Boston Celtics smother Dallas Mavericks defensively, rating 124-95 win

The final time the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks confronted off, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for 68 factors, outdueling 42 from Luka Dončić in a banner recreation for star-caliber expertise within the early going of this NBA season. For quite a lot of causes, the rematch was maybe not so star-focused, however the outcome as soon as once more favored the group in inexperienced, because the Celtics swept the season sequence in opposition to Dallas and scored a convincing 124-95 win.

It was a uncommon event wherein each Tatum and Brown shot poorly from the ground. They mixed for 48 factors on 14-of-34 capturing from the sector, and Brown notably struggled with foul hassle for a lot of the evening. Tonight, the remainder of the roster lifted them up. Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Sensible scored 15 factors apiece, and the Celtics collectively put collectively a dominant defensive effort to carry the Mavericks to a feeble 38% capturing. Dončić led the Mavericks with 23 factors, however gave the impression to be at lower than full well being for a lot of the evening, and late-game contributions from Spencer Dinwiddie (18 factors) and rookie Jaden Hardy (15) weren’t sufficient to maintain up.

A lot on the contrary of the scoring tirade the primary time round, Tatum, Brown and Dončić discovered themselves off to a sluggish begin on this night’s rematch. The trio began the sport capturing simply 5-of-16 within the first quarter, together with zero shot makes an attempt for Brown, who sat early on account of foul hassle.

That foul hassle was the largest thorn in Boston’s aspect within the first half. Each Tatum and Brown discovered themselves in foul hassle early, and as a group, the Celtics put the Mavericks on the free throw line 18 instances within the first two quarters. Dončić particularly benefitted from the freebies, discovering his approach to double-digit scoring within the first quarter regardless of poor capturing from the sector, and subsequently piling up a 20-point first half when his shot began to return round within the second.

That mentioned, it was the supporting solid across the opposing stars that made the distinction. Boston’s reserves got here to play this night, getting off to a fast begin with a trio of three-pointers collectively within the first quarter. It was a very sturdy begin for Grant Williams, who chipped in with 10 factors and a pair of threes. Invigorated, the Celtics’ offense related on 43% of their threes, and entered the halftime break with a 64-46 lead.

One curious dynamic as this recreation continued on: the well being of Luka Dončić. Because the second quarter wound down, Dončić was evidently laboring by means of some form of problem. He appeared to want to gather himself after possessions, and gave the impression to be coughing and grabbing at his chest at instances. The TNT broadcast famous that the Mavericks group asserted that Dončić was not sick, and speculated that he might need been hit within the chest sooner or later within the recreation, however regardless of the trigger, one thing clearly gave the impression to be inflicting him points.

Dončić’s unsure well being appeared to sluggish his manufacturing within the second half. He opened the third quarter by selecting up his fourth private foul of the evening, and scored simply three factors within the body. The Celtics capitalized on the chance. Their ball motion was stellar, and for a change, the nice seems they had been producing persistently discovered paydirt. Even with Tatum and Brown combining for simply 26 factors on 7-of-23 capturing, the Celtics pushed their result in 24 getting into the fourth quarter, 89-65.

The Mavericks obtained a raise from second spherical decide Jaden Hardy, who checked in for Dallas within the second half and supplied a little bit of a spark. He scored 10 factors within the fourth quarter because the Mavericks tried to rally, however the closest Dallas may finally reduce the lead was 15 factors with slightly below 5 minutes to play. The Celtics restored order shortly there after, as Tatum made a sequence of back-breaking performs (together with securing his first triple-double of the season) to place Dallas away for good.

Subsequent up, the Celtics will stay within the state of Texas to cap off their three-game highway journey, dealing with the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday at 6 PM EST on NBC Sports activities Boston.