Boston Celtics

Celtics to increase capacity for Game 3 and play at near full capacity for Game 4 in series vs. Nets

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker announced Monday that the commonwealth would be lifting COVID restrictions beginning May 29.

There will be more Celtics fans at TD Garden soon. Jim Davis/Globe Staff

By Conor Roche

1 minute to read

The 2020-21 season hasn’t been normal for the Celtics, but they’ll get some sense of normalcy when they play their first home games of the playoffs.

TD Garden will have an increased capacity for Games 3 (May 28) and 4 (May 30) of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Nets, with Game 4 hosting fans “at near full capacity,” the team announced Friday. The team didn’t specify the percentage of capacity for either games.

The announcement of increased capacity comes after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Monday that the commonwealth would be lifting COVID restrictions beginning May 29, the day between Games 3 and 4.

While Baker’s announcement allows all local sporting venues to be at full capacity starting May 29, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in an interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich” Thursday that they needed clearance from the NBA before selling extra tickets.

Advertisement:

The Celtics didn’t play their first home game with fans until March 29, with TD Garden at 12 percent capacity under Massachusetts’ guidelines. TD Garden has hosted games for the Celtics and Bruins at 25 percent capacity since May 10.

As for the Bruins, it’s unknown when they’ll allow more than 25 percent capacity for their games at TD Garden. Game 7 of their first-round series against the Capitals is scheduled for Thursday, May 27. They hold a 2-1 series lead entering Friday’s Game 4 and are scheduled to host Game 6 on May 25, if necessary.

Fenway Park will host Red Sox games at full capacity starting on May 29, which is the second game of their series against the Marlins. Gillette Stadium will allow fans at full capacity starting May 31.

Advertisement:

With fans allowed in TD Garden for Games 3 and 4, it will mark the first time that Kyrie Irving will play in front of his old team’s home fans since leaving the Celtics in 2019.

Nets CEO John Abbamondi hinted their team could host roughly 10,000 fans for Saturday’s Game 1 between the Celtics and Nets.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com