Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter, right, celebrates with teammate Darius Garland, left, after a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla kept his rotation tight despite the absences of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to injury.

The Cavs delivered their biggest statement win of the season, rallying from 22 points down to stun the Celtics, 123-116.

They finished second place in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Celtics, but it was a distant second. Boston won 14 more ... for 6-foot-8 wing DeAndre Hunter who has averaged 14.8 ...

The Cavaliers are determined to win it all and to get there they have to go through the defending champions: the Celtics.

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The two most recent NBA champions are playing well enough to reach the finals, and as we saw Sunday, it would be a compelling matchup.

Cleveland rallied from a 25-3 deficit and a double-digit hole in the second half, but Boston took notes to use in the postseason.

The two best teams in the Eastern Conference will clash on Friday night when the Boston Celtics take on the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET. on ESPN. This will be the fourth meeting of the season between these powerhouses, with the Celtics looking to win the regular season series with a third victory over the Cavs.