The Celtics are heading into a stretch that will ask a lot more than the box score usually shows. Boston is coming off its Emirates Cup win over the Chicago Bulls and now faces eight games in 13 nights, with no two straight games in the same city. It’s the kind of run that can wear on a team fast.
That’s exactly why the Celtics spent time in Charleston, South Carolina, getting ready for what’s next. Assistant coach Tony Dobbins said Friday night, "That's where you lean on the strength of your group and the the strength of your locker room to just support one another," Celtics assistant coach Tony Dobbins said on Friday night. "We feel confident that we have the personnel and the personalities and the characteristics and the character within that locker room to navigate it."
Boston will get its first real answer soon enough. The week opens against Orlando, where the Magic have stumbled out of the gate and are dealing with major injuries.
Paolo Banchero is out with a high ankle sprain, and Jalen Suggs is sidelined with a torn labrum, with Suggs possibly out for the season. Orlando has had trouble on both ends, but this is still a team that has given Boston problems before with its physical style.
The Celtics should win this one, though Sunday afternoon games in Orlando have a way of getting weird on Boston.
From there, the difficulty jumps. The Rockets are rolling early and looking like a legitimate contender, with Amen Thompson giving Houston a real two-way boost and Fred VanVleet’s return helping settle everything down.
That game is even tougher because it comes on the back-to-back from Orlando, and it’s the third game in four nights. For Boston, a strong showing in Houston would stand out.
Then comes a much friendlier stop against the Bucks. Milwaukee takes the fifth-most three-pointers in the league but ranks 20th in three-point percentage, and coming home to face them in the middle of this grind looks like a welcome breather.
The week ends with Charlotte, and the Hornets’ shooting numbers are even rougher. They’re launching the most threes in the league at 45.3 per game, but they’re also shooting just 28.7%, second worst in the NBA.
Injuries have been part of the problem, with Kon Knueppel, Coby White, and Grant Williams yet to play this season. Whether that game is truly manageable will depend a lot on who’s available by Friday.
One more thing Boston has going for it: Jayson Tatum tends to light it up in Charlotte, especially with Duke fans in the building. If there’s a soft spot on the floor Friday night, he’ll know where to find it.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchard Is Giving The Celtics More Than Just Scoring
Early in the season, Joe Mazzulla pushed Payton Pritchard to bring more to the Celtics than shot-making, and the guard has clearly taken the message to heart. In Bostons recent NBA Cup game against the Chicago Bulls, Pritchard paired his usual scoring punch with a noticeably sharper edge on the defensive end, showing the kind of activity that can help him stay on the floor in bigger moments.
Pritchard has said he wants to add more on-ball pressure and rebound better, and Mazzulla was encouraged enough by the showing to point to even more room for growth. For a Celtics team that already leans on Pritchards offense, the appeal is obvious if he can keep turning those defensive habits into something steady rather than occasional. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Is Driving A Celtics Change That Could Matter In May
Bostons defense has looked noticeably more disruptive early on, with the ball pressure and activity level showing up in ways that go beyond the usual opening-month noise. The Celtics are getting into passing lanes, swiping at dribbles and turning stops into chances to run, a shift that has given the group a different kind of edge while also cutting down on second-chance looks at the other end.
Paul George has been right at the center of that change, bringing the kind of defensive playmaking that can swing possessions before a set offense ever gets started. His rebounding has helped finish possessions, too, and if this level of aggressiveness holds, it could give Boston a useful wrinkle when the games tighten and the margins shrink later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Hit Another Low After Celtics Loss As Frustration Boils Over
The opening night of the 2026 NBA Cup had no shortage of eye-catching moments around the league, from Stephen Curry leading the Warriors back from a big first-quarter hole against the Lakers to Kevin Durant throwing down a highlight dunk for the Rockets. But from the Celtics' perspective, one of the cleaner results came in Chicago, where Boston handled the Bulls and kept a team already searching for answers mired in the same defensive trouble that has followed them through the start of the season.
For Chicago, the loss only deepened the sense of unease around a team that has struggled to find any traction early. The Bulls have been giving up points in bunches, and the frustration around that slide is starting to show in public. Caleb Wilson did not hide how he feels after the game, underscoring just how raw the mood has become as the Bulls try to stop the bleeding. [Read more 🡒]