The Cleveland Cavaliers will face a formidable Celtics squad on Sunday, but is it a measuring stick game? How could this affect the Eastern Conference playoff picture?
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are set for a Sunday afternoon clash at Rocket Arena between two of the top four teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had the last four days off, while the Boston Celtics just trounced the Dallas Mavericks in Jayson Tatum's return on Friday night. A pair of the East's best will meet in a matinee matchup in downtown Cleveland.
The Celtics currently hold the second seed in the Eastern Conference, three games ahead of the fourth-seeded Cavs as the league hits its home stretch before the playoffs.
Ultimately, it doesn't hold much value beyond being a potential postseason preview; the only thing that can happen is that Cleveland gains some ground in the standings. That doesn't mean the team can't learn a little more about a possible contending threat.
In an episode of Courtside with Cavs, Spencer German and I looked at why Cleveland should be paying attention to what the Celtics are capable of and staying prepared:
"They are a tough team. You think about adding an MVP-caliber player like Jayson Tatum, obviously, he's gonna have a little rust coming back as quickly as he is, but that is a team that you have to be aware of. You have to be on your P's and Q's against them because they are not gonna give the game away.
"You're gonna have to take it from them. This was the year that was supposed to be a gap year. Lo and behold, you've just seen the growth from everybody on the team, and it's been a great story for everyone in Boston to watch that group come together the way that they have. The Cavs are gonna have their hands full. And as we know, Sundays have not treated them well as of late."
The Cavs held practice the last two days and got plenty of rest and recovery. They won't have Jarrett Allen, Tyrese Proctor, Max Strus, or Olivier Sarr for this game. Donovan Mitchell and Dean Wade, however, are listed as probable. Jaylon Tyson, dealing with a neck strain, is questionable.
After the Boston game, Cleveland will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, on the second night of a back-to-back, then hit the road to face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Watch the full episode of Courtside with Cavs, and remember to subscribe to our CavsRoundtable YouTube channel for more coverage of the Cavaliers through the 2025-26 NBA season.
You can follow our comprehensive Cavs coverage as a team here on RoundtableSports.
Cavs Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Cavaliers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.