Celtics Rank 10 Most Underrated Games On 2026-27 Schedule originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics’ 2026-27 schedule is loaded with obvious attractions. Boston will host the defending champion New York Knicks in its home opener, welcome Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat on Christmas Day and face Jaylen Brown when he returns to TD Garden with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers also will visit Boston, adding another chapter to the NBA’s most historic rivalry. Those games will not need help generating attention. Celtics.com instead looked beyond the marquee dates and ranked the 10 most underrated matchups on Boston’s schedule.
The team promoted the list on social media Friday.
“Ranking the 10 most underrated games on the schedule,” the Celtics wrote.
Toronto’s Feb. 14 visit to TD Garden claimed the surprising No. 1 spot.
Raptors Take Top Spot In Celtics Ranking
Boston’s matchup with Toronto will be played on an unusually crowded sports day. Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday. The Celtics will play a matinee against a Raptors team expected to make another jump in the Eastern Conference.
Ranking the 1️⃣0️⃣ most underrated games on the schedule 👀 https://t.co/7TT7c7Jfkm
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 14, 2026
Toronto already has an intriguing young core built around Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. The organization also is waiting for clarity on its proposed trade for Kawhi Leonard, which could dramatically raise the team’s ceiling. Leonard spent only one season in Toronto but delivered the franchise’s first championship in 2019. His return would give the Raptors an experienced closer and another elite defender alongside Barnes.
That possibility helped push Toronto to the top of the Celtics.com ranking.
Boston’s schedule also includes a New Year’s Day visit to the Utah Jazz, which earned the No. 2 position.
Utah won only 22 games last season but could become one of the NBA’s most improved teams. The Jazz added No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson to a roster featuring Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey and Keyonte George.
Peterson showed his scoring potential during Summer League, while Markkanen and Jackson give Utah one of the league’s most talented frontcourts.
Pacers’ Return To Relevance Deserves Attention
The Celtics’ Jan. 20 home game against the Indiana Pacers was ranked third. Indiana fell to 19 victories last season while Tyrese Haliburton recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered during the 2025 NBA Finals. His return changes everything.
The Pacers retained Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith while adding Ivica Zubac to replace Myles Turner. Indiana also added Jay Huff to strengthen its frontcourt depth. It can be easy to dismiss the Pacers because of their disastrous 2025-26 record. That would ignore the roster’s previous accomplishments and the importance of Haliburton to its fast-paced offense.
Boston and Indiana also have recent playoff history. The Celtics swept the Pacers in the 2024 Eastern Conference finals, but three of the four games were decided by five points or fewer. Washington received the No. 4 spot for its consecutive visits to TD Garden on Dec. 14 and Dec. 16.
The Wizards selected Massachusetts native AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dybantsa will enter the league with enormous expectations and an opportunity to learn alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
The two-game set will give Celtics fans multiple opportunities to watch one of the most anticipated prospects in recent memory.
Celtics Highlight Deep Eastern Conference
Seven of the 10 selections involve Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta’s Black Friday visit was ranked fifth after the Hawks finished last season by winning 19 of their final 24 games. Atlanta also pushed the eventual champion Knicks to seven games before adding Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Ryan Nembhard and rookie Zuby Ejiofor.
The Detroit Pistons landed at No. 6 despite finishing first in the East last season. Detroit added John Collins and Isaiah Joe to a young core led by Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson.
Chicago, Charlotte and Orlando also made the list.
The Bulls will bring No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson to TD Garden on Oct. 30. Charlotte will provide Boston with its first look at a dramatically different roster after trading LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. Orlando will visit in March with new head coach Sean Sweeney leading Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane.
The complete Celtics.com ranking:
Feb. 14 vs. Toronto Raptors
Jan. 1 at Utah Jazz
Jan. 20 vs. Indiana Pacers
Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 vs. Washington Wizards
Nov. 27 vs. Atlanta Hawks
Dec. 20 vs. Detroit Pistons
Oct. 30 vs. Chicago Bulls
March 21 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Nov. 6 at Charlotte Hornets
March 18 vs. Orlando Magic
The Celtics will receive far more attention for their games against Philadelphia, Miami, New York and the Lakers.
Their official website’s ranking shows why fans should look beyond those marquee matchups. Boston’s schedule contains promising rookies, potential breakout teams and several opponents capable of reshaping the Eastern Conference.