The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) face the Boston Celtics tonight at TD Garden in what would have been an early potential Eastern Conference finals preview — if not for Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury.
Cleveland enters on a three-game winning streak following an opening-night loss to the New York Knicks. Those wins include a rout of the Brooklyn Nets and statement victories over the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons — two fellow Eastern contenders. It’s an encouraging sign for the Cavs, who’ve held their own even as Darius Garland remains sidelined.
On Monday, the Cavaliers routed Detroit behind Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points in just 29 minutes. Mitchell is averaging 31.3 points per game, while Evan Mobley and three others are scoring in double digits.
Garland is expected to begin a rehab stint with the G-League’s Cleveland Charge in November as he recovers from toe surgery. In his absence, Sam Merrill has stepped up, averaging 17.3 points per game. When Garland returns, Merrill’s emergence could help spark a bench unit currently averaging just 28.3 points — third-lowest in the league.
Boston, meanwhile, earned its first win without Tatum on Monday — a 122-90 blowout of the New Orleans Pelicans after dropping its first three games, all against Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls. Those losses came by an average margin of 5.7 points, showing how thin the line has been. In the win, Anfernee Simons poured in 25 points off the bench, hitting six three-pointers.
The Celtics hoisted a season-high 53 three-point attempts, connecting on 34% — much closer to last season’s volume-and-efficiency formula.
While Boston no longer profiles as a title contender, its ability to space the floor and live by the three will determine whether it can stay competitive tonight — and whether a playoff run remains realistic.
Predictions
Cleveland’s balanced scoring and defensive discipline should carry over as they continue their early-season surge. Boston’s perimeter shooting, if on tonight, gives them a chance to stay close, but without Tatum pairing with Jaylen Brown, the Celtics lack the firepower to match Mitchell’s pace down the stretch.
Prediction: Cavaliers 125, Celtics 115
Injury Report
Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland — Out (toe)
Max Strus — Out (foot)
Sam Merrill — Out (hip)
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum — Out (Achilles)
Jaylen Brown — Probable (hamstring)
How to Watch Cavaliers vs. Celtics
Tip-off for tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics game is set for 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central at TD Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts.
The game airs live nationally on ESPN and locally on NBC Sports Boston and FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
If you’re a cord-cutter without an active livestreaming plan, you can watch the game for free by taking advantage of free trials from DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, or YouTube TV.
YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.
Fans in the Cleveland broadcast market without a FanDuel Sports Network subscription can purchase one on Amazon here.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: NBC Sports Boston, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio
Streaming: NBA League Pass (out-of-market)