Cavaliers Aim to Avoid Celtics Until Conference Finals

Cleveland faces tough road in East playoffs, but can delay Boston matchup

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the intensity and complexity of the Cavaliers' playoff journey.The Cavaliers' path to the NBA Finals is filled with tough matchups, but avoiding the Celtics until the Conference Finals could give them their best shot at a championship.Boston Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to begin their NBA playoff run with high hopes of competing for a championship, ten years after their last title. They'll face a tough path, potentially squaring off against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and their old nemesis, the Boston Celtics, if they can advance.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers have struggled against the Celtics in recent years, making it crucial for them to delay a potential matchup as long as possible. Avoiding Boston until the Conference Finals would give Cleveland a better chance at making a deep postseason run.

The details

After finishing the regular season with a 52-30 record, the Cavaliers will open the playoffs against the young Toronto Raptors. If they can get past Toronto, they'll likely face the Pistons, another tough opponent led by former Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff. Beyond that, the Celtics loom as a potential Conference Finals foe, a team the Cavaliers have failed to beat in their last three meetings.

  • The Cavaliers' first-round series against the Raptors tips off on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m.
  • The potential second-round matchup against the Pistons would follow shortly after.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' star player and leading scorer, looking to guide the team to an NBA championship.

Jarrett Allen

Cleveland's dominant big man, who will be crucial in matchups against physical frontcourts like Detroit's.

Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers' young and talented power forward, who has developed into a two-way force.

JB Bickerstaff

The Pistons' head coach, who previously held the same role with the Cavaliers.

James Harden

The Cavaliers' veteran guard, who will need to overcome his playoff struggles to help the team make a deep run.

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What’s next

If the Cavaliers can defeat the Raptors in the first round, they'll face the winner of the Pistons-Heat series in the second round. A potential matchup with the Celtics would come in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers have a challenging path ahead, but avoiding the Celtics until the Conference Finals could be crucial to their championship aspirations. Establishing momentum and identity early in the playoffs will be key for this veteran-led squad.