March 3, 2026, 5:01 p.m. ET
The battle for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is coming down to the final quarter of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Yet, if any team is to catch the current No. 1 Detroit Pistons, they’re going to have to do it directly, in head-to-head competition.
Enter the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (38-24), who are still well within striking distance for the No. 2 spot, currently belonging to the Boston Celtics (41-20). To close those 3 ½ games, the Cavs cannot afford to drop very many games at all.
This makes the game on Tuesday, March 3 in Cleveland essential for the Cavaliers, who have won seven of the eight games that new acquisition James Harden has played in since Cleveland traded for him. Harden, however, is playing through a broken thumb to his right, non-shooting hand.
Here’s everything you need to know about Tuesday’s Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers game:
