Monday, the Boston Celtics found their way into the win column for the first time this season. The visitors capped their two-tilt road trip with a 122-90 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, that was an opponent missing Zion Williamson. Wednesday night at TD Garden, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have Donovan Mitchell in the lineup.
"He will definitely go out there and try it," said Cleveland's head coach, Kenny Atkinson, pregame, while discussing Mitchell testing out his hamstring injury before tip-off. The injury popped up earlier on Wednesday.
Fortunately for the visitors, after going through a rigorous pregame workout, Mitchell broke the news to ESPN's Katie George that he intends to suit up against the Celtics.
Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they will not have their quartet intact. Darius Garland is out due to left great toe surgical recovery. Furthermore, Max Strus is yet to make his season debut because of a Jones fracture. Sam Merrill, who teamed with Neemias Queta at Utah State, is also inactive. Merrill is dealing with a right hip contusion. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who is on a two-way deal with Cleveland, is also out for Wednesday's contest, per their injury report.
The Cavaliers will start Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, De'Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The final word on Jaylen Brown's status
As for the hosts, Jaylen Brown continues to be available for his team. After testing his injured hamstring before the game, he received the green light to suit up again.
Despite the first two weeks after a hamstring strain having the highest risk of reinjury, the four-time All-Star played in both halves of Boston's first back-to-back of the 2025-26 campaign.
Brown registered 15 points on 5/9 shooting, seven rebounds, and four assists in the Celtics' victory vs. the Pelicans. Even better, thanks to outscoring New Orleans 35-12 in the final frame, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP only logged 24 minutes.
The only player the hosts are without for Wednesday's matchup against the 3-1 Cavaliers is Jayson Tatum, as he recovers from his torn Achilles.
So, after a win over a shorthanded Pelicans squad in New Orleans on Monday night, the Celtics will now face a much stiffer test against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. It's a chance to prove their mettle and turn their first victory this season into the start of a win streak.
Wednesday night's game between the Celtics and Cavaliers is scheduled to start at 7:00 EST.