The Boston Celtics are looking at Jayson Tatum with hopeful eyes. Despite maintaining a strong position as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the franchise’s quest to return to the NBA Finals now relies on the return of its All-NBA forward.
For Boston and Tatum, every game is crucial for home-court advantage as they fight to close the five-game gap behind the Detroit Pistons and hold off the New York Knicks for the second seed.
Their next test comes tonight at home against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. But the biggest question heading into Friday night is about the availability of the Celtics’ cornerstone.
Will Jayson Tatum Play Against the Dallas Mavericks?
Tatum has officially been upgraded to questionable for the March 6, 2026, matchup as he nears a return from the ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered during the 2025 playoffs. After missing the first 62 games of the season, Tatum has recently been a full go in 5-on-5 scrimmages.
Shams Charania reported on Thursday that there is a strong “expectation” that Tatum will make his 2025-26 NBA season debut tonight, less than ten months after his May 13 surgery. Tatum is expected to make the final call today on whether he feels ready for live reps.
“BREAKING: Boston Celtics All-NBA star Jayson Tatum will play this season and could make his debut on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks – less than 10 months after surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon,” Charania wrote.
If he isn’t cleared for the Dallas matchup, his next opportunity to suit up will be Saturday, March 14, against Washington, as the team may avoid debuting him during their upcoming three-game road trip.
Additionally, Boston will be closely monitoring the minutes of their core rotation, including Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, who have carried a massive load in Tatum’s absence. If Tatum is limited or held out, extended minutes can be expected for Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard as the Celtics try to secure a win against the Mavs.
The Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on Friday night for a cross-conference clash. Boston enters the game at 41–21. Even without their primary star for the entire season thus far, the Celtics have remained a juggernaut behind the MVP-caliber play of Jaylen Brown.
Dallas arrives in Boston with a 21–40 record, currently 12th in the Western Conference. Despite a challenging season, the Mavericks have found a future cornerstone in rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.
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
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 or Sportsnet
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
