Celtics tip season off tonight vs. Knicks

Portland, ME – The time is now. The team is ready. Let’s tip it off.

The 2026-27 NBA G League season begins tonight, with the Maine Celtics hosting the Westchester Knicks at the Portland Expo.

Once again, the season will begin with the Tip-Off Tournament portion of the schedule. The first 14 games of the season will build towards an in-season tournament, taking place at the NBA G League Winter Showcase. At the Showcase, standings will reset to 0-0 for a 36-game Regular Season, followed by standard NBA G League Playoffs. Last season, Maine was one of just six teams to qualify for both the Winter Showcase Tournament and the NBA G League Playoffs.

For Maine, it’s a return to action for head coach Phil Pressey. Back for a second year as leader of the C’s, Pressey will rely on the reinforcements brought in at the tail end of training camp – Boston’s strong Two-Way Players and NBA Assignee Chris Cenac Jr.

Cenac is expected to make his Maine debut tonight vs. Westchester. The First Round selection by Boston has turned a lot of heads in the early stages of the NBA season, and reports out of the Auerbach Center are overwhelmingly positive. Cenac joined Maine for a scrimmage in Brighton on Wednesday, lighting it up on both ends of the floor.

Joining Cenac is fellow 2026 NBA Draft pick Dillon Mitchell, also expected to make his Maine Celtics debut tonight. Mitchell and Cenac bring a high-flying aerial attack to the Expo that has not been seen for some time.

Devin Carter is also expected to play tonight. Carter is returning to form after battling an illness. The former 13^th pick in the NBA Draft in 2024, Carter boasts the most NBA experience on this Maine team with 74 games played, all with Sacramento.

Amari Williams is back at the Expo as well. The big man is looking to build upon last year’s rookie season in Maine, where he recorded four triple-doubles and was a rebounding machine, averaging a double-double over the course of the season.

The Opponent

Westchester enters the game with two of its three Two-Way Players – newcomer Dalton Knecht is not expected to be with the team as he continues to travel with the New York Knicks. Fellow Two-Ways Jaden Akins and Tyler Nickel are expected to suit up for Westchester tonight.

Be on the lookout for Dink Pate. The NBA G League veteran is only 20 years old, but this is already his fourth NBA G League season. He started with NBA G League Ignite as a high school prospect, and then played for Mexico City before joining Westchester last season. Head Coach and former NBA Lottery pick DeSagana Diop is back at the helm of the Knicks for another season.

The Expo is ready. The players are ready. There’s only one thing left to do. Tip things off at 7 p.m. tonight.