Cavaliers-Celtics Eastern Conference semifinal series matchups

BOSTON, Mass. — The Boston Celtics (64-18) face the Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34) in an Eastern Conference semifinal series starting Tuesday in Boston. The top-seeded Celtics beat the Cavs twice in the regular season while Cleveland beat Boston once.

After a loss in Game 2 against Miami, the Celtics rolled through the rest of the series, looking every bit like the team that was seven wins better than anyone else in the regular season. That’s even with starting center Kristaps Porzingis missing Game 5 with a strained calf muscle that could sideline him for this series. Boston finally got its next opponent Sunday when Cleveland finished off Orlando in the only first-round series that went the distance.

Below is a look at the matchups for the Cavaliers-Celtics Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series:

Point guard, Jrue Holiday vs. Darius Garland

Holiday averaged under 13 points against the Cavs in the regular season but offense isn’t why Boston acquired him after Holiday cleared waivers following his trade to Portland before the start of this season. Garland averaged 15 points in the seven-game series against the Magic and he might need to increase that production if the Celtics put most of its defensive focus on Donovan Mitchell.

Shooting guard, Derrick White vs. Donovan Mitchell

This matchup could be the X factor of the series. White’s defensive prowess is growing throughout the league, but shutting down Mitchell won’t be easy. Mitchell averaged 28.7 points in the seven-game series vs. the Magic — including 89 points in the final two games. Finding space in the lane will be key for Mitchell. When White is on the bench, Boston will have the flexibility to mix and match another top-notch defender — Holiday — on Mitchell, who averaged 30 points in two games this season vs. the Celtics.

Small forward, Jaylen Brown vs. Max Strus

Strus had moments against the Magic in the first round — most notably a 16-point game on April 30 — and Cleveland will need more against Boston. Strus was a member of the Heat when it beat the Celtics in seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals and made two 3-pointers a game in the series. Brown averaged 23.0 points in the regular season and is difficult to defend thanks to his ability to attack the rim and consistently connect from the outside. This could be Boston’s biggest advantage in the series.

Power forward, Jayson Tatum vs. Evan Mobley

Tatum is Boston’s unquestioned go-to player on offense. In the regular season, he averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. When Mobley and Tatum go head-to-head, Mobley — at 6-foot-11 — will have a size advantage on the 6-8 Tatum but expect the Celtics to do their best on switches to maximize Tatum’s ability to drive-and-dish or attack the basket. Mobley was up-and-down in the Magic series. In the last five games, he averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Center, Porzingis or Al Horford vs. Jarrett Allen

This is the big unknown of the series. Porzingis is rehabbing following a calf injury and his status for the start of the series is unknown. The same is true for Allen, who is battling a rib injury. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff went with a 10-man rotation in Game 7 vs. the Magic but it was essentially six with Caris Lavert getting 29 minutes off the bench. Marcus Morris Sr., Sam Merrill, Georges Niang, and Tristan Thompson played a combined 27 minutes. Isaac Okoro also got big minutes (33) in Game 7. Horford has a ton of experience if he’s needed to play in place of Porzingas but at age 37 playing big minutes against the likes of Mobley or Allen could take its toll should the series get extended to six or seven games.

Bench

With a healthy Porzingas, Boston’s bench goes four deep. If he’s out, it’s essentially guard Payton Pritchard, forward Sam Hauser and center Luke Kornet. … The Cavs go deeper than that off their bench, and if Allen returns for Game 1 that could give Cleveland an advantage.

Numbers of note: The teams are meeting for the ninth time in the playoffs, having split the first eight. The Cavaliers have won the last three, including a 2018 Eastern Conference finals triumph that had been their most recent playoff victory before beating Orlando. … Boston is 6-16 in Cleveland in the postseason. … The Celtics allowed fewer than 90 points in the last three games against the Heat, the first team to allow 90 or fewer in three straight postseason games since 2016. … The Cavs played without Mitchell in their lone victory over the Celtics in the regular season, coming from 22 down to win 105-104 on March 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.