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Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) at Boston Celtics (1-3)
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
7:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game#5 Home Game #2
TV: ESPN, NBCSB, FDSN
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WTAM/WMMS, Sirius XM
TD Garden
Probable Celtics Starters 
PG: Derrick White ...................................... SG: Payton Pritchard
C: Neemias Queta
SF: Jaylen Brown ............................................ PF: Josh Minott
Celtics ReservesAnfernee Simons
Hugo Gonzalez
Xavier Tillman
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
Luka Garza
Baylon Scheierman
Chris Boucher
2-Way PlayersRon Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams
Injuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Jaylen Brown (hamstring) probable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Probable Cavaliers Starters 
PG: Donovan Mitchell ................ SG: Lonzo Ball
C: Jarrett Allen
SF: De'Andre Hunter................. PF: Evan Mobley
Cavaliers Reserves Thomas Bryant
Larry Nance, Jr
Craig Porter, Jr
Tyrese Proctor
Jaylon Tyson
Dean Wade
Two Way Players Luke Travers
Nae'Quan Tomlin
Injuries/Out Max Strus (foot) out
Darius Garland (toe) out
Sam Merrill (hip) out
Head Coach Kenny Atkinson
Game Notes The Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first of 3 meetings between these two teams. They will meet two more times in Cleveland on November 30 and March 8. These 2 teams split the series 2-2 last season with each team winning one at home and one on the road. The Celtics are 141-89 overall, all time against the Cavaliers and they are 85-28 in games played in Boston.
The Cavs won 64 games last season and kept their core together over the offseason. They lost Ty Jerome as a free agent to the Grizzlies. They also traded Isaac Okoro to Chicago for Lonzo Ball. Their only other addition is Tyrese Proctor, who they took with the 40th pick in the draft. Other than that, they are fielding the same team that got them the top seed in the East last season.
The Celtics are split about evenly between returning and new players. They have 9 returning players and 8 new players on the team this season. Gone are Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet. New players include Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Hugo Gonzalez, Luka Garza, Max Shulga, Amari Williams, and Ron Harper, Jr. The Celtics have a core of good players returning along with some young players who are excited to show what they can do.
After this game at home against Cleveland, the Celtics will travel to Philadelphia for the first NBA Cup game against the 76ers. They then play Houston, Utah and Washington at home before a 3 game road trip including 2 games in Orlando and one at Philadelphia. Then they have 2 at home against Memphis and the LA Clippers. Then it is one game on the road at Brooklyn before Brooklyn, Orlando, and Detroit at home.
After this game, Cleveland will play 3 games at home against Toronto, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. They then play one game at home against Chicago before playing 2 games at Miami. Then it's back home for 6 games against Toronto, Memphis, Milwaukee, Houston, Indiana, and the LA Clippers. They then play at Toronto and at Atlanta, before hosting the Celtics for their 2nd meeting.
Jayson Tatum remains on the injured list as he rehabs from the torn Achilles. After being listed as questionable for 2 games before playing in both games, Jaylen Brown is listed as probable for this game with the sore hamstring. For Cleveland, Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot), and Sam Merrill (hip) are all out
The Celtics have used 3 different starting lineups over their first 4 games. Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez and Josh Minott have each started at power forward. I've listed the starting lineup from the last game. The Celtics are still trying to determine which lineups work the best and so I wouldn't be surprised to see different lineups continue to start. I'm guessing that Lonzo Ball starts in place of the injured Merrill.
Key Matchups vs
Derrick White vs Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell is the Cavs best player and he is playing very well so far this season. He is averaging 31.3 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 56.4% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him particularly well if they hope to win this game.
vs
Josh Minott vs Evan Mobley
Mobley is a threat on both ends of the floor and he always plays well against the Celtics. He is averaging 18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.0 blocks while shooting 43.3% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the arc. Minott started the last game and played very well. However, he may or may not start this game. With Joe playing mad scientist, it's very hard to predict who he is going to start or play. Regardless of who starts, the Celtics need to defend Mobley closely.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs De'Andre Hunter
Hunter is averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 41.7% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown is still dealing with the sore hamstring but is listed as probable and so will once again likely play.
Keys to the Game Defense - As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game. The Celtics were second in the preseason with a defensive rating of 100.2. They struggled on the defensive end against the 76ers, Knicks and Pistons and slipped to 22nd with a defensive rating of 116.8. They held the Pelicans to 90 points and are now 10th with a defensive rating of 111.7. The Cavaliers are 7th with a defensive rating of 107.9. The Celtics must make defense a priority if they hope to win this season.
Rebound - Rebounding may be the biggest key to winning right now since the Celtics lost their first 3 games largely because they weren't able to rebound. The Celtics averaged 39.0 in their first 3 games. The Knicks out rebounded them by 17 and the Pistons out rebounded them by 17 and put up 32 second chance points. The Celtics out-rebounded the Pelicans by 19 and they won the game going away. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds. Much of rebounding is effort as evidenced by Payton Pritchard grabbing 10 rebounds against the Pistons. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Consistency - The Celtics were able to build a lead in their first 3 games. They led by 13 against the 76ers, 8 against the Knicks and 17 against the Pistons . However, they weren't able to keep or build on those leads. They allowed the 76ers to out-score them 42-30 in the 4th quarter. They allowed the Knicks to out score them 42-14 in the 2nd quarter and they allowed the Pistons to outscore them 36-25 in the 2nd quarter and 34-23 in the 3rd quarter. The Celtics finally were able to play consistently well throughout the game against the Pelicans, especially in the 4th quarter. They need to play well on both ends of the court for all 4 quarters and not allow the Cavaliers to have a big quarter to bury them.
Play Fast and Hard - After a lot of talk about playing faster in the preseason, the Celtics slowed it down in their first 3 games. They were 7th in pace in the preseason (106.13) but they are 29th after their first 4 games (96.75) Their best hope this season is to play fast and hard. They need to play faster and harder in order to get back to winning. They need to be the team that plays harder and hustles more.
X-Factors
Playing at Home - The Celtics are playing at home where they have a familiar environment and the crowd behind them They need to lock in and focus on defending their home court. They need to gain motivation from the crowd and from playing on their familiar court. The Cavs are playing on the road and so will have distractions of travel, a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar court. The Cavs are a good road team and so it won't be easy but the Celtics have the advantage if they stay focused and play hard.
Officiating - Officiating always have the possibility to be an x-factor. Every crew calls the game a little differently with some calling it tight and others letting them play. The Celtics can't let bad calls and no calls affect their focus on the game. They have to adjust to how the game is being called and focus on the game and not on the officials.
Topic: Cavaliers (3-1) at Celtics (1-3) Game #5 10/29/25 (Read 100 times)