Celtics fans can turn their attention to scoreboard-watching as the regular season concludes. The focus shifts to guessing matchups and mapping out the first weekend of the playoffs. Boston has already secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The only remaining question is which team will emerge from the East play-in picture to face the Celtics. The NBA’s play-in tournament is scheduled from April 14 through April 17. The first round of the playoffs begins on Saturday, April 18.
Playoff Schedule: Opening Weekend
The NBA playoffs officially commence on Saturday, April 18. Boston’s series will begin either that day or on Sunday, April 19. The exact Game 1 date and tip time are yet to be determined by the league.
The Celtics’ first-round opponent will be the No. 7 seed emerging from the play-in side of the bracket. Boston’s reserves have already helped shape the bracket.
Potential First-Round Opponents
The Celtics’ first-round matchup will be against the No. 7 seed. The winner of Tuesday night’s East 7-vs-8 play-in game between the 76ers and Magic becomes the No. 7 seed. That team then heads straight into a first-round series against Boston.
The picture became clearer after Sunday’s games. Philadelphia secured the No. 7 spot, Orlando is No. 8, Charlotte finished No. 9 and Miami landed at No. 10. Boston’s first-round opponent will come from the 7-vs.-8 play-in game between the 76ers and Magic.
Key Dates
- Play-in tournament: April 14-17
- NBA Playoffs Round 1 begins: April 18
Celtics fans will be keeping a close eye on the play-in tournament to discover who Boston will face in the first round.