By their lofty requirements, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had been comparatively quiet as scorers over the previous week.
Tatum averaged 20.8 factors on 35.8 % capturing in 4 video games. Brown contributed 15.7 factors on 40.8 % capturing in three video games.
They returned to type with conviction Monday evening, guiding the Celtics to a 119-110 highway win over the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum exploded for 39 factors on 11-of-21 capturing and Brown added 34 on 13-of-22 capturing. They hit 30-plus in the identical sport for the third time this season, and the Celtics (34-10) at the moment are 27-2 all-time when that occurs.
It wasn’t fairly as dramatic as Joel Embiid’s 70-piece or Karl-Anthony Cities’ 62, however it did the job in opposition to a pesky and proficient opponent.
Tatum did it largely together with his physicality and fast selections, eclipsing 30 for the primary time since Jan. 10. Brown wreaked havoc together with his deal with, cracking 30 for the primary time since Jan. 13. Collectively, they out dueled Dallas’ dynamic duo of Luka Doncic (33 factors, 18 rebounds, 13 assists) and Kyrie Irving (23 factors).
The Mavericks (24-19) jumped out to a 19-12 edge, because the Celtics began 3 for 15 from the ground and 0 for 7 from 3-point vary on the second evening of a back-to-back. Boston generated first rate appears to be like, however nothing fell early.
Then Jayson Tatum discovered a rhythm, ending the quarter with 13 factors and serving to the Celtics slice the deficit to 26-24 by means of one. Doncic paced the Mavericks with 9 factors and seven rebounds within the quarter, and Dereck Vigorous II was lively on the rim.
Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard stored the momentum rolling early within the second, beating the Mavericks to free balls and scoring in a wide range of methods. Tatum continued to sizzle, and Jaylen Brown roasted Doncic on back-to-back possessions as Boston’s lead ballooned to 13.
Tatum and Brown poured in 18 and 17 factors within the half, respectively. Pritchard completed plus-20, Jrue Vacation shot with out hesitation and Al Horford did somewhat little bit of all the things. The Celtics zipped the ball round and performed with objective.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led Dallas with 18, however Tatum swatted previous buddy Grant Williams’ heave on the buzzer to assist the Celtics protect a 65-59 edge heading into the half. Each groups had 23 discipline targets, 14 assists and three steals, however Boston constructed a slight edge from past the arc and on the free-throw line.
Tatum and Brown continued to win their matchups decisively, getting downhill with ease early within the third. Tatum performed bully ball within the paint, and Brown confirmed off his clean handles.
The Celtics upped the margin to 90-74 with 2:42 left within the quarter. Every of Vacation’s first 12 pictures got here from past the arc, and he made 5 of Boston’s 14 by means of three.
The Celtics led, 94-83, heading to the fourth, then a Doncic 3 reduce it to 103-96 with 4:59 remaining. Brown instantly responded after a timeout, drilling a jumper in Doncic’s grill then changing on a big-time four-point play to push the margin to 109-98.
Tatum rejected Hardaway, raced the opposite method and hit two free throws with 1:10 remaining to seal it.
