After missing the Cavs’ last four games with a groin injury, Donovan Mitchell will suit up to play against the Celtics today in Cleveland. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Enjoy the best of Sunday’s epic 10-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
1:24 p.m. ET // March 8, 2026
Celtics-Cavs underway on ABC
Evan Mobley has 9 of Cleveland’s 13 points early, adding 2 blocks in 5 minutes.
Cooking, eating, feasting, etc. @evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/RFoZOKBexb
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 8, 2026
Jayson Tatum (5 pts) and Sam Hauser (6 pts, 2 3PM) get the Celtics right back in it, with the game tied at 13 midway through the opening quarter.
Pull 🆙👌 pic.twitter.com/lClXFxiEn6
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 8, 2026
12:46 p.m. ET // March 8, 2026
Tatum ready for game #2
Jayson Tatum was sensational in his return from a 298-day absence in Boston’s 20-point win on Friday night, and he’s ready to make a difference in his second appearance in 2025-26. JT will start at power forward and is not expected to be under any minutes restrictions.
Jayson Tatum in his return to the lineup: 15 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST
What’s in store for today’s East matinee? 👀
Celtics/Cavs | 1pm/et | ABC pic.twitter.com/vXEdQZhbOt
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2026
12:40 p.m. ET // March 8, 2026
Spida back for Cavs
Donovan Mitchell (groin) returns from a four-game absence and will look to extend Cleveland’s 7-game winning streak at home. Jarrett Allen will miss this game due to a knee injury he suffered during last Tuesday’s win versus Detroit, with Dean Wade, Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley powering the frontcourt.
Our 5️⃣.
Carr Bros. | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/fKD84sta28
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 8, 2026
12:30 p.m. ET // March 8, 2026
Welcome to a 10-game Sunday in the NBA!
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics visit the Cavaliers in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders on ABC. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
We’ve got an exciting 10-game lineup headlined by two East rivals that meet for the first time since November to kick-start an ABC primetime doubleheader. Cleveland (No. 4 in East) plays host to Boston (No. 2 in East) as the Cavaliers look to gain some ground and cut into the Celtics’ three-game lead in the standings (1 ET). The C’s are 2-0 versus the Cavs this season, but these two powerhouses have leveled up and look drastically different from their first two meetings.
Following the duel in The Land, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks visit Luka Dončić and the Lakers (3:30 ET) with both squads coming off a win while sporting a 4-1 record over their last five contests. New York won the first matchup at Madison Square Garden back on Feb. 1, but an expected return from a one-game absence for LeBron James (elbow) should have the purple and gold ready to even the season series in LA.
Here’s today’s complete schedule: