Mavs Face Major Challenge Against Celtics Amid Luka Doncic's Uncertain Status
BOSTON — The Dallas Mavericks are set to challenge the Boston Celtics' impressive nine-game winning streak in their upcoming nationally televised Friday night matchup. The Mavs will close out a four-game Eastern Conference road trip, which began with losses against the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by a victory over the Toronto Raptors.
In their previous meeting on January 22, the Celtics secured a 119-110 victory on the road despite Luka Doncic's impressive 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists. Tatum and Brown were instrumental in Boston's win, scoring 39 and 34 points, respectively. Irving revealed a thumb injury in his postgame press conference, resulting in a six-game absence following the matchup.
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
On his 25th birthday, Doncic delivered a stellar performance with 30 points, 16 assists, and 11 rebounds in a 136-125 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday, marking his 11th triple-double of his 2023-24 campaign. Currently leading the NBA in scoring, Doncic boasts season averages of 34.4 points, 9.7 assists, and 8.8 rebounds.
"Just a normal game — triple-double," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic's performance against the Raptors. "He was really good."
With a streak of scoring at least 25 points in nine consecutive games, including two instances where he surpassed 40 points, Doncic's contribution to the Mavs has been pivotal. He's coming off a month of February averaging 33.4 points, 10.3 assists, and 9.6 rebounds in 11 games.
It remains to be seen if Doncic will play, as he's listed as questionable due to a sprained left ankle. If he's able to play, a focus he's placing on the Mavs' performance is to sustain the level of defensive execution he displayed in the second half to close out the Raptors, using a 40 to 25 scoring margin in the third quarter to create needed separation after trailing 67-66 at halftime. Against a Celtics squad with an NBA-best 27-3 home record and a scoring differential of +10.5 points per game at TD Garden, Doncic will be needed to guide Dallas, barring other players' unforeseen contributions.
"We have a great team," Doncic said. "Our defense was at the top, so we've just got to keep going like that."
Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington also made significant contributions in their recent game, with Irving scoring 29 points and Washington adding 23. Washington's performance marked the highest-scoring game of his Mavs career. Irving would step into the top option role if Doncic cannot play.
"Shots were just falling, so I was just trying to keep shooting open ones," Washington said. "For me, it's just finding a rhythm and getting comfortable in each and every game."
Irving has continued to be a pivotal contributor for the Mavs, averaging 27.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in February. Since his return from injury on February 5, the Mavs have gone 8-2. He's been exceptional in the second half, averaging 15.8 points per game after the break in February — trailing only Anthony Edwards (17.2) and Jalen Brunson (16.2). He helped close out the Raptors, scoring 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, keeping the game out of reach.
The Celtics extended their winning streak to nine games following a 117-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum set the tone, with Brown scoring 31 points and Tatum adding 29. Tatum scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.
"Teams are going to play us different ways," Brown said. "(Philadelphia) took away the 3-point line. Next game or other teams might go zone and try to slow you down, other teams might switch everything. As a student of the game, you embrace the challenge. As you get older, you start to think about the game. You start to see how different coaches like to implement their game plan.
"That's a part of the journey," Brown explained. "Being able to recognize how teams are guarding you, where the advantages are on the floor, and regardless of how you feel about anything, you just have to let the game decide where the ball is going to go. You let the game decide where the advantages are."
Tatum's averaging 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, positioned as one of the NBA's top MVP candidates. Tatum's All-Star teammate, Brown, has averaged 22.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, formulating one of the NBA's top duos. The Mavs will have a tough task attempting to contain them.
The Celtics have demonstrated versatility in their playing style with the ability to play small or use two bigs, adapting their strategy based on their opponents' defenses. This adaptability was evident in their victory over the Sixers, where they capitalized on their interior game, scoring 64 points in the paint and dominating the rebound count 56-28 despite struggling from the 3-point line.
"We were able to win a different way," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "We've never said we have to win (shooting 3s). We always take what the defense gives us, and we're one of the best teams doing that. And that's kind of our offensive philosophy -- take the best shot and find the best shot."
Tatum emphasized the Celtics' focus on staying focused on the task at hand daily, regardless of the perceived difficulty of the matchup or if the other team is playing without their superstar. This mindset has been a key factor in their success this season and could help against a Mavs team that may play without Doncic.
"I think this year we've done a really good job of staying present," Tatum said. "We always talk about getting a little bit better every single day. We're not looking past anybody. We respect every opponent regardless if it's a national TV game, or their best player is out."
