Mavericks Crush Celtics

Celtics returned home mostly healthy and felt good and drove on their first four-game-winning line since November. They were facing Mavericks in an NBA Finals Rematch, but this Dallas team hardly looked like the one who lost to Boston in five games last June.

On Saturday, in one of the most amazing and seismic offers in the NBA story, Maverick’s franchise the corner stone Luke Doncic for Lakers in a deal centered on all-star big man Anthony Davis.

But Davis was not available for Thursday’s matchup due to abdominal tenderness, and starting power forward PJ Washington was out because of his child’s birth.

Behind a vintage first half performance of Sharp-Shooting veteran Klay Thompson, Mavericks drove to an early lead and never gave up it. Dallas led by as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter before Celtics -Backups made a late push.

“It’s a season of 82 games,” Pritchard said between BIP. “We won’t be our best every night. But we have to be in them. Of course in the end game we have to tighten up and try to eliminate these types of games. “

Generally, if Celtics manufactures their 3-pointers, they won’t lose and if they miss out on their 3-Pointers, there’s a possibility of them being able to lose. Entering Thursday they had been 14-0 this season as they shoot 40.9 percent or better over the arch.

In this game they joined 16 of 37 (43.2 percent), but nevertheless were walloped for most of the night, an indicator of an insufficient defense. Mavericks shot 55.7 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from the 3-point line.

“We have not been as strong as we need defensively,” Brown said. “Part of it is on me as a captain. But we just have to be better at closing the break (all-star) and then reassessing to start the second half of the season. “

Thompson poured 23 first half points on 10 out of 13 shoots. Although he scored only 2 more points in the second half, Celtics never came back from the early injury. Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points from the bench, and Kyrie Irving scored 19 points, including a couple of large 3th quarters in the fourth quarter that stretched Mavericks’ lead to 117-90 and all except Celtics.

Irving, who created a bit of a voting this week when he said he, Davis and Kevin Durant had discussions during the 2018-19 season in a day to merge in Boston, has fought mightyly against his former team in in recent years. He went into Thursday and had gone only 1-of-15 in his last 16 games against Celtics.

“To be honest with you, I was just keeping it as another game, but I would lie to you if I said I am not aware of the record I have in this building since 2020 or 2021 , “Irving said. “It’s more of a motivating factor for me than anything else now because they are the best of the best. They are masters in our league until another master is crowned. You know you want to play your absolute best against them. “

Brown had 25 points to lead Celtics, but he and the other starters saw the last nine minutes from the bench after training Joe Mazzulla essentially admitted the loss. Backups made just enough of a rally to get the fans who had not left the arena. But it never reached the point where it became a big problem for Dallas.

Celtics has had four Roadture on three games or more this season, and they are now 0-4 in their first home matches afterwards.

“It’s something we have to fix,” Pritchard said. “I don’t know if it’s like the efforts of things or something. Now they played good basketball. Klay Thompson was big in the first half tonight. Yes, so they played well. “

Thompson returned the clock to his days as Warrior’s superstar with his sparkling start. He performed most of his work from the middle area and found just enough space for his fast liberation shoppers. When Celtics began to catch him, Mavericks quickly countered and found two-to-one benefits near the edge. Celtics meanwhile looked out of synchronization as they hosted seven revenue in the first quarter.

“We came out slowly, sluggish,” Brown said. “One step behind today.”

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.