The Celtics host Cleveland at TD Garden in their third preseason game, chasing a better result after a 1-1 start. Jayson Tatum sits with an Achilles issue; Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh are day-to-day. Cleveland is without Darius Garland and Max Strus, with Sam Merrill also listed as day-to-day. The clash will test Boston’s frontcourt depth against elite bigs and reveal how the rotation might look behind the stars.

Projected lineups pit Boston’s depth against Cleveland’s big trio of Mobley, Allen and Mitchell, with a mix of youngsters like Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher and Neemias Queta for the Celtics, and Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Deandre Hunter, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for the Cavs. Game time is 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston and ESPN, with Fubo streaming available. Fantasy-minded viewers should watch minutes and role shifts as rest patterns emerge.

Two teams eyeing tune-ups for the regular season, this matchup offers a glimpse into frontline rotations and which youngsters push for rotation roles as the schedules heat up.

Boston's preseason signals a pivot toward a youth-infused roster built around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Joe Mazzulla faces a real test balancing an influx of unproven wings (Hugo Gonzalez, Josh Minott, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman) with a center rotation anchored by Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman. The aim is upside and cost-controlled development while preserving core star production. A Celtics Chronicle episode with Adam Taylor and Jason Timpf explores the potential shifts in offense, defense and rotation, with the full discussion linked for deeper context.

Boston faces a reshaped frontcourt after Al Horford signs with Golden State, leaving depth thin behind Chris Boucher, Luke Garza, and Neemias Queta. Porzingis is traded, heightening the need for a rim protector. Utah’s Walker Kessler emerges as a realistic deadline target for a Celtics squad two years removed from a title. A first-round pick plus matching salary could land a starting-caliber center and unlock Boston’s defensive ceiling in a crowded East.