Jayson Tatum
The Boston Celtics look sharper each time Jayson Tatum steps back onto the floor, even if he still feels one clear limitation every night.
Boston followed its 20-point win over the Dallas Mavericks with another statement result Sunday, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-98 in a game that carried far more weight than the final margin suggested. Tatum finished with 20 points, opening aggressively before Boston settled into another balanced performance.
Afterward, Tatum made it clear that his return has not come with many complications, except for one frustration he still cannot ignore.
“It’s been seamless, I would say,” Tatum said. “Toughest part for me is being on a minutes restriction. That sh-t sucks.”
That restriction remains part of Boston’s early plan as it works him back into full rhythm, but the early results have looked encouraging. Tatum has now returned for two wins, and Boston has handled two playoff-level opponents without much late-game stress.
Celtics Continue Winning With Tatum Back
Jaylen Brown added 23 points and again gave Boston a second scoring engine whenever Cleveland tried to close the gap. Boston also received double-digit scoring from Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser, which helped the Celtics keep control through the second half.
On the other side, Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points and once again looked comfortable attacking Boston’s defense. Even so, Cleveland never fully seized momentum after halftime.
The win completed a regular-season sweep for Boston against Cleveland, the first time the Celtics have done that since the 2019-20 season, per FanSided. That result stands out because recent years had produced far more resistance from Cleveland.
Before this season, Cleveland won the 2022-23 series 3-1. Boston took the 2023-24 series 2-1, then the teams split 2-2 last season. This year, Boston finally removed the uncertainty.
What made the win more notable was how controlled Boston looked during key stretches when Cleveland tried to speed the game up. The Celtics did not rely on one scoring burst to separate. Instead, they answered nearly every Cavaliers push with patient half-court execution, extra ball movement and timely shot-making. That matters with Tatum still building toward full minutes, because Boston continues proving it can manage difficult matchups without forcing him into a heavier workload too early.
Tatum, Mitchell Share Respect After Another Battle
Once the game ended, Tatum and Mitchell shared a long embrace near midcourt, a moment that reflected years of familiarity between them, per NESN.
“Great friend of mine, I’ve known him since high school,” Tatum said of Mitchell during an ESPN on-court interview. “What I’ve realized is the NBA is like a brotherhood. Guys is, even on the opposite team, happy to see me back out here. It was just mutual love, mutual respect. It’s been a while since I competed against him.”
That perspective matters because these matchups often carry playoff energy. Boston still remembers last postseason’s disappointment, and a healthy Tatum changes how the Celtics view every contender ahead of April.
Next comes another test against the San Antonio Spurs, but Boston now looks increasingly comfortable with its star back, even if Tatum still wants every extra minute he can get.