Final: Mavs 127, Celtics 120 - Bench makes a tough home loss look better than it was

BOSTON CELTICS (36-15) vs DALLAS MAVERICKS (26-25)

TD Garden, 7:30 p.m. - TNT, truTV, Max

Line: Celtics -12.5

INJURIES

Boston: Jrue Holiday (OUT, shoulder)

Dallas: Anthony Davis (OUT, abdominal), Dereck Lively (OUT, ankle), Caleb Martin (OUT, hip), Dwight Powell (OUT, hip), PJ Washington (OUT, personal reasons)

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. A letdown: The Celtics are coming off a great effort against the top seed, taking on a shell of the Mavs. I do have a fear that they won’t exactly come out with the same intensity they had against Cleveland. My question is how long will that last. If they can limit it, then they’ll be fine and they should cruise. 

2. Attack the basket: They don’t have anyone to protect the rim. This should be a 60 point in the paint kind of game with a ton of assists to the corners. 

3. Double Kyrie Irving: They don’t have much in terms of shot creation anymore, so I say attack Irving off screens, force him to give it up, and live with what happens after that. 

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.