specifically the March 2 clash against Milwaukee. You don't want to be scrambling for a login five minutes before tip-off.