Jayson Tatum Silences Cleveland in Second Game Back

The Boston Celtics star returned to the court and led his team to a win over the Cavaliers.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Less than 48 hours after his emotional return at TD Garden, Jayson Tatum showed up in Cleveland and led the Boston Celtics to a 109-98 win over the Cavaliers on Sunday. Tatum scored 20 points in 27 minutes, while Jaylen Brown added 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Celtics built a big lead in the first half and held off a Cleveland comeback in the second half.

Why it matters

Tatum's return is a major boost for the Celtics as they look to make a deep playoff run. The team has struggled with injuries this season, and Tatum's presence on the court makes them a much more formidable opponent. This win over the Cavaliers, another top team in the Eastern Conference, shows that the Celtics are rounding into form at the right time.

The details

Tatum went cold through the second and third quarters, missing all six of his attempts in that stretch. But coach Joe Mazzulla kept him on the floor at crunch time, and Tatum delivered, hitting a dagger three-pointer with 1:59 remaining to seal the win. Jaylen Brown was the anchor, dropping 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Payton Pritchard added 18 points off the bench, and Baylor Scheierman finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

  • Less than 48 hours after his emotional return at TD Garden, Tatum played in Cleveland.
  • The game was played on Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics star player who returned from injury and led his team to victory over the Cavaliers.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' anchor, scoring 23 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists.

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics who kept Tatum on the floor in crunch time, leading to a key three-pointer to seal the win.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' star player who scored 30 points in the losing effort.

Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers' big man who added 24 points but couldn't lead his team to victory.

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What they’re saying

“Today felt a lot more normal, just from a preparation standpoint in this league. It felt like being back in the flow again.”

— Jayson Tatum (basketballforever.com)

What’s next

The Celtics will head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The takeaway

Tatum's return is a major boost for the Celtics as they look to make a deep playoff run. The team has struggled with injuries this season, and Tatum's presence on the court makes them a much more formidable opponent. This win over the Cavaliers, another top team in the Eastern Conference, shows that the Celtics are rounding into form at the right time.