Cavs still can't beat Boston Celtics, look overmatched in 109-98 loss

Cleveland has yet to defeat the Celtics this season, falling short again on Sunday afternoon.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers were unable to overcome the Boston Celtics, losing 109-98 on Sunday. This was the third time the Cavs have lost to the Celtics this season, marking a regular-season sweep for Boston. Despite an early 11-3 lead, the Cavs struggled to maintain their momentum as the Celtics regrouped and took control of the game.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers have proven unable to beat the Celtics, one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference. This loss raises questions about Cleveland's ability to compete with the conference's top contenders as they aim to make a deep playoff run.

The details

After jumping out to an early 11-3 lead, the Cavaliers were unable to sustain their strong start. The Celtics regrouped and took the lead midway through the first quarter, never relinquishing it. Cleveland mustered just 10 points in the second quarter, going into halftime down by 20. While the Cavs made a late push to cut the deficit to 8 points in the fourth quarter, they were unable to complete the comeback against the battle-tested Celtics.

  • The Cavaliers and Celtics met for the third and final regular-season matchup on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Cavaliers entered the game following a four-day mini break.

The players

Kenny Atkinson

The head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acknowledged before the game that the Celtics were a tough matchup for his team.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' star player, who scored a game-high 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting in his return from a groin injury.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star player, who returned from Achilles surgery and added 20 points, further bolstering Boston's roster.

Jaylen Brown

A Celtics player who is an MVP candidate and scored 23 points in the win.

James Harden

The Cavaliers' trade deadline addition, who finished with 19 points and 10 assists in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“They're a tough matchup for everybody. They got championship pedigree. This is an elite, elite team. One of the elites of the league. We've got a lot to prove.”

— Kenny Atkinson, Head Coach (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to bounce back when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' inability to defeat the Celtics this season raises concerns about their ability to compete with the Eastern Conference's top teams as they aim to make a deep playoff run. However, the return of Jayson Tatum from injury has further bolstered Boston's roster, making them an even tougher matchup for Cleveland.