Boston @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 27, 2019 ) Cleveland 117, Boston 129

The Boston Celtics look to finish off a four-game season sweep as well as defeat Cleveland for the eighth consecutive time when they visit the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Boston hasn't dropped a regular-season clash since Feb. 11, 2018 when LeBron James was still on the Cavaliers.

Celtics All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum (illness) sat out Tuesday's 129-120 overtime loss against the Brooklyn Nets in a contest in which the team blow an 18-point, fourth-quarter lead. "We didn't have any fourth-quarter intensity," Boston coach Brad Stevens said afterward. "I should have subbed a couple guys out who normally play and I kept them in. We had great intensity for most of the game and we just took our foot off the gas." Cleveland has lost three straight games, including a 126-113 setback against the Utah Jazz on Monday in the second contest of a five-game homestand. "There were moments when we tried to do too much because everybody was trying to do a little bit more," Cavaliers interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "We were playing against a good team so if we make mistakes, they are good enough to make you pay."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Boston, FS Ohio

ABOUT THE CELTICS (41-19): Small forward Gordon Hayward missed the second half with a bruised right knee and his availability for the Cavaliers is uncertain. "I have no idea who is going to Cleveland," a terse Stevens said. "I think most of the coaches are going, a couple players. I just want eight, nine guys, whoever is going to play hard. That was ridiculous." All-Star point guard Kemba Walker (knee) returned from a five-game absence and scored 21 points against the Nets.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (17-44): Cleveland will be shorthanded against Boston with center Andre Drummond (calf) and rookie guard Darius Garland (groin) both missing their second straight games, while big man Tristan Thompson (knee) hopes to avoid sitting out a third straight contest. Second-year guard Collin Sexton scored a career-best 32 points against the Jazz and power forward Kevin Love added 22 but the manpower shortages caught up to the Cavaliers. "They knew they were undermanned because of all the guys that were going to be out," Bickerstaff said. "They scrapped. They left it all out there. You almost have to play perfect. The effort was there all night. I give these guys a ton of credit for competing the way they did."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Celtics won this season's first three meetings by an average of 13.3 points.

2. Boston SG Jaylen Brown scored 22 points against Brooklyn for his sixth straight 20-point effort.

3. Sexton is averaging 26.8 points over the past four games while making 13-of-22 3-point attempts.

PREDICTION: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 97