Mavericks vs Celtics: Mavericks Run Out of Steam in Loss to Celtics

Introduction: Mavericks vs Celtics Matchup

In the Mavericks vs Celtics matchup, forward P.J. Washington made a significant move with just over five minutes left in the third quarter, hoping to push the Dallas Mavericks ahead by one point against the Boston Celtics. However, within moments, the Celtics took control and surged ahead by 21 points, ultimately securing a 138-110 victory at TD Garden on Friday night. The Celtics dominated with a barrage of three-pointers, capitalizing on crucial missed shots from Dallas.

Despite showcasing potential against one of the NBA’s top teams, the Mavericks couldn’t keep up. With an overall record of 47-12 and a home record of 28-3, the Celtics demonstrated why they are considered the most successful team in the NBA, leaving no doubt about their dominance, especially on their home court.

High Praise for Celtics

“This Celtics team is the cream of the crop in the NBA,” praised Mavs point guard Luka Doncic. “We gave it our all for three quarters, but winning here on their home turf is no easy task.” The turning point in the Mavericks vs Celtics game came when the Mavericks trailed 81-79 and had a chance to take the lead for the first time in three months, but Washington missed a crucial three-pointer. Soon after, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum drained consecutive three-pointers, propelling Boston to a 102-90 lead by the end of the third quarter. 

Former Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis scored back-to-back dunks, while Al Horford’s aggressive rebounds, put-backs, and Tatum’s three-pointers extended Boston’s lead to 102-90 after three quarters in the Mavericks vs Celtics game. Moments later, the Celtics pulled away even further, with Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard, and Horford sinking three-pointers to push the lead to 127-103 with 3:55 left to play.

Mavs’ Road Trip Struggles

For Dallas, it was a tough loss. The Mavericks finished their four-game road trip with just one win out of three, falling short to the Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Center with an overall score of 34-36. “The Celtics don’t panic,” commented Kidd on the Mavericks vs Celtics game. “They stay composed, share the ball, and stick to their game plan.” Kidd also remarked on the Celtics’ impressive shooting prowess, noting, “Not many teams in the league have five shooters like them.” 

The Celtics boasted a 55.3 percent shooting accuracy, sinking 21 of their 43 three-point attempts. “They’re an exceptional team,” remarked Mavs rookie center Dorian Finney-Smith, reflecting on the tough Mavericks vs Celtics matchup. “Facing them is a challenge,” he added. “We did our best to contain all three of their key players and make their shots as difficult as possible.”

Porzingis Shines Against Celtics

Celtics
Porzingis Shines Against Celtics

Former Mav Porzingis found his groove in the first quarter, scoring 13 of his 24 points for the Celtics, including four three-pointers in the Mavericks vs Celtics game. He finished the night with 14-8 from the field, including 4-of-8 from downtown. “He can shoot all three, he can put the ball on the floor (and) he gets to the free-throw line,” Kidd said. “Defensively, he can change or block shots, and he can rebound too.” “He plays alongside another big. It’s a great pick and roll, and they had an incredible season for them.

Tatum’s Offensive Surge

Tatum scored 27 points in Friday’s game against the league’s seventh-placed team, but he had only one free throw attempt in the first quarter of the Mavericks vs Celtics match. From there, Tatum cooked up a feast, scoring 30 of his 32 points in the last three quarters. Brown added 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists as the Celtics went on a rampage, leaving the Mavs unable to capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.

“They’re a very good team,” Kidd said. “They made 10 threes in the first half of the Mavericks vs Celtics game. I thought we were a little better there in the third quarter. But if you don’t take advantage of a couple of possessions, they can hurt you, and in the fourth, they did that. “It didn’t go as planned, but we gained valuable insights about ourselves. We have some things we need to correct, but it’s going in the right direction. Kyrie is closer to our scoring, but again, if they make mistakes, you have to capitalize, and we didn’t do that.”

Dončić’s Triple-Double Mastery

Dončić kept up his stellar performance by recording his second straight triple-double, the 12th of the season and the 68th of his outstanding career in the Mavericks vs Celtics matchup. Dončić finished with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, shooting 14-of-25 from the field. Kyrie Irving scored 19 points for the Mavs but only shot 9-of-23 from the field.

Washington chipped in with 17 points and seven rebounds to help the Mavs. But it wasn’t enough as the Celtics brought much more heat to control the Mavs. “I felt like we were playing well for most of the game,” Doncic remarked. “But then they began making three-point shots, and that made things difficult for us. Their three-pointers were real game-changers, especially since we struggled to defend against their outside shots.”

Celtics Capitalize on Mistakes

Mavericks
Celtics Capitalize on Mistakes

“Your margin for error against them can’t be empty, and then you can’t make defensive mistakes against them or they’re going to make you pay for it, and they did,” Kidd said in the Mavericks vs Celtics matchup. “It’s a two or three-point game, and they got away from us with their mistakes. Give them credit. They’re a very good team.” Boston took a 38-32 lead after the first quarter and 66-59 at halftime. That night, the Celtics were very strong, very consistent, and very cagey. “We were trying to go to some certain spots, trying to get some shots,” Luevano said. “In these types of games, you just have to stay focused.”

Three-Point Struggles Continue

The Mavs missed 25 of their 34 attempts from three-point range and fell short 47-42 on the boards, failing to aid Dallas’s cause in the Mavericks vs Celtics matchup. During this time, Kidd was asked how his team stacked up against the Celtics team with the best record in the NBA.

“I think we can compete with the best,” Kidd said. “It’s not about the score, we believe that we have the talent to compete. It’s just about staying consistent and understanding how tough it is to win in this league. Beating teams in this league is challenging. “You don’t have to play perfect, but you have to be together, you have to stay consistent, and we’re fighting like everyone else in this league right now.”

Conclusion

While this was the last game of a four-game road trip when legs often get heavy and attention sometimes focused only on returning home, the Mavericks fought a good fight before heading south in the Mavericks vs Celtics matchup. “We were staying focused,” Kidd said. “We did some good things. We have to go back and look at the film. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time to practice because we have a game at noon on Sunday. That’s just the way it is. It’s coming from the East Coast and then playing in the early afternoon on Sunday. It’s tough.”

FAQs

  1. What happened during the Mavericks vs Celtics match?

Ans:    The Mavericks lost to the Celtics because they were exhausted and lacked energy on the court.

  1. Why did the Mavericks find it challenging against the Celtics?

Ans:    The Mavericks struggled because they couldn’t keep up their performance, resulting in a defeat against the Celtics.

  1. How did the Mavericks fare against the Celtics?

Ans:    The Mavericks ran low on energy, leading to a disappointing performance against the Celtics.

  1. What were the main reasons behind the Mavericks’ loss to the Celtics?

Ans:    Fatigue was a significant factor as the Mavericks ran out of steam during their game against the Celtics.

  1. What should we expect from the Mavericks after defeating the Celtics?

Ans:    The Mavericks must regroup and refocus to recover from their loss against the Celtics.

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