(David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Final: Celtics 138, Mavericks 110 - Monster second half turns close game into a blowout
BOSTON CELTICS vs. DALLAS MAVERICKS
7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBCS Boston
Line: Boston -8.5
INJURIES
Boston: None
Dallas: None
LAST TIME
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.
NOTES
- Dallas is tied with OKC with the league’s fourth-best net rating since the trade deadline. Boston is first. Dallas is 6-2 since the deadline. Boston is 7-0.
THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR
1. Draw out their bigs: The Mavs play mostly drop coverage, so this will be a big Kristaps Porzingis game unless the Mavs try something new. Run those pick-and-rolls early to feel out the Mavs and see what they have cooking. I’d love to see Luka in those actions early to wear him down some.
2. Get back: The Mavs love to put up shots, so the Celtics have to be disciplined offensively, take good shots, and make sure theft get back on their misses. Keeping the Mavs out of transition will cut them off at the knees. If Boston isn’t careful, the Mavs will rain 3-pointers in transition and it will be an uncomfortable night.
“It starts with our offensive execution and our transition spacing defensively, come from obviously Doncic in isolation but also his ability to make plays for his teammates,” Joe Mazzulla said before the game. “They run a lot of single side tags and lobs and kickouts there too, so we have a better understanding that they come a little more structured than most teams, and so it’s knowing which ones we can take away and which ones we have to live with, so to speak, so it’s just a different dynamic for the way they get theirs.”
3. Xavier Tillman: I’m looking for some minutes to start getting him acclimated. I’d like to see some real minutes next to Al Horford, possibly to start the second quarter in a lineup with Tatum and Sam Hauser so the floor is spread.
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.