The Dallas Mavericks are hitting TD Garden tonight for a back-to-back road game, and man, things are looking rough. They are sitting at 7-6, 10th in the Western Conference, and just dropped two straight games. The latest gut punch? A 127-117 defeat to a Cleveland team that was missing its entire starting five, where Dallas coughed up a wild 105 points through just three quarters.
Boston Is Just Different Right Now
On the flip side, you have the Boston Celtics, who are absolutely rolling. They are leading the Eastern Conference at 10-2 and riding a five-game win streak into this matchup. Their last game was a tight 98-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, meaning they have had three full days to rest up for Dallas. These guys are not messing around. They rank sixth in offensive rating at 117.4, second in defensive rating at 105.6, and second in net rating at a crazy plus-11.7. Boston makes 16.0 threes per game on 42.0 attempts, and they pull down 13.1 offensive rebounds. This combo means you have to scramble to close out on shooters without getting burned on the glass. A good defensive possession can turn into an open three in a flash if you don’t secure that board.
Jayson Tatum is still doing Jayson Tatum things, averaging 26.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. Yeah, he is only shooting 41.3% from the field and 30.6% from deep, but his passing keeps that offense humming even when his shot is not falling. Then there is Paul George, who is averaging 22.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, all while shooting a super efficient 48.8% from the field and 44.0% from three. You can live with Tatum taking some contested jumpers, but leaving George open to help out on those possessions is asking for trouble. Even Payton Pritchard off the bench has been lights out, dropping 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. His minutes are going to be huge here, letting Boston keep a dangerous ball handler on the floor when Tatum sits.
Dallas Is Hurting, But Has One Shot
The Mavericks have been through it lately. Before that Cleveland loss, they got demolished 133-94 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even with Kyrie Irving putting up 34 points and hitting seven threes against Cleveland, they still could not get it done. Now they face one of the NBA’s best defenses on the second night of a back-to-back road trip. Their injury report is not helping either, with Dereck Lively II (Foot), Max Christie (Ankle), Sergio de Larrea (Knee), and Tarik Biberovic (Heel) all out. Daniel Gafford is even questionable with a face injury.
So, how do the Mavericks even try to get an edge here? Their best bet is on the glass and in transition. Dallas averages 12.7 offensive rebounds, 8.7 steals, and 5.4 blocks. If they can turn those defensive stops into early offense, it could give Cooper Flagg more room to attack before Boston’s defense can set up. Flagg, who is averaging roughly 24 points, seven rebounds, and six-plus assists, missed all six of his three-point attempts against Cleveland. They need him to drive downhill and find his teammates when the defense collapses. P.J. Washington is averaging 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds, shooting 41.8% from three. He is the guy Boston really cannot afford to leave open.
This game is all about whether the Mavericks can stop the bleeding against an Eastern Conference powerhouse. For Boston, it is a chance to keep that dominant start rolling and solidify their spot atop the conference. Can Dallas find a way to make it competitive, or will the Celtics just keep on marching?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply