The Boston Celtics aren’t looking to send a statement to the rest of the league by ending the Cleveland Cavaliers’ unbeaten start tonight, according to forward Sam Hauser.
The Cavaliers will rock up at TD Garden with a 15-0 record and looking to edge closer to the mark set by the Golden State Warriors, who won their first 24 games of the 2025-16 season.
In their way will be the NBA champion Celtics. It promises to be a fascinating encounter but Hauser has rubbished suggestions a Boston win will show the competition they remain the team to beat.
THIS MATCHUP 🤩
The unbeaten Cavaliers look to become 2nd team in NBA history to start a season 16-0.
The defending NBA champion Celtics look to pick up their first Group Play victory.
CAVS/CELTICS #EmiratesNBACup East Group C action tips tonight at 7:00pm/et on TNT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xgJG7pWPBm
— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2024
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We wanted to be shot at – Hauser
He told Boston.com: “I feel like that’s an every night type of thing. I feel like we’ve gotten everybody’s best shot to this point and we have to be better at understanding that that’s what we’ve brought onto ourselves and that that’s what we wanted. That’s what we asked for.
“So, we’re just going to do what we do, play our game, put the record to the side at the end of games, and do whatever we can to win.”
That’s not to say Hauser and the 11-3 Celtics won’t be gunning to end the Cavs’ run.
“They’re good, man,” he added. “I just think they have a very similar group and I think having another year of chemistry and continuity under your belt is really important for them. It’s looked really good to this point but we’re excited to try to put a loss in their loss column.”
Mazzulla impressed by Cavaliers
The Celtics ended the Cavs’ post-season campaign last season with a five-game triumph in the Eastern Conference semi-finals but coach Joe Mazzulla believes they have improved since then.
He said: “They’re crashing as a team, they’re cutting more as a team, opening up gaps for those guys to drive the ball and they’re shooting the ball really well, all those guys.
“They’re playing at a high level right now for sure and they’ve got a lot of talent but I think some of the small tweaks that they’ve made in their cutting, crashing, and their ability to shoot the ball and their defensive versatility too.”
Cleveland will hope their chances aren’t derailed by injuries with several rotation players – including Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill – all listed as questionable.
