What to know as the Celtics head to Abu Dhabi

“You just adjust accordingly,” Joe Mazzulla said of the travel logistics.

Jaylen Brown looks to pass as Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon defend. David Zalubowski/AP Photo

As the Celtics try to defend their title, their journey officially begins in Abu Dhabi, where they’ll face the Nuggets in preseason action.

The first Abu Dhabi Games matchup between the two is set for Friday, Oct. 4, at noon EST, and the second is Sunday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. EST. Both games will take place at Etihad Arena and will air on NBC Sports Boston.

While the trip will require the Celtics to add some extra travel, coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t seem to mind the adjustment.

“It’s not really a challenge,” Mazzulla told reporters. “You just adjust accordingly. Throughout a season, you deal with that, as well. You get started a little earlier when you travel. So it’s not much different.”

Celtics guard Jrue Holiday played preseason games in Abu Dhabi in 2022 while with the Milwaukee Bucks. He said the experience of immersing themselves in a different culture and playing in front of new fans can be valuable.

“I feel like a lot of times in training camp and preseason, it’s about locking into the team, focusing in on that and staying in one place and kind of going through the grind together,” Holiday told reporters. “Kind of sharing that with a whole other country, a whole other place, eight-hour difference. So I think that’s a really good thing.”

While there isn’t technically much on the line, the series does pit the past two NBA champions. Expect the stars to play some, but not a lot, as the two go head to head.

Denver won both games against Boston last year, prevailing 102-100 in January and 115-109 in March.

The Celtics’ roster looks essentially the same, though they’ll be without Kristaps Porzingis for the foreseeable future. The Nuggets acquired Russell Westbrook to complement Nikola Jokic and the rest of the roster.

The games could provide an opportunity for Celtics players such as Neemias Queta, Jaden Springer, and rookie Baylor Scheierman a chance to showcase their skills.

A fan appreciation day will feature entertainment, skills competitions, and appearances by Celtics and Nuggets players, Shaquille O’Neal, and other NBA legends.