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When will the Celtics finally lose?

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Just when you thought an opponent had finally solved the Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving put the team on his back.

Irving exploded in Monday's overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 47 points on 16-of-22 shooting and adding six assists to help Boston overcome a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The stellar performance also allowed the Celtics to win their 16th straight game, matching the fourth-longest winning streak in franchise history (19 is the record), according to Basketball Reference.

Related: 3 takeaways from the Celtics' thrilling 16th straight win

So, will anyone ever beat the Celtics again? Well, common sense and basic probability would both lean toward yes, but the question is, when? Though anything can happen in a single game, the Celtics - who've already beaten heavyweights like the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors - have a relatively easy upcoming schedule featuring no contenders, no lengthy road trips, and a comfortable homestand.

Here's how it breaks down over the next three weeks, as we contemplate when Boston might finally drop a game:

Nov. 22-28

Date Opponent Opp. Record
Nov. 22 @ Heat 7-9
Nov. 24 vs. Magic 8-9
Nov. 25 @ Pacers 10-8
Nov. 27 vs. Pistons 11-6

For simplicity's sake, let's assume the sub-.500 Miami Heat and Orlando Magic aren't posing a threat to the Celtics for now. But the Indiana Pacers, in the second game of a home-and-away back-to-back, are a concern, as are the Detroit Pistons, who currently sit third in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers arguably appear to stand the best chance, but they'll be on the second night of their own back-to-back after playing the tough Raptors a day prior. And, with a win over the Pistons possibly setting a new franchise record, it's tough to see Boston dropping one beforehand.

Nov. 29 - Dec. 5

Date Opponent Opp. Record
Nov. 30 vs. 76ers 9-7
Dec. 2 vs. Suns 7-11
Dec. 4 vs. Bucks 8-8

When the Philadelphia 76ers are your strongest opponent on paper, you can likely breathe a little easier. The young Phoenix Suns probably won't ​​​​​​​be a challenge, though the Bucks may be. Milwaukee is one of only two teams to have beaten the Celtics - the other being the Cleveland Cavaliers in the season opener - but they did so in Boston's first full game without Gordon Hayward.

The Celtics have obviously adjusted to Hayward's absence, and they proved it when they took down the Bucks in a rematch eight days later. With only three games in this seven-day stretch - all of them at home - Boston should be well rested enough to prolong the streak to an impressive 23 straight wins.

Dec. 6-12

Date Opponent Opp. Record
Dec. 6 vs. Mavericks 3-15
Dec. 8 @ Spurs 11-6
Dec. 10 @ Pistons 11-6
Dec. 11 @ Bulls 3-11

Here's where it starts to get interesting. Assuming the Celtics dispatch the Mavericks (likely easier this time), they'll run into the San Antonio Spurs on the road - potentially their toughest matchup of the season to date, considering they were at home when they defeated the Warriors and Raptors.

The Celtics have shown they can take on all challengers, but they do have to lose at some point. Facing the Spurs at AT&T Center is as daunting a task as it gets, and it's a logical choice for Boston's eventual loss. But hey - 24 straight wins is no laughing matter. If the Celtics pull it off, the streak would overtake the 2007-08 Houston Rockets for the NBA's third-longest such stretch since 2000.

If that isn't consolation enough for Celtics fans, they'll likely forget all about the heartbreaking loss when the team starts a new streak by beating up on the Chicago Bulls three days later.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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