Here’s the Celtics’ schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals

Celtics

The Celtics are waiting to see if they will face the Knicks or Pacers, with the first game starting Sunday or Tuesday.

The Celtics are back in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boston took care of business in Game 5 of its Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 113-98 on Wednesday. With this 4-1 series victory, the Celtics will play in the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in eight years, moving closer to a possible title.

The Celtics will face either the Knicks or Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. New York holds a 3-2 lead in the series and can clinch a spot in the conference finals with a victory in Friday’s Game 6.

Regardless of who wins, the Celtics should be favored in the Eastern Conference Finals. They won four of their matchups against the Knicks and three of their five matchups against the Pacers as part of a 64-win regular season. The Knicks got the better of the Celtics in the last meeting between the two teams, winning 118-109 in Boston on April 11 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The Celtics and Pacers haven’t met since Jan. 30, with one of their five matchups this season taking place during the NBA’s season tournament.

If the Knicks hold off the Pacers, it will be the 16th time the Celtics have faced them in the playoffs. Boston has won seven of those battles, including the last time the two teams met in the Eastern Conference finals in 1974. New York won the last playoff battle between the two teams, defeating Boston in the first round in 2013.

If the Pacers come back to defeat the Knicks, it will be the seventh time the Celtics have faced them in the playoffs. Boston has won four of the previous six playoff games, including the most recent in 2019, when it swept Indiana in the first round. All six Celtics-Pacers playoff games came in the first round.

As for when the Eastern Conference Finals will start, that depends on what happens in Thursday’s Nuggets-Timberwolves game and Friday’s Knicks-Pacers game. If either Timberwolves or Pacers win these respective matchups, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place on Tuesday, May 21. If the Nuggets and Knicks win their sixth game, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place on Sunday. , May 19.

Beyond Game 1, most dates for the Eastern Conference Finals have already been set. A possible Game 7 would take place on June 2.

Here is the full schedule for the Eastern Conference finals.

If the Nuggets and Knicks win Game 6

Game 1: Knicks at Celtics, Sunday May 19, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game 2: Knicks at Celtics, Tuesday May 21, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Celtics at Knicks, Saturday May 25, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game 4: Celtics at Knicks, Monday May 27, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5: Knicks at Celtics, Wednesday May 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

Game 6: Celtics at Knicks, Friday May 31, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

Game 7: Knicks at Celtics, Sunday June 2, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

If the Timberwolves or Pacers win Game 6

Game 1: Knicks/Pacers at Celtics, Tuesday May 21, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Knicks/Pacers at Celtics, Thursday May 23, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Celtics vs. Knicks/Pacers, Saturday May 25, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game 4: Celtics vs. Knicks/Pacers, Monday May 27, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5: Knicks/Pacers at Celtics, Wednesday May 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

Game 6: Celtics vs. Knicks/Pacers, Friday May 31, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

Game 7: Knicks/Pacers at Celtics, Sunday June 2, 8 p.m. (ESPN)*

*if necessary