C’s earn more prime viewing
Get 7 national TV nods
After being scheduled for just one nationally televised game in 2014-15 — and having that game dropped in favor of a more attractive matchup — the Celtics are slated to play five games on ESPN and two on TNT in 2015-16.
Their run to the playoffs earned those seven national showcases, in addition to a number of games on NBA TV, according to the league schedules released yesterday.
The Celtics will open the season at home against Philadelphia on Oct. 28 and host Toronto Oct. 30 and San Antonio Nov. 1 before playing their first road game Nov. 4 in Indiana. They close the regular slate on April 13 at TD Garden against Miami.
They will host Golden State on Dec. 11 and Cleveland on Dec. 15, the only Boston visits, respectively, by the defending NBA finalists.
The C’s will play in Cleveland on Feb. 5 and March 5. They are at Golden State April 1.
Other games of particular local interest include Kevin Garnett’s return to the Garden with Minnesota on Dec. 21 and the visit by Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers and the Clippers on Feb. 10. The Celtics are in Minnesota on Feb. 22 and in Los Angeles to meet the Clippers March 28.
Rajon Rondo will be in town with Sacramento on Feb 7. When the Celts meet the Kings on Dec. 3 in Mexico City, it will count as Sacramento’s home game.
The Celtics will not be playing on Christmas Day. They are at Charlotte on Dec. 23 and at Detroit on Dec. 26.
Though the rivalry has tailed off with the fortunes of the two teams in recent years, the C’s matchups with the Lakers (and Kobe Bryant) at the Garden on Dec. 30 and in Los Angeles April 3 will still draw interest.
The national TV games are Nov. 24 at Atlanta (TNT), Dec. 9 vs. Chicago (ESPN), Jan. 7 at Chicago (TNT), Jan. 13 vs. Indiana (ESPN), Feb. 19 at Utah (ESPN), March 16 vs. Oklahoma City (ESPN) and April 1 at Golden State (ESPN).
The Celtics will play 18 sets of back-to-back games. And with the NBA seeking to curb instances of teams being forced to play four games in five nights, the Celts have just one such stretch — beginning Jan. 12 in New York, then at home Jan. 13 against Indiana and Jan. 15 against Phoenix and in Washington the following night.