Boston's exhibition slate is set: at Cleveland on October 8, then Philadelphia twice, on October 10 and October 16, with Charlotte sandwiched between on October 14. The regular-season opener follows on October 20 at Detroit, airing on NBC and Peacock.
Philadelphia appears twice before either game counts.
Boston hosts the 76ers on October 10 and visits them on October 16 — the team that eliminated the Celtics in the first round last spring after a 3-1 series lead. Paul George, acquired from Philadelphia this summer in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown the other way, faces his former team in both.
The full exhibition slate now has four fixed dates.
Cleveland opens it on October 8, Charlotte follows at home on October 14, and the second Philadelphia game closes it out on October 16. Four days later, the actual opener tips at Detroit, on October 20.
Tatum's own clock runs ahead of the exhibition calendar.
He remains without a firm timeline, listed with a left knee issue, but his target is October 1 — a full week before the preseason opener in Cleveland. If that holds, camp will have him back before a single exhibition game is played.
One roster spot remains open, and unclaimed.
A two-way contract has sat vacant since a September 12 report flagged it, with no candidate named since. Caleb Grill filled a training-camp deal on September 14 and left the day after; the camp group now numbers twenty, built around Tatum, George, Derrick White and the returners from last season's 56-26 group.
When do the Celtics open the regular season?
October 20, on the road against the Pistons, with the game airing on NBC and Peacock.
Will Jayson Tatum be ready for the preseason opener?
His own target date, October 1, comes before the preseason opener on October 8, but Boston has not confirmed a firm return; he is still listed with a left knee issue.
More from The Parquet Report
all Celtics news →
The big question · Sun, Sep 20Pritchard's Name Keeps Surfacing. No One Says Why.
From the archives · Sun, Sep 20Two Blueprints for a Banner, and Boston Just Switched Back
Morning · Sun, Sep 20A Return Date Beats the Preseason Calendar
Cap watch · Sat, Sep 19Cap Watch: A Roster Priced Above the Tax Line
By the numbers · Sat, Sep 19By the Numbers: The Math Camp Opens With
Morning · Sat, Sep 19Carter's Contract Gets a Price Tag Before Camp Opens