BSJ Game Report: Celtics 119, Mavericks 110 - Celtics get 73 from Brown and Tatum to hold off Mavs

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Mavericks, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics couldn't hit anything early on and the Mavs made a run, but Jayson Tatum’s 13 first-quarter points kept Boston within two. The 3-pointers started falling to start the second and the Celtics built a 14-point lead before Tim Hardaway went supernova and cut the lead to six at the half. Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 17 and got the lead as high as 16 in the third, but again, Boston slipped late and took an 11-point lead into the fourth. Luka Doncic went full Luka in the fourth but Brown and Boston responded by taking and making good shots to close the door.

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Star power: Tatum and Brown combined for 73 of Boston’s 119, shooting a combined 24-43. They combined for 28 of Boston’s 30 free throws (Tatum with 17, Brown with 11). To top it off, they both made huge defensive plays in the fourth quarter to keep Dallas at bay. 

- Make/miss league: While the Celtics stars were shooting about 56% from the field, Doncic and Kyrie Irving were 21 of 50, or 42%. Doncic got hot in the fourth quarter, but it was clear that shots weren’t falling for him until he got to the rim a bunch early in the fourth quarter. 

- Fourth quarter execution: Some people might see a little bit of sloppiness. I saw a team fighting through some fatigue to make big defensive plays (four blocks), limit the Mavs to one shot (aside from one possession where Doncic got three offensive rebounds but missed all three putbacks), and then just make buckets on the offensive end. They lost the quarter by two, which is fine as they fought off any comeback attempts. 

TURNING POINT

Boston went off early in the third quarter, turning a 65-61 lead into a 79-64 lead … a 14-3 run. It was enough space between them and the Mavs to hold on the rest of the way.

THINGS I LIKED

- Guards rebounding: The Celtics got some great rebounding in this game, but I’m most impressed by seven apiece from Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard. Tack on four for Derrick White and that's some pretty good work on the glass from the smallest guys on the floor. 

- Ball protection: Only six turnovers for the Celtics for six Mavs points. Limiting transition opportunities really forced the Mavs to execute in the halfcourt, and they struggled to hit shots most of the night. 

- Jaylen Brown: Somehow, he ended up a -6 on the night which really was not indicative of his impact on this game. Honestly, I think the late Doncic explosion erased some that. Aside from the 13-point fourth quarter, mostly a rough patch where Doncic just got to his right hand over and over, Brown guarded Doncic very well. And on the other end, Brown went at Doncic and challenged the Dallas star to step up. This is what happened: 

He followed that up by drawing an and-1 on Doncic. Brown wanted that matchup and he thrived on it. 

- Jayson Tatum: He had a stretch anchoring the team as the center in the fourth quarter. He found his way to the line a ton. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished five assists. Like Brown going at Doncic, Tatum found plenty of chances to target Irving. 

- Tatum blocking Grant Williams at the half: 

“I tried to kick that shit,” Tatum joked after the game. When asked what the trash talk was after the block, he said, “I can’t repeat what I said, but he knows it was all friendly, competitive nature.” 

People like to think friends take it easy on each other when they face off. I can tell you it’s more likely that they want to kill each other. When two buddies go at each other in a competitive situation, the one thing they want is to beat the other guy.

- Al Horford: Low key hit some important shots when he got the chance. His offense was more quality than quantity. 

- Payton Pritchard: +16 and six dimes to go along with the boards I mentioned earlier. Huge night for him off the bench to help make up for Derrick White’s off night. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- Free throw shooting: Brown missing four and Tatum missing three is a mystery to me. Tatum’s came early and he recovered, but Brown is in a bit of a slump when it comes to the line. These guys need to be a little more reliable. 

- Doncic’s parade to the rim: Luka will go off at some point in most games, so I won’t lose my mind over it, but the stretch of him just driving right and getting everything he wanted was a little too easy. 

- Derrick White’s off night: He gets to have one occasionally. I don’t have to like it though. 

HIGHLIGHTS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Boy was I wrong about losing Grant Williams. 

Maybe he’d have a different role on this team … or maybe the Celtics know what they're doing. Yes, I still think Williams has the ability to do very specific things that Boston could use, but also this game showed why the Celtics were cool with not paying him a bunch of money. 

I do think he’s better than he’s playing in Dallas, and this is a big learning experience. But I thought Boston would regret the loss more and that's just not the case at all. 

- I’m impressed with how the Celtics respond in these situations. 

“There's only one time where I actually saw the schedule catch up to us,” Mazzulla said, referencing their demolition at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. “But 99% of the time this year, I can never tell if it's the first night of a back-to-back, the second night of a back-to-back, three in four. Only once. And so our guys just bring it every single night. And that doesn't mean we're always going to win, doesn't mean we're gonna play perfect, but our guys will still be ready to play regardless of the schedule.”

I have to agree with that sentiment. I’ve said it before … the Celtics don’t let the narratives dictate their play. They have not given in and taken many available excuses this season. And when they have, they have responded very well. It’s impressive. 

Next up: The Celtics travel to Miami to face the Heat on Thursday night.