So, you're sitting there, maybe finished with a long week, and you’re wondering exactly when you can catch the C's back on the parquet. Or, well, on the road, which is where they seem to be living lately. If you're looking for the quick answer, here it is: the Boston Celtics play again on Saturday, January 17, 2026, against the Atlanta Hawks.
The game tips off at 7:30 PM EST at State Farm Arena.
Honestly, being a Celtics fan right now feels a bit like a rollercoaster. We’ve got this weird mix of elite play and "wait, who is on the floor right now?" because of the injury bug. If you’ve been following the news, you know the vibe is a little different this season with Jayson Tatum sidelined after that Achilles surgery. It's been a grind.
When Do the Boston Celtics Play Again: The Upcoming Slate
The schedule is pretty relentless for the rest of January. If you miss the Atlanta game, don't worry—they aren't going anywhere. They’ve got a back-to-back situation and some classic Eastern Conference matchups coming up fast.
Here is the breakdown of the next few games:
- Monday, January 19: At the Detroit Pistons. This is the MLK Day game, starts at 8:00 PM EST. Detroit has actually been surprisingly tough this year, leading the conference at 28-10, so this isn't the "easy win" it used to be.
- Wednesday, January 21: Back home at TD Garden against the Indiana Pacers (7:30 PM EST).
- Friday, January 23: A quick trip to Brooklyn to face the Nets at 7:30 PM EST.
- Saturday, January 24: Chicago Bulls at United Center (7:00 PM EST).
That Chicago game on the 24th is actually a huge deal because it's Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement night. Expect the energy in that building to be absolutely insane.
✨ Don't miss: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Celtics' Record Looks a Bit Weird
Right now, the Celtics are sitting at 24-15. In any other year, we might be panicking, but context is everything. Without Tatum, Joe Mazzulla has had to get... creative.
Jaylen Brown has basically gone into "superhero mode," averaging nearly 30 points a game. It’s been fun to watch, but you can tell the fatigue is real. Then you have Derrick White and Payton Pritchard picking up massive minutes. Pritchard, specifically, has moved from a spark plug off the bench to a guy who is genuinely keeping the offense afloat during those dry spells.
The defense is still top-tier, mostly because Neemias Queta has turned into a legitimate rim protector. It’s one of those "next man up" situations that actually seems to be working, even if they drop a random game to the Spurs or Pacers every now and then.
Watching the Game in 2026
If you’re trying to find the game on TV, it’s the usual suspects but with a few modern twists. Most local games are on NBC Sports Boston. For the national stuff, we're seeing more games on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video this season.
For the upcoming Atlanta game on the 17th, it's mostly a local broadcast and NBA League Pass affair. But the Detroit game on Monday? That one’s getting the big treatment on NBC and Peacock because of the holiday.
✨ Don't miss: NHL Schedule Tonight: Why the Leafs-Knights Game is Must-Watch Hockey
What to Watch For in the Next Few Matchups
If you’re betting or just arguing with friends at the bar, keep an eye on the rotation. With Chris Boucher dealing with illness and Josh Minott's ankle being hit-or-miss, the bench is thin.
- The Jaylen Brown Usage Rate: Is he going to burn out? He's playing huge minutes.
- Pritchard's Efficiency: When he's hitting those deep threes, the Celtics are almost impossible to beat. When he's cold, the half-court offense gets stagnant.
- The Road Fatigue: This road trip through Atlanta, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Chicago is a lot of miles in a short time.
Looking Ahead to February
Once we survive January, the schedule at the Garden gets a lot better. February starts with a massive home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1. That’s a Sunday matinee (3:30 PM EST), which is always a great vibe in Boston.
Then we get the Miami Heat on February 6. After the Heat beat the Celtics five times in a row recently, including that 129-116 win back in December, that’s the one everyone has circled on their calendar. It’s a revenge game, plain and simple.
The Celtics are currently 2nd in the Atlantic Division, just a half-game behind the Knicks. Every one of these "play again" moments matters for seeding. We don't want to be fighting through the Play-In tournament come April.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: If you use Google Calendar or iCal, most team sites have a "sync schedule" button. Do it now so you don't keep Googling this every three days.
- Check the Injury Report: Before placing any bets or heading to the Garden, check the official NBA injury report about 90 minutes before tip-off. With Tatum out, any other minor injury to White or Brown completely changes the spread.
- Grab Tickets Early for the Knicks/Bucks: If you’re planning to go to a home game in February, prices are already spiking for the Milwaukee and New York matchups.