The Boston Celtics (10-9) travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers (12-8) in a pivotal Eastern Conference showdown that could shake up the playoff race early in the 2025-26 season. With Cleveland riding high at home and Boston looking to snap a mini-slump, this matchup at Rocket Arena evokes memories of their intense playoff battles. The Cavs aim to build on their strong start behind Donovan Mitchell’s scorching form, while the Celtics rely on Jayson Tatum’s versatility to counter Cleveland’s length. Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN, NBCS-BOS, and FDS Ohio, with streaming available on NBA League Pass and the NBA app.
Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TV – ESPN, NBCS-Boston, Fox Sports Ohio; Streaming – NBA League Pass, ESPN+; Radio – 98.5 The Sports Hub (Celtics), WTAM 1100 (Cavs)
Injury Report
Injuries have been a storyline for both squads, but updates from the NBA’s official report (as of 8:30 p.m. ET on November 29) show Boston getting healthier while Cleveland remains mostly intact. The Celtics’ backcourt depth is tested on a back-to-back, but key wings are cleared. Monitor pre-game warmups for any last-minute changes.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Illness Details |
| Celtics | Jaylen Brown | Available | Low Back; Spasms (upgraded from Q) |
| Celtics | Derrick White | Available | Right Ankle; Soreness |
| Celtics | Neemias Queta | Probable | Left Knee; Contusion |
| Celtics | Ron Harper Jr. | Out | G League Assignment |
| Cavaliers | Evan Mobley | Probable | Left Hamstring; Tightness |
| Cavaliers | Jarrett Allen | Available | No Injury (rest management monitored) |
| Cavaliers | Max Strus | Out | Right Knee; Soreness (day-to-day) |
No other major listings for Cleveland, but rookie Jaylon Tyson is questionable with a minor shoulder tweak from practice.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | ATS Record | O/U Record |
| Boston Celtics | 10-9 | 6-4 Home / 4-5 Away | 9-10 | 11-8 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 12-8 | 8-3 Home / 4-5 Away | 6-14 | 10-9 |
Boston sits 11th in the East, grappling with inconsistency, while Cleveland holds the 4th spot in the conference behind a top-5 defense (106.8 rating).
Recent Team Forms
The Cavaliers are surging with four wins in their last five, fueled by elite three-point shooting (39.2% in that span) and home dominance. Boston, meanwhile, is 3-2 over their last five but shows fatigue on the road (2-4 ATS away). Both teams play at a brisk pace, averaging 228.6 combined points per game recently.
Boston Celtics – Last 5 Games (3-2):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| 11/26/2025 | vs. Detroit | W 117-114 | Tatum: 32 pts, 10 reb; Clutch FTs seal it |
| 11/23/2025 | vs. Orlando | W 138-129 | Brown: 35 pts, 8 ast; 18 threes as team |
| 11/21/2025 | @ Indiana | L 112-108 | Porzingis: 24 pts; Late turnover costs |
| 11/19/2025 | vs. Charlotte | W 124-109 | White: 22 pts, 6 stl; Defensive masterclass |
| 11/16/2025 | @ Milwaukee | L 118-115 | Tatum triple-double; Giannis edges out |
Cleveland Cavaliers – Last 5 Games (4-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| 11/27/2025 | vs. LA Clippers | W 120-105 | Mitchell: 37 pts, 8 ast; Bench adds 45 |
| 11/24/2025 | @ Atlanta | L 130-123 | Mobley: 18 pts, 12 reb; Shooting woes |
| 11/21/2025 | vs. Indiana | W 112-104 | Garland: 28 pts; Hold foes under 105 |
| 11/19/2025 | @ Houston | W 114-104 | Allen: 16 pts, 14 reb; Road grit |
| 11/16/2025 | vs. Chicago | W 128-122 | Mitchell: 31 pts; 15-4 run to close |
Series History
The Celtics hold a commanding all-time edge (142-89 over 231 regular-season games), but Cleveland has closed the gap recently, winning 3 of the last 5 meetings. Boston dominated the 2024 playoffs over the Cavs (4-1 in ECF), yet Cleveland swept the regular-season series last year. Home cooking favors the Cavs (7-3 in last 10 at Rocket Arena vs. Boston).
Key Historical Trends:
Celtics are 6-4 SU in last 10 head-to-heads.
Over has cashed in 7 of last 10 meetings (avg. 232 points).
Cavs cover as home favorites in 8 of last 12 vs. Boston.
Last encounter (10/29/2025): Celtics W 125-105 in Boston, led by Tatum’s 29 points.
Player Matchups
This star-studded affair pits Boston’s dynamic duo against Cleveland’s balanced attack. With Mobley probable, the paint battle intensifies, but perimeter defense will decide it—expect heavy minutes for guards amid the back-to-back for Boston.
Jayson Tatum (Celtics, 27.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.8 APG) vs. Donovan Mitchell (Cavs, 30.6 PPG, 5.1 APG): Tatum’s all-around game tests Mitchell’s scoring explosion, but Spida’s 42% from deep at home gives Cleveland the edge in isolations. Historical: Mitchell avg. 32 vs. BOS. Edge: Cavs.
Jaylen Brown (Celtics, 28.2 PPG) vs. Darius Garland (Cavs, 20.8 PPG, 6.4 APG): Brown’s athleticism overwhelms Garland’s quickness, especially post-upgrade from questionable. Brown’s 35-pt outing vs. ORL signals danger. Edge: Celtics.
Kristaps Porzingis (Celtics, 19.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG) vs. Evan Mobley (Cavs, 15.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG): Unicorn’s spacing clashes with Mobley’s rim protection (1.8 BPG); if Mobley sits, Porzingis feasts inside. Edge: Even.
Derrick White (Celtics, 16.2 PPG, 4.2 APG) vs. Jarrett Allen (Cavs, 14.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG): White’s pesky D disrupts Allen’s rolls, but Cavs’ switchability exposes Boston’s pick-and-roll. Watch Pritchard (16.6 PPG off bench) as X-factor.
Projected stars: Mitchell over 30 pts likely; Tatum nears triple-double.
Betting Trends
Cleveland opens as -7.5 favorites (ML: -320), with Boston at +7.5 (+260). The over/under sits at 225.5, leaning toward the over given both teams’ recent totals (Cavs 5-2 O in last 7).
Key Trends:
Celtics: 4-1 SU last 5; 4-6 ATS on road; Over in 7/10 road games.
Cavaliers: 8-2 SU last 10 home; 3-7 ATS as favorites; Under in 6/9 vs. East foes.
Head-to-Head: Over in 7/10; Cavs 7-3 ATS last 10 home vs. BOS.
Game Odds
Boston Celtics 233.5
Cleveland Cavaliers – 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, November 29, 2025
