BOSTON — In a thrilling NBA Finals rematch, Klay Thompson contributed significantly to the Dallas Mavericks’ 127-120 victory over the Boston Celtics, netting 25 points. Daniel Gafford also played a crucial role, grabbing 15 rebounds, marking what might be his final start at center for a while. The Mavericks played without newly acquired big man Anthony Davis, who is sidelined due to an abdominal strain but supported his teammates from the sidelines. At one point during the game, the Mavericks held a commanding 27-point lead in the second half, and Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points off the bench to strengthen their offense.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla decided to rotate in his bench players, and they managed to close the gap to single digits in the final minute of play. Jaylen Brown, who previously earned NBA Finals MVP honors in June while guiding Boston to victory over Dallas, recorded 25 points during this matchup, while Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points. Payton Pritchard was instrumental in the second unit’s effort, scoring 21 points and sparking the late-game surge.
Takeaways from the game reveal that Dallas is still awaiting the debut of Davis, who was obtained recently in a trade involving five-time All-NBA player Luka Doncic, but fans will have to wait until at least Saturday to see him on the court.
In terms of regular-season matchups, this marks the second time the two teams faced each other in the last fortnight, with both games split evenly. A potential rematch could hinge on player availability come summertime.
A key moment in the game occurred when Kyrie Irving, who initially started slowly with only four points in the first half, hit a pivotal 3-pointer from the top of the key with just under 10 minutes remaining. This shot boosted the Mavericks’ lead to 114-90, their largest of the night. Following a timeout, Irving struck again, making another 3-pointer from the left side.
An interesting statistic to note is that Thompson compiled 23 points during the first half alone, demonstrating his offensive prowess early in the game.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks are set to host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, while the Celtics will travel to face the New York Knicks the same day.
