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Breaking Down the 2014-15 Schedule

Marc D'Amico
Team Reporter and Analyst

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics haven’t had a game marked down on their calendars since April 16 – until tonight. They can now look forward to their Opening Night showdown against the Brooklyn Nets on October 29.

Boston’s 2014-15 schedule was released tonight in conjunction with the 29 other teams and NBA TV’s Schedule Release Special. The Celtics’ regular season schedule begins on October 29 and ends on April 15.

As always, we here at Celtics.com dug into the schedule to find all of its most important details. Everything you need to know about the team’s next 82 regular season games is highlighted below.

Key Games

Wednesday, Oct. 29 vs. Brooklyn - Paul Pierce is no longer in Brooklyn, but Kevin Garnett still is. This divisional showdown should still have plenty of emotion with KG back in the Garden once again.

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett will face off on Opening Night at TD Garden.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

Wednesday, Nov. 12 vs. Oklahoma City - Who doesn’t love watching the reigning MVP ball out? Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and former Celtic Kendrick Perkins will surely make it a fun night at the Garden.

Friday, Nov. 14 vs. Cleveland - LeBron James returns to Boston for the first time since rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers. Don’t forget that Jeff Green and James have had some pretty unbelievable showdowns in the past (remember that 43-point game in March of 2013 and that game-winner in Miami last season?).

Sunday, Nov. 30 vs. San Antonio - The Celtics attempt to take down the defending champs during a Sunday matinee. Depending on Tim Duncan’s future, this could be his final game in Boston.

Friday, Dec. 5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers - Boston’s fans haven’t watched Kobe Bryant play in person since Feb. 7, 2013. Nearly 20 months to the day later, they’ll finally get another shot.

Sunday, Dec. 7 vs. Washington - Pierce returns to TD Garden wearing yet another jersey, this time as a member of the Wizards.

Monday, Jan. 12 vs. New Orleans - If you haven’t heard the news, Anthony Davis is really, really good. He just so happened to drop 40 points and 21 rebounds on the Celtics last season. Watching him and Jared Sullinger face off should be a heck of a show.

Monday, Jan. 19 at Los Angeles Clippers - Boston kicks off its longest road trip of the season, a six-gamer out West, in style. The C’s will take on a championship contender in the Clippers, as well as their old coach, Doc Rivers.

Sunday, March 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers - A couple of months after they meet in L.A., the Celtics and Clippers will meet again at TD Garden. This will be the second time in which Rivers will return to Boston as the coach of the Clips.

Friday, April 3 vs. Milwaukee - The Celtics welcome Jabari Parker into town for the first time in his young career. Parker, the second overall pick in this year’s Draft, is expected to make the Bucks a much better team this season.

Homestands and Road Trips

Boston begins a lengthy, six-game trek on January 19 in Los Angeles. That trip will end on January 28 in Minnesota. With travel days included, this trip will likely last about 12 days.

That road trip is substantial. The Celtics’ longest homestand? Not so much.

The NBA has scattered Boston’s home and away games so much that the team will never play more than three consecutive games at home. Boston will have four homestands that last three games.

Monthly Breakdowns

This schedule is kind to the Celtics when it comes to games per month. They will play more than 14 games in a month only twice this season, with 16 games scheduled for January and 18 scheduled for March. Boston will play more home games than away games in November, December and February, and will play an even amount of each in April.

Grueling First Month

The month of November (and one game in October) will be a tremendous challenge for the C’s. They will play 14 games from Oct. 29 through the end of November. Eleven of those 14 games will be against teams that made the playoffs last season. Another will be against James and the new-look Cavs. The Celtics will also face the Suns, who narrowly missed the playoffs last season in a loaded Western Conference.

That. Is. Tough.

Back-to-Backs

Things could be worse for the Celtics when it comes to back-to-backs. They’ll only play 18 of them this season, as opposed to 20 a season ago. March, which is Boston’s businest month with 18 games, features five of the team’s back-to-backs.

Holiday Games

The Celtics will play on or around four holidays this season. Fortunately for Boston fans, three of those games will be played in the confines of TD Garden.

The holiday festivities will tip off with a 1 p.m. matinee showdown with Derrick Rose and the Bulls on the day after Thanksgiving. The C’s will also play at 7:30 p.m. the day after Christmas against Garnett and the Nets. Just five days after taking on the Nets, Boston will battle the Kings at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Boston’s final holiday game of the season will be played on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. That game will be on the road against the L.A. Clippers at 7:30 p.m. on January 19.