Final: Celtics 119, Mavericks 110 - Tatum, Brown lead C's to win on back-to-back

BOSTON CELTICS at DALLAS MAVERICKS

8:30 p.m. - NBC Sports Boston

Line: Boston -2.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, right knee inflammation) UPDATE: Oshae Brissett (OUT, back)

Dallas: Seth Curry (OUT, ankle), Dante Exum (OUT, foot)

NOTES

- The Mavs have been off for four days due to the postponement of their game with Golden State on Friday. Boston is on a back-to-back. 

- Luka Dončić is averaging 28.8 points (.511 FG%, .467 3FG%), 7.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists in nine career games (5-4 record) against the Celtics, including 32.1 points (.524 FG%, .444 3FG%), 8.3 boards and 6.7 assists in his last seven games.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Contain Tim Hardaway, Jr.: Let’s be honest, they're not going to stop Dončić or Kyrie Irving. They can try to limit them, but doing so without Porzingis to protect the rim will be a little tougher. What they can do is take away the third option and force Doncic and Irving to do it all themselves. 

2. Don’t get caught up in a duel (but bait Irving into one): We all know Kyrie’s feelings towards the Celtics, so he might be compelled to go off on a personal tangent. The hope is to draw him into that somehow while moving the ball and running good offense on the other end. If he takes up too much of the offense, maybe it’ll frustrate Doncic. 

3. Take good 3-pointers: I don’t want to see Jayson Tatum searching for his 3-pointer to get out of his skid. I want to see him start out with some catch-and-shoot attempts. Let’s get a few plays to get him some of those looks and get him going rather than having him just pulling up. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.