Celtics Take On Cavaliers After Tatum's Return, Vucevic Injury

Boston looks to bounce back from Vucevic's fractured finger as they host Cleveland on WMUR-TV.

Mar. 8, 2026 at 2:05pm

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The Boston Celtics welcomed back star player Jayson Tatum on Friday night, but just as they seemed to be returning to full strength, center Nikola Vucevic fractured his right ring finger and underwent surgery. The Celtics, now without Vucevic, will face the Cavaliers on Sunday, with coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. on WMUR-TV.

Why it matters

The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference standings, but this latest injury setback could impact their playoff positioning and championship aspirations. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are fourth in the East and looking to gain ground on the top teams.

The details

In Tatum's return on Friday, he had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a blowout win over the Mavericks. However, Vucevic's injury during that game will sideline him for 3-4 weeks as he recovers from surgery. The Celtics, now without their starting center, will have to adjust their lineup and rotations as they host the Cavaliers on Sunday.

  • Tatum made his return on Friday, March 8, 2026.
  • Vucevic suffered his fractured finger during Tatum's comeback game on Friday.
  • The Celtics will host the Cavaliers on Sunday, March 10, 2026.

The players

Jayson Tatum

A star player for the Boston Celtics who recently returned from injury.

Nikola Vucevic

The Celtics' starting center who suffered a fractured finger and underwent surgery, sidelining him for 3-4 weeks.

Boston Celtics

An NBA team currently second in the Eastern Conference standings.

Cleveland Cavaliers

An NBA team currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.

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What they’re saying

“All eyes will be on how the Celtics, now without Vucevic, respond to this latest injury setback.”

— Ian Steele, Author (wmur.com)

What’s next

The Celtics will host the Cavaliers on Sunday, March 10, 2026, with coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. on WMUR-TV. This will be Jayson Tatum's second game back since returning from injury.

The takeaway

The Celtics' championship aspirations have been dealt a blow with Nikola Vucevic's injury, but they will need to rally around Jayson Tatum's return and find a way to overcome this latest setback as they continue their push for the playoffs.