Celtics hold off Cavaliers late, win 109 to 98

Game Night: March 08, 2026

CLEVELAND — The Boston Celtics got off to a slow start on Sunday, but they quickly took control and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109 to 98. Boston fell behind 11 to 3 early, but after that the Celtics settled in, played strong on both ends, and built a big lead that Cleveland could not fully recover from. The Cavaliers made things interesting in the fourth quarter, but Boston had enough left to close the game out.

This game mattered because both teams are strong teams in the Eastern Conference, so it felt bigger than just another regular season game. It also showed that Boston could handle pressure on the road against a good Cleveland team. The win gave the Celtics a season sweep over the Cavaliers in their three-game series, which makes the result stand out even more.

Jaylen Brown played a big part in the win. He finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists and helped lead Boston after the rough start. Jayson Tatum also made an impact with 20 points in 27 minutes. Tatum looked especially good early in the game and helped Boston recover after falling behind. He scored 14 points in his first 12 minutes and gave the Celtics a boost right when they needed one.

By halftime, Boston had completely changed the game. After trailing by eight early, the Celtics went into the break with a 56 to 36 lead. A lot of that came from Cleveland struggling badly on offense, especially from three-point range. The Cavaliers missed 22 of their first 24 shots from beyond the arc and scored only 10 points in the second quarter. That cold stretch helped Boston take control.

Celtics Cavaliers Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots beside Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) (David Richard/AP)

The Celtics kept that energy going in the third quarter. Brown continued to play well, and Boston also got important help from its bench. Payton Pritchard scored 18 points and made some of the biggest plays late in the game. Baylor Scheierman added 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Sam Hauser finished with 15 points and made five threes. Boston’s balanced scoring made a big difference because it was not just one player carrying the team.

Cleveland did make a late run. Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points in his return from injury, and Evan Mobley added 24 points and eight rebounds. At one point in the fourth quarter, Jaylon Tyson made a three that cut the lead to 94 to 86, and it looked like the Cavaliers might really have a chance to come all the way back. The crowd came alive, and the game suddenly became more tense.

Still, Boston answered right away. Pritchard hit a three and then scored again on back-to-back possessions to push the lead back up. That stretch helped stop Cleveland’s momentum and basically sealed the game for the Celtics. Cleveland kept fighting, but Boston stayed in control the rest of the way. After the game, Brown spoke about Tatum’s return and said, “When he got hurt, I had a front row seat.” That quote showed how meaningful Tatum’s comeback was for the team.

Boston looked in control for most of the afternoon, and when Cleveland finally made its push, the Celtics answered quickly and finished the job.

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