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 consequence as soon as once more favored the workforce 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 significantly struggled with foul bother for a lot of the night time. Tonight, the remainder of the roster lifted them up. Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Good 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 night time, 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 attributable to foul bother.
That foul bother was the largest thorn in Boston’s aspect within the first half. Each Tatum and Brown discovered themselves in foul bother early, and as a workforce, the Celtics put the Mavericks on the free throw line 18 occasions within the first two quarters. Dončić specifically 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 robust begin for Grant Williams, who chipped in with 10 factors and a pair of threes. Invigorated, the Celtics’ offense linked 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 sort of problem. He appeared to want to gather himself after possessions, and gave the impression to be coughing and grabbing at his chest at occasions. The TNT broadcast famous that the Mavericks group asserted that Dončić was not sick, and speculated that he may need been hit within the chest in some unspecified time in the future 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 choosing up his fourth private foul of the night time, and scored simply three factors within the body. The Celtics capitalized on the chance. Their ball motion was stellar, and for a change, the great seems to be they have been producing constantly 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 acquired a raise from second spherical decide Jaden Hardy, who checked in for Dallas within the second half and offered a little bit of a spark. He scored 10 factors within the fourth quarter because the Mavericks tried to rally, however the closest Dallas might in the end reduce the lead was 15 factors with just 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.
