DALLAS — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a decisive 122-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 24 points. Derrick White contributed significantly with 23 points, including Boston’s first 11 points of the third quarter. The game marked the first encounter between the two teams since they competed in the NBA Finals.
Jaylen Brown also played a crucial role, adding 22 points to help the Celtics bounce back from a substantial 21-point defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers just two nights earlier, which had been their largest loss of the season. Overcoming a slow start that saw them fall behind 16-6, the Celtics dominated the game, even stretching their lead to a remarkable 25 points during the third quarter, where White scored 16 points alone.
For the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving netted 22 points, while Quentin Grimes came off the bench to contribute 20 points. Daniel Gafford was another standout for Dallas, scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, which tied his season-high. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, their performance has suffered since superstar Luka Doncic was sidelined on Christmas Day due to a calf strain, resulting in a 5-11 record since then.
The two teams are set to face off again on February 6 in Boston to complete their two-game series this season.
Key takeaways from the game include Kristaps Porzingis returning to Dallas to score 18 points in his first game back since the February 10, 2022 trade that shifted him from the Mavericks to Washington. Porzingis had missed his last four visits to Dallas, including games 3 and 4 of last year’s finals, due to injury concerns. On the Mavericks’ side, they were dealt a tough blow as backup center Maxi Kleber fractured his right foot late in the third quarter and will be re-evaluated next week.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Mavericks found themselves trailing by 21 points during the last minute of the third quarter. This led to a chorus of “Let’s go Celtics! Let’s go Celtics!” chants echoing through the arena, marking the Celtics’ overwhelming presence in the game.
Statistically, the Celtics are known for their shooting prowess, and although they struggled early in the game, finishing the first quarter 2 of 8 from beyond the arc, they ultimately found their rhythm, concluding the game with an impressive 20 of 52 from three-point range—highlighting their status as the NBA leaders in both three-pointers made and attempted per game.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play at home on Monday, with the Celtics taking on the Houston Rockets, while the Mavericks will host the Washington Wizards.
