Cavs vs. Celtics: preview, odds, injury report, TV

BOSTON — The Cavs are perfect, but perfection will meet its greatest test yet Tuesday night in Boston with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Eastern on TNT.

Undefeated through 15 games, the Cavs storm into TD Garden carrying the weight of history, the sting of the past, and the promise of what lies ahead. Awaiting them are the reigning NBA champion Celtics, whose postseason dominance last year included dispatching Cleveland in a gentleman's sweep during the Eastern Conference semifinals.

This contest marks just the fourth time a defending champion will face a team on a winning streak of this magnitude. Cleveland's blazing 15-0 start is tied for the second-best in NBA history, trailing only the 24-0 Warriors in 2015-16.

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For the Cavs, this game is a proving ground.

Boston, coming off a banner year, has the rings, the hardware, and the home crowd. But Cleveland has something to ascertain.

This matchup also serves as the second game of NBA Cup group play for both teams, adding another layer of intrigue. Both squads are in East Group C, where standings or point differentials and points scored determine which teams advance to the knockout round.

Cleveland is second in the group at 1-0 with a plus-18 differential, only behind the Hawks, who are 2-0 with a plus-13 differential. Boston, after a narrow loss in their opener to Atlanta, sits at 0-1 with minus-1.

For the Cavs, who missed out on last year's NBA Cup by a tiebreaker, winning out is their clearest path forward.

This isn't the same team from May Although the Cavs brought back 13 of their 14 players from last season, the way they operate is night-and-day from the team from this past spring.

New head coach Kenny Atkinson has installed a faster-paced offensive system, unlocking contributions from all corners of the rotation. The team is thriving on both ends, ranking top-10 in offensive and defensive rating.

Tuesday's game, however, comes with adversity. Dean Wade, Cleveland's premier defensive wing and a critical piece in Atkinson's scheme, will miss the contest due to an ankle injury that he suffered on Sunday. His absence is significant against a Boston squad led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. This could mean relying on Evan Mobley to defend on the perimeter or turning to the zone defense they've successfully deployed in their last two games. Either way, the Cavs will need their high-octane offense —powered by Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Mobley — to match the Celtics' scoring firepower. Equally important, though, will be the contributions of their role players , who have been pivotal all season.

Stakes beyond the streak While Boston represents the ultimate measuring stick, this game holds meaning beyond a chance to stay unbeaten. It's about rewriting the narrative that the Cavs still aren't on the same tier as the Celtics, seemingly their biggest hurdle in hopes of reaching the NBA Finals.

A victory in TD Garden, against the reigning champs in front of a hostile crowd, would signal Cleveland's arrival as a legitimate title contender beyond any doubt.

But these Cavs aren't seeking validation. They believe they've earned respect. It's not about the record; it's about proving it game by game and letting their play do the talking.

On Tuesday night, the Cavs will find out just how far they've come — and how much further they can go.

"We like being the hunted," Garland said after the team's 15th straight win on Sunday. "We've been the hunters all our lives. So just having this opportunity, being the hunted and being one of them contender teams, it means a lot to us and we got to stay here. We gotta keep accepting the challenge. Everybody's gonna put their best foot forward against us, trying to give us our first L.

"This is what good teams are made of though. Being the hunted. Having that target on your back. And everybody's trying to put their best foot forward just to beat you guys every night on a nightly basis. I like it."

Here's what to know about the matchup:

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

Series: First of four matchups in the regular season.

Where: TD Garden.

When:

The point spread: Celtics minus-4.5; O/U 232.5

TV:

Injury report:

Out:

Dean Wade (ankle); Max Strus (ankle); Emoni Bates (knee/two-way).

Questionable:

Caris LeVert (knee); Isaac Okoro (ankle); Sam Merrill (ankle)