Jayson Tatum will start in his 2025-26 season debut for Boston less than 10 months removed from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Enjoy the best of Friday’s 7-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
6:38 PM ET / March 6, 2026
Hornets ready to keep rolling
Charlotte is an NBA-best 16-3 since Jan. 22 and look to extend their current winning streak to seven games tonight against the Miami Heat (7 ET, League Pass). Over their last six games, all wins by 15+ points, the Hornets rank first in scoring (122.8 ppg), 3-point percentage (43.6%) and plus-minus (+24.2).
6:15 PM ET / March 6, 2026
JT getting loose 🥹
What a sight for sore eyes. Jayson Tatum prepares for his season debut after missing the last 10 months while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
JT IS BACK!
Watch the 6x NBA All-Star make his season debut vs. DAL on ESPN at 7pm/et!
(music by @unitedmasters)
https://t.co/rpviLz9skr
— NBA (@NBA) March 6, 2026
6:10 PM ET / March 6, 2026
Welcome to a 7-game Friday night of hoops!
Brandon Miller and the red-hot Hornets take aim at a seventh consecutive victory when they host the Heat tonight on NBA League Pass. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Basketball fans everywhere can rejoice today, as Boston’s Jayson Tatum will start in his 2025-26 season debut when the Celtics host Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks to tip off ESPN’s primetime doubleheader (7 ET). The six-time NBA All-Star, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Knicks, averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists across 72 games in 2024-25.
“We are so back.” 🥲💚🤞
JT’s back with the signature arrival Q&A ahead of his season debut!
DAL/BOS tips at 7pm/et on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nzpu1Ba64Y
— NBA (@NBA) March 6, 2026
Following the action in Beantown, the Clippers visit the Spurs for the first meeting between these two Western Conference foes (9:30 ET). Los Angeles is currently riding a three-game winning streak, while San Antonio has won two straight and 13 of their last 14 contests.
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule: