The Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on Friday night in what has become the most anticipated game of the NBA season. While these teams have a massive gap in the standings, the energy in Boston is at an all-time high as the franchise prepares for a major boost to its championship aspirations.
Boston enters the game at 41–21, comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have been an elite force all year, anchored by the MVP-level play of Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 28.9 points per game. Having won seven of their last 10, Boston continues to chase the top-seeded Pistons.
The Mavericks arrive in Boston with a 21–41 record, currently 12th in the Western Conference. Despite a difficult season plagued by injuries, Dallas has found a foundational piece in rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old has been incredible, averaging 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Will Jayson Tatum Play Tonight vs. Mavericks?
The headline of the night is the official return of Jayson Tatum. After 298 days on the sidelines following Achilles surgery, Tatum has been cleared and is Available to make his season debut. While he is expected to play on a minutes restriction, his presence alone transforms the Celtics into the clear title favorites.
With a potential passing of the torch moment between Tatum and Flagg, and the Celtics finally at full strength, this is a must-watch event. Full venue, time, and broadcast details are listed below.
Celtics vs. Mavericks: Live Streaming And Game Info
- Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CST)
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- TV Broadcast (Local): NBC Sports Boston, KFAA (Dallas)
- National Broadcast: ESPN
- Live Streaming: NBA League Pass, WatchESPN
Celtics vs. Mavericks Head-to-Head
The Boston Celtics currently lead the 2025-26 season series 1–0 following their 110–100 victory in Dallas back in February. Historically, Boston has defended home court exceptionally well against the Mavericks, who have won just two of their last 12 meetings at TD Garden. The Celtics lead the all-time series 48-41.
Projected Starting Lineups
Boston Celtics
- PG: Derrick White
- SG: Anfernee Simons
- SF: Jaylen Brown
- PF: Jayson Tatum (Expected limited minutes)
- C: Nikola Vucevic
Dallas Mavericks
- PG: Andrew Nembhard
- SG: Jaden Hardy
- SF: Cooper Flagg
- PF: Olivier-Maxence Prosper
- C: Daniel Gafford
Injury Report
Boston Celtics
- Jordan Walsh (SF): QUESTIONABLE (Non-COVID illness)
Dallas Mavericks
- PJ Washington (PF): OUT (Ankle sprain)
- Kyrie Irving (PG): OUT (Knee injury management)
- Dereck Lively II (C): OUT (Foot surgery recovery)
Betting Odds
- ATS Pick: Celtics -15.5
- O/U Pick: Over 223.5
- Score Prediction: Celtics 124 – Mavericks 106
*NBA Odds are subject to change.
Where To Watch The Celtics vs. Mavericks Across The Globe?
United States
- Date/Time: March 6, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Channel: ESPN, NBC Sports Boston, KFAA
Canada
- Date/Time: March 6, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TSN
United Kingdom
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 12:00 AM GMT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TNT Sports
Australia
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 11:00 AM AEDT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN
Germany
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 1:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, DAZN
France
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 1:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, beIN Sports
Spain
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 1:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Movistar+
Italy
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 1:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Sky Italia
India
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 5:30 AM IST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, JioCinema, Sports18
Brazil
- Date/Time: March 6, 2026, 9:00 PM BRT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Prime Video
Mexico
- Date/Time: March 6, 2026, 6:00 PM CST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Star+
Japan
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 9:00 AM JST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Rakuten TV
Philippines
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 8:00 AM PHT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TV5, NBA TV Philippines
Singapore
- Date/Time: March 7, 2026, 8:00 AM SGT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, StarHub, or Singtel
