Boston Celtics to Face Miami Heat on Christmas Day
The Boston Celtics will play the Miami Heat on Christmas Day as part of the NBA's five-game holiday schedule. This matchup will be intriguing on a few fronts, but it's far from the most interesting matchup on the NBA's holiday calendar.
The Celtics were beaten by the Heat this offseason on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, which ultimately caused the Celtics to pivot and trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be interesting to see how the Heat look with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo on the same roster and how head coach Erik Spoelstra will navigate having two capable big men in the same rotation.
But beyond the Antetokounmpo component, this game lacks true 'zest' compared to the rest of the daily slate. The Celtics are coming off a tough stretch, having lost their last five games, including a 100-109 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on May 2, 2026.
What Fans Should Be Happy About
Well, this game is at home, which means it could make a great Christmas present for people all around New England. Furthermore, because it's set to start at 2:30 p.m. ET, it will be over by the night time, which allows for ample family time on all sides of the contest. That is a win.
What Comes Next?
The full schedule is announced on Thursday. It will be interesting to see how the Celtics respond to their recent struggles and how they will fare against the Heat on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere in the News for Boston
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson died over the weekend at the age of 86 years old, leaving behind an incredible basketball legacy that saw him win five NBA titles as a player and become the second-winningest coach in NBA history. All five of his titles came with the Celtics in the 1960s and 70s.
