The NBA announced two new games for the Celtics regular season schedule on Saturday following the conclusion of NBA Cup pool play. Boston did not make the knockout round of the NBA Cup after finishing 2-2 in pool play for Group B, so the NBA revealed two new opponents for Boston in regular season play from among the Eastern Conference teams that were also eliminated in pool play.
The Celtics will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday December 11, in a road matchup that begins at 8 p.m. ET. The Celtics will also host the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden on Monday December 15 with a 7 p.m. start.
It will be the first game of the season for Boston against the Bucks, who just got back All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup on Friday night after he missed four straight games with a groin strain. The Bucks got off to a hot start this season with Antetokounmpo in the lineup but have dropped seven straight games to fall to 8-12 on the season.
The Celtics have split two head-to-head matchups against the Pistons so far this year, including snapping their 13-game winning streak with a 117-114 win at TD Garden on November 26.
Boston will have plenty of time to rest up for both of these matchups as these are the only two games for the team in an 11-day stretch beginning December 8, as the NBA Cup knockout round occurs simultaneously. Here are the full NBA Cup knockout round matchups that begin on Dec. 9.
**Quarterfinals:**
Miami at Orlando
New York at Toronto
Phoenix at Oklahoma City
San Antonio at LA Lakers
The semifinal NBA Cup matchups will occur on December 13, with the NBA Cup final on December 16 in Las Vegas.