March 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) smiles at Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) as guard Payton Pritchard (11) congratulates him during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference are scheduled to meet in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon, with the Cavaliers taking on the Boston Celtics.
Boston, which is in second place behind the Detroit Pistons, has become the most dangerous team in the conference with the return of star power forward Jayson Tatum from a torn right Achilles tendon.
Tatum made his season debut Friday with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes as the Celtics rolled to a 120-100 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks.
“We still have a long way to go, but this is a really big step,” Tatum said. “I was so grateful to be able to get back on the court and play basketball.
“And it reminded me of everything I’ve been through over the past 10 months.”
The six-time All-Star suffered an injury during Boston’s playoff series against the New York Knicks on May 12, ending his hopes of becoming an NBA champion.
With Tatum’s return and an MVP-caliber season from shooting guard Jaylen Brown, the Celtics believe they can overcome a four-game deficit to Detroit and earn the top seed.
“Seeing him come back is the beginning of his testimony and the beginning of his story of getting back to who he is and where he wants to be,” Brown said.
“I had a front row seat when he got hurt. I saw how it all played out. I know it’s been a tough journey mentally and physically. I’m looking forward to it.”
Nemias Cueta had 16 points and 15 rebounds against Dallas, while Brown had 24 points, seven boards and seven assists in the first half.
“When you care about someone and you see them going through something, you want to be able to see the fruits of that effort,” Celtics coach Joe Mazula said of Tatum. “So it’s a credit not only to his work ethic and the people around him, but also to the team.”
Boston’s euphoria for Tatum was tempered slightly after the game when an X-ray of center Nikola Vucevic revealed a fractured right ring finger. The offensive backup underwent surgery Saturday and is scheduled to be reevaluated in early April.
Boston won 2-0 against the Cavaliers ahead of the teams’ final meeting of the regular season. This will be the first time that Brown or Cleveland point guard James Harden will join the series.
The Cavaliers sit in fourth place in the East, 3 1/2 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors, and are 8-1 with Harden in the lineup.
‘The Beard’ has averaged 19.1 points and 7.9 assists in 9 games (all starts) since being recruited from the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It’s a real bright spot because I didn’t play well at all,” Harden said. “These 19 games are very important for us because we are good enough (to win them all).”
Cleveland has won seven straight at home and is 12-3 since Feb. 1. Their continued rise includes 22 wins in their last 30 games, the third-best record in the league over that span.
Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell is expected to return to the lineup after missing four games with a right groin injury, but center Jarrett Allen is unlikely to play after suffering a right knee injury in Tuesday’s 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons.
“This is not a long-term thing at all,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said of Allen. “If he goes out, it’s short-term.”
The Cavaliers are on the verge of returning to full health for the first time since last March.
Power forward Dean Wade, who had been sidelined since Feb. 25 due to a right ankle sprain, was also cleared to play. Swingman Max Strus is set to make his season debut after undergoing foot surgery.
“Adding Max is like adding any other free agent, if you want to look at it that way,” Atkinson said. “He’s getting closer.”
–Field level media
