Celtics playoff schedule: Dates, scenarios for 2024 East Finals

Celtics playoff schedule: Dates, scenarios for 2024 East Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have advanced to their sixth Eastern Conference Finals in eight years, a remarkable feat that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

But their path to Banner 18 is about to get a lot more challenging.

After completing a gentleman’s sweep of the Donovan Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, the Celtics await the winner of the other East semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. The Knicks currently lead that series 3-2 entering Friday night’s Game 6 in Indiana, but the Pacers have yet to lose at home in the series and are slight betting favorites to force a Game 7 back in New York on Sunday.

That Game 6 as well as Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves (with Denver currently leading 3-2) both may impact when the Celtics kick off their next series. Here’s how:

• If either the Wolves-Nuggets or Knicks-Pacers goes seven games, Game 1 of the East Finals will be on Tuesday, May 21 at TD Garden.

• If the Nuggets and Knicks both win Game 6 to end their respective series, Game 1 of the East Finals will be Sunday, May 19 at TD Garden.

With Kristaps Porzingis still working back from a calf injury and 37-year-old Al Horford recovering from an epic 35-minute effort in Game 5, the Celtics could benefit from a few extra days’ rest.

So, C’s fans should be rooting for the Wolves to beat the Nuggets in their Game 6 (8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday), and if Denver wins, they should pull for a Pacers victory in Game 6 against the Knicks (8:30 p.m. ET on Friday).

Outside of the series start date and opponent, Boston’s East Finals schedule is mostly set. Below is a look at each of the Celtics’ playoff schedule scenarios for the next round.

NBC Sports Boston will have coverage beginning an hour before every game with Celtics Pregame Live, as well as halftime coverage with Celtics Halftime…