An unprecedented early-season showdown looms at TD Garden, gripping the basketball world. Under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on a historic 15-0 start, will take on the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics (11-3), in a game that promises to be a must-watch on Tuesday.
This matchup carries extra weight as part of the NBA Cup group play, adding another layer to an already compelling narrative. The Cavaliers have matched the second-best start in NBA history, trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors’ 24-0 run. Meanwhile, the Celtics have maintained their championship form, sitting firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s great for the NBA,” says Atkinson, who made history as the first coach to win his first 15 games with a team. “Boston Garden—what’s better than that? It’s fantastic for our franchise, and we’re excited.”
The game marks a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers in five games before going on to claim the NBA title. However, this year’s matchup features some key differences, notably the return of Jarrett Allen, who missed last year’s playoff series due to injury.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Allen shares, fresh off a dominant 21-point, 15-rebound performance against Charlotte. “It’s a rematch, except they didn’t have some players, and we didn’t have me. I just want to help our team propel us forward and try to beat them.”
The Cavaliers’ perfect start has showcased their depth, with multiple players consistently stepping up. In their recent victory over the Hornets, four Cavaliers scored over 20 points:
- Darius Garland: 25 points
- Ty Jerome: 24 points
- Evan Mobley: 23 points
- Jarrett Allen: 21 points
Mobley, who showed flashes of brilliance against the Celtics in last year’s playoff series, approaches the game with measured enthusiasm. “They’re a fantastic team. Obviously, they won last year, so it’s going to be a test for us,” he explains. “It’s still early in the season, so we’re just going to learn from it and give them our best shot.”
Game Details
- Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broadcast: TNT and NBC Sports Boston
- NBC and TNT platforms, as well as the NBC Sports app, offer streaming services.
The Celtics bring their own impressive credentials to the matchup, sporting a 4-2 home record, while the Cavaliers remain perfect on the road at 7-0. NBC Sports Boston will provide comprehensive coverage, starting with Celtics Pregame Live at 6:00 PM ET, featuring insights from Tom Giles, Brian Scalabrine, Abby Chin, Chris Forsberg, and Eddie House.
This early-season clash could very well preview the Eastern Conference Finals, as both teams have separated themselves from the pack. The Cavaliers aim to join elite company—the 2015-16 Warriors, 1993-94 Rockets, and 1948-49 Capitols all reached their respective championship series after starting 15-0.
As basketball fans eagerly await this collision of titans, one thing is certain: Tuesday’s game will provide an early measuring stick for both teams’ championship aspirations. The combination of Cleveland’s perfect record, Boston’s title defense, and the added stakes of NBA Cup play makes this more than just another regular-season game—it’s a potential preview of basketball history in the making.