On Monday around 6 p.m., the Boston Celtics announced that their Tuesday home game against the Indiana Pacers would be canceled. While no one is questioning that it was the right decision, it’s also led to a unique NBA scheduling quirk.
According to STATS, the fact that the game is being canceled — rather than postponed — marks the first time in NBA history that all the league’s teams won’t play the same number of games. While all other teams will play 82 games this season, the Celtics and Pacers will only play 81.
Both of the squads have clinched their playoff seeds — No. 3 and No. 7, respectively — and can’t rise or drop, making the game all but irrelevant. The game was supposed to be the last regular-season contest at TD Garden, however, so now Game 3 of the Celtics’ Round 1 playoff matchup against the Knicks will be the next time the team plays at home.
The next time any team plays at TD Garden is scheduled for Wednesday, as the Bruins host the Sabres.
Photo via Facebook/TD Garden
