Two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference are set to battle Sunday afternoon in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics.
Boston, which stands in second place behind the Detroit Pistons, has become the most dangerous squad in the conference with the return of star power forward Jayson Tatum from a torn right Achilles.
Tatum made his season debut Friday with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes as the Celtics posted a 120-100 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, but this was a really big step,” Tatum said. “I had a real sense of gratitude to just being back on the floor and playing basketball again.
“And it just kind of brought me back to everything I’ve been through in the last 10 months.”
The six-time All-Star suffered the injury on May 12 during Boston’s playoff series against the New York Knicks, ending its hopes of repeating as the NBA champion.
Tatum’s return, coupled with the MVP-level season that shooting guard Jaylen Brown is having, has the Celtics believing they could make up their four-game deficit to Detroit and gain the top seed.
“To see him coming back is the start of his testimony and the start of his story arc to getting back to who he is and where he wants to be,” Brown said.
“When he got hurt, I had a front-row seat. I saw how everything transpired. I know it’s been a difficult journey mentally and physically. I’m excited.”
Neemias Queta had 16 points and 15 rebounds against Dallas, while Brown went for 24 points, seven boards and seven assists across the board.
“When you care about somebody and you see them go through something, you want to be able to see the fruits of that labor,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Tatum. “So it’s just a credit to his work ethic and the people around him, but also to the team.”
Boston’s euphoria over Tatum was subdued a bit after the game when X-rays on center Nikola Vucevic revealed a fractured right ring finger. The offensive-oriented backup underwent surgery Saturday and will be re-evaluated in early April.
Boston is 2-0 against the Cavaliers heading into the teams’ final regular-season meeting. This will mark the first time Brown or Cleveland point guard James Harden will be part of the series.
The Cavaliers have grabbed hold of the fourth spot in the East, 3 1/2 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors, and are 8-1 with Harden in the lineup.
“The Beard” is averaging 19.1 points and 7.9 assists in nine games (all starts) since being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I haven’t played well at all, so it’s really a bright side,” Harden said. “These 19 games are very, very important to us because we are good enough (to win it all).”
Cleveland has won seven in a row at home and is 12-3 since Feb. 1. Its ongoing surge has included 22 wins in the last 30 games, the third best record in the league during that period.
Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell will return to the lineup after missing four games with a right groin strain, but center Jarrett Allen is unlikely to play after injuring his right knee Tuesday in a 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons.
“This is not a long-term thing at all,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said of Allen. “If he is out, it’s a short-term thing.”
The Cavaliers are on the verge of being fully healthy for the first time since last March.
Power forward Dean Wade, who hasn’t played since Feb. 25 because of a right ankle sprain, also has been cleared to play. Swingman Max Strus is nearing his season debut following foot surgery.
“Adding Max is like adding another free agent, if you want to look at it that way,” Atkinson said. “He’s getting close.”
