The Boston Celtics (36-15) and the Dallas Mavericks (26-25) clashed on Thursday evening at TD Garden, resuming their rivalry just months after facing off in the last year's NBA Finals.
Heading to this matchup, Boston aimed to extend their current four-game winning streak, bolstered by their latest victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, which they won 112-105. Contrarily, the Mavericks were struggling, entering the game on a three-game losing streak, having lost to the Philadelphia 76ers just days before.
An injury note of significance was made for Boston as well; guard Jrue Holiday was listed as questionable due to shoulder issues. Meanwhile, the Mavericks were missing important players, among them Caleb Martin (hip) and PJ Washington (personal). A key storyline was the absence of newly-acquired Anthony Davis (abdomen), whose anticipated debut was delayed due to injury recovery.
According to sports betting consensus, the Celtics were favored by 11.5 points, with the over/under set at 231.5 points for the matchup. The Celtics were on the money line at -654 (risk $654 to win $100), making clear their status as the heavy favorites, compared to the Mavericks at +472.
Despite the pressure of facing complications from injuries, both teams featured star players who had been performing remarkably. Celtics guard Jaylen Brown had been averaging 23.1 points per game and had scored 20 or more points five times over the last six games. His counterpart, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, led Dallas with 24.5 points per game, showing his ability to create offense with impressive ball handling.
From statistical insights, Boston boasted impressive averages this season, ranking eighth in the Eastern Conference with 25.9 assists per game. Jayson Tatum was notable among these, averaging 26.8 points and achieving 45.2% shooting from the field. Conversely, the Mavericks held seventh place in the Western Conference, allowing only 113.4 points per game, largely due to their defense against opposing teams.
At tip-off, the arena buzzed with excitement. Building on their recent form, Boston looked to leverage its home-court advantage, evident with their 20-30-1 spread record this season.
The game started with intense energy. The Mavericks began strong by taking the early lead at 32-23 by the end of the first quarter, led by Klay Thompson, who hammered down ten points. Yet, Boston's seven turnovers reflected struggles they would need to overcome. By halftime, Dallas maintained control with a score of 67-56, thanks to Thompson's scorching performance, finishing the half with 23 points on 10-for-13 shooting.
Derrick White helped keep Boston within reach, contributing 13 points as part of the four Celtics players who had crossed double-digit scoring by the break.
The Celtics, eager to bounce back, had to adapt quickly to regain momentum. Their push forward depended on balanced contributions and crafting defensive strategies to clip Dallas's offensive wings.
Highlights of the game continued as it progressed with multiple three-pointers being exchanged and each team showing resilience against the other’s shots. Boston’s depth was visible as it capitalized on fast-break opportunities, but Dallas consistently responded with strong inside plays from Daniel Gafford, who held the fort as one of the Mavericks’ effective frontcourt threats.
Dallas's lineup had become more competitive with the recent acquisition of Anthony Davis, though he was absent for this bout. Coach Jason Kidd expressed his hope for Davis's return for the upcoming game against the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks' surprising trade of Luka Doncic for Davis had sent shockwaves throughout the league, and both fans and analysts were eager to see how the restructured team would perform.
It was clear both teams were vying for playoff positioning, bringing excitement to each quarter. The match was pivotal, not just for regular season dominance but also for bragging rights stemming from last year's Finals.
With the score still hanging tight, pivotal defensive plays became the primary focus on both sides as the clock ran down. Boston continued to rally, driven by the fierce competitive spirit of their starters.
By the end of the game, the result would not only solidify one team's season progress but it also had fans questioning strategies and capabilities heading toward the trade deadline.
Overall, the rematch proved as thrilling as anticipated, showcasing resilience, strategy, and setting the tone for the latter half of the NBA season. The heated atmosphere at TD Garden was palpable, making every shot and turnover feel significant.