Celtics will open season on the road vs. Cavs

Both teams fell short of expectations last season, so this will be merely a generic matchup of elite teams, one of which was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs (Celtics) and one that squandered home-court advantage in losing the Eastern Conference finals (Cleveland).

But the game is expected to mark the return of Boston’s Kevin Garnett (knee surgery), who has not played since March 25, plus the first appearance with new teams for Rasheed Wallace (Celtics) and Shaquille O’Neal (Cavaliers).

The Celtics’ home opener will be the following night against Charlotte, the first of three successive home games.

Though the Celtics will play on Christmas for the second straight season - this time visiting Orlando for a 2:30 p.m. start - their schedule is not as heavily front-loaded as last year’s. The Celtics will play 50 games before the Feb. 14 All-Star Game (five fewer than last season). But they will have a front-loaded schedule in terms of road games - 22 of their first 41 games are away.

Of their 25 nationally televised games, five will be on ABC. Seven others will be on NBATV.

The schedule also provides some holiday breaks for the Celtics, who played on nearly every major holiday last season.

They do not have games on Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. But, in addition to Christmas, they play on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 18 against Dallas), Evacuation Day (March 17 vs. New York), and Easter (April 4 vs. Cleveland).

The Celtics host the defending champion Lakers at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, and visit the Lakers Thursday, Feb. 18. The first rematch with the Magic, who eliminated the Celtics in the playoffs in May, will be Friday, Nov. 20, at the Garden.

This will be the first time the Celtics open a season on the road since 2001.

Frank Dell’Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.