How to Listen to a Celtics Game

98.5 FM is the primary Boston radio home for Celtics games, and selected games moved by a scheduling conflict air on 105.7 WROR. You can listen over the air in Boston and much of New England, or use the station’s official live-audio options when they carry the game. Start by finding the correct Celtics Radio Network outlet for your location, then confirm you have the team broadcast before tipoff.

Celtics Radio Broadcast Basics

A Celtics radio broadcast gives you the local team call, with play-by-play from Sean Grande and analysis from Cedric Maxwell. It is separate from a national TV or radio broadcast, so the announcers, commercials, and timing may differ from what you see on television.

The radio network is built around Boston’s flagship station and a group of New England affiliates. Its regional footprint has been listed as 27 stations (17 AM stations and 10 FM stations, plus four FM translators) serving five of the six New England states. Affiliate lineups can change, so use the current network directory to identify the station for your market.

Use a radio that receives the listed station. If you are using a phone, computer, smart speaker, or connected receiver, use an official station player or app rather than an unofficial restream.

How to Listen to a Celtics Game on Radio

Use this table to choose the right signal before the game begins.

Where or Situation	What to Tune To or Check
Boston-area primary broadcast	98.5 FM
The Celtics game is displaced by a scheduling conflict	105.7 WROR; confirm the current game listing first
New England affiliate outside Boston	Match your market to the current network list. Listed options include 105.3 FM / 1280 AM; 95.9 FM / 1480 AM / 1400 AM; 96.3 FM / 92.5 FM; 94.3 FM, 94.5 FM, 1230 AM; 107.7 FM / 101.5 FM; and 98.1 FM / 1270 AM.

Step 1: Choose the Celtics Broadcast for Your Location

Confirm that the Celtics are playing by checking the day’s matchup and start time on the team or NBA schedule.
In Boston, tune to 98.5 FM for the primary Celtics radio call.
If scheduling conflicts arise, select games can be heard live on 105.7 WROR.
For listeners outside Boston, match your market to the station listed for it in the Celtics Radio Network directory. Network affiliates often share sports programming, but only the listed outlet is intended to carry that game in your area.

Step 2: Tune the Station Clearly

Tune to the listed outlet.
Enter the frequency directly or use a preset if you have already saved it. Direct tuning is usually faster than scanning through unrelated talk, music, or sports programming.
In a car, a short drive can sometimes improve reception in fringe areas.
Listen for Sean Grande calling the action and Cedric Maxwell providing commentary.

Step 3: Save the Station and Test the Audio

Once you have a clear signal, save the station as a preset on your radio, car stereo, or receiver.
Listen through a few possessions to make sure the signal is steady and the commentary follows the live game.
A radio signal with occasional static is often easier to follow at moderate volume than at maximum volume.
Keep a second option ready, such as the official live player or an affiliate in your area, in case local reception fades.

Listen to a Celtics Game Online

The easiest online route is the live-audio player or station app associated with the Celtics radio broadcast. Open the station’s website or app, select its live stream, and check whether the game is included in that stream.

A few practical points matter:

A station’s normal online stream does not guarantee that every live sports broadcast will be available everywhere.
Avoid unofficial social-media, video-site, or pop-up streams. They can disappear during the game, carry incorrect audio, or expose your device to intrusive ads.

Radio commentary is often ahead of the television picture.

Find a Celtics Affiliate Outside Boston

The Celtics Radio Network affiliate directory identifies the station assigned to each market. The right frequency depends on the station serving your local market, not simply on which state you are in.

Some markets have FM and AM choices, while others use translators or stations shared with other programming.

For Maine listeners, the network list includes outlets such as the 96.3 FM / 92.5 FM option and 1440 AM. Use the station assigned to your part of the state rather than trying to pull in Boston from a long distance.

If you are close to a state line, try more than one listed affiliate. Terrain, buildings, weather, and the quality of your radio’s antenna can make one local signal much more reliable than another.

Fix a Missing Celtics Radio Broadcast

If another local sports commitment displaces the Celtics, the alternate station may carry the game even though the flagship does not.

Patriots or Bruins coverage can create those conflicts.

Work through these checks in order:

Verify the game date, opponent, and start time. A late start, national TV window, or schedule change can make it seem as though the station is carrying the wrong program.
For that night’s game, confirm the Celtics Radio Network station assignment before trying another frequency.
Try the alternate outlet if the flagship has another live event.
If you hear static, silence, or unrelated programming, retune carefully and make sure you selected AM or FM correctly.
Improve reception by moving the radio, extending its antenna, or trying a car radio or another receiver.
If local reception is not usable, open the station’s official live player or app and verify whether it carries that game in your location.

Do not assume a game is unavailable just because the first station you try is carrying football, hockey, a pregame show, or regular programming.

Confirm You Have the Celtics Call

Use this quick check before you settle in:

You hear Sean Grande on play-by-play and Cedric Maxwell alongside him.
The score, quarter, and opponent match the live NBA game.
The station carries continuous game action rather than a recap, call-in show, or unrelated event.
The audio remains clear through several possessions.
You have saved the correct station or live-audio option for the next game.

For future games, check the current network assignment shortly before tipoff, especially on busy local-sports nights. That simple habit prevents most “where did the game go?” problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I Listen to Boston Radio Live Streaming?

Use the official station website or its mobile app and choose the live-audio player. Check the game assignment first, because a station can stream regular programming while a live sports event is carried on another outlet or restricted online.

Can I Listen to Celtics Games Outside New England?

Sometimes, but a New England radio signal usually will not reach distant listeners reliably. Start with an official NBA audio service available in your area or an official station stream that carries the game where you are located.

How Do I Watch the Celtics Instead of Listening?

Check the Celtics or NBA schedule to identify that game’s TV network, then use the network, cable provider, or streaming service that carries it. Television availability changes by matchup and location, while the Celtics Radio Network is for audio coverage.

Why Does Radio Audio Not Match the TV Picture?

Radio and TV production paths use different equipment and delays, so they rarely stay perfectly synchronized. Listen to the radio call on its own if you prefer.

What Should I Do Before the Next Celtics Game?

Before the next Celtics game, confirm the outlet assigned to that game and save it as a preset or favorite before tipoff. On busy local-sports nights, confirm the Celtics Radio Network assignment before tipoff; a scheduling conflict can move selected games to 105.7 WROR.