Celtics Unveil NBA Cup Group Play Schedule For 2024-25 Season

The Boston Celtics will focus primarily on capturing the franchise's 19th Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2024-25, but the reigning champions, too, could add some more hardware amid the regular season's NBA Cup.

Each of the league's 30 teams have been divided into five-team groups, set to compete in the tournament's Group Stage. The Celtics, who were eliminated in last season's quarterfinals in what was formerly known as the NBA In-Season Tournament, drew a favorable crew of competition this go-around. Boston was placed in Group C, along with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls -- two teams that barely snuck into the postseason (Atlanta and Chicago), one legit playoff contender (Cleveland), and a Washington team that finished second for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Here's the four-game schedule Boston will face before the tournament bracket is finalized and teams begin competing in the knockout phase:

Nov. 12 vs. Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden (7:30 p.m. ET)
Nov. 19 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET)
Nov. 22 vs. Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET)
Nov. 29 vs. Chicago Bulls at United Center (7 p.m. ET)

Boston went 3-2 in group-phase play last season, averaging 112.2 points while defending its (very) colorful parquet, specifically reserved for tournament matchups.

All things considered, last season's inaugural non-playoff tournament was a success. It fulfilled its intended purpose of turning dull, early-season games into competitive, engaging battles -- accomplishing what the All-Star Game has failed to deliver in recent years. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, especially, went full throttle from the sidelines, notably by unleashing an intentional foul defensive scheme against Chicago's Andre Drummond -- better known as "Hack-a-Drummond -- to best favor Boston's odds, which worked like a charm. Knowing the team's competitive intensity which starts with Mazzulla's playbook, the Celtics could very well be booked to raise two trophies next season.