By james art 
The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics met in Dallas on Saturday for their first game since last season’s NBA Finals. Dallas was missing many key pieces, including starters Luka Doncic and Derek Lively II, while Boston swept a four-game road trip.
With two starters out, the Mavs started Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, while Boston went with Derrick White, Jue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzing. It was Porzing’s first visit to Dallas since he was traded.
Read more: Latest trade rumors believe Mavericks could ‘buy low’ on Bulls or Lakers forward
It was a good start for the Mavericks as they jumped out to an early 16-6 lead behind some baskets from Spencer Dinwiddie. It was an interesting defensive strategy in the opening minutes for the Mavs as they had Daniel Gafford guard Jrue Holiday, PJ Washington on Kristaps Porzingis and Kyrie Irving on Jayson Tatum.
Boston then settled into the game by getting incredible shots from Jaylen Brown, then Jayson Tatum gave the Celtics their first lead on a three-pointer to close at 19-8. Kyrie Irving would give the Mavericks the lead once again as they would take a 29-25 lead into the second quarter.
Dallas started the second just 1/8 from the floor, allowing the Celtics to take a 41-33 lead behind four three pointers. A minute later, that lead was in double digits as Derrick White converted at the free throw line for his first points of the game. The Mavericks turned it over too often while Boston didn’t turn it over at all.
The Celtics made it a point to go fast whenever possible, getting the ball out of the basket quickly and scoring early fast break points. Dallas also had no answer for Kristaps Porzingis, who had eight points in the quarter as the Celtics took a 59-49 halftime lead. The Mavericks scored just 20 points in the second, shooting just 8/22 from the floor. The biggest difference was that Boston had taken twice as many three-pointers by halftime.
Read more: Courtside fan left with bloody nose after being hit by basketball at Mavericks-Celtics
Dallas could have cut the lead to five in the opening minutes of the second half on a nice jumper by Kyrie Irving, but their defensive rotations were lacking as Boston had free shooters in the third quarter. Derrick White scored 11 straight points for the Celtics, who pulled it back to within 11 midway through the period.
Boston then extended the lead to 18 on a 9-2 run that would eventually be pushed to 21 on a three by Payton Pritchard. Dallas caught himself ball watching too often, especially on the glass. Quentin Grimes was giving the Mavericks some signs of life on offense, including a massive poster over Luke Cornett, but the team’s biggest problems were on defense. By the end of the third, the Celtics led 96-76.
An 8-2 run near the start of the fourth quarter got the Mavericks back within 13 points as the bench finally woke up. The Dallas bench had just four points in the first half, but they provided much-needed baskets.
To try to slow down Boston’s offense, Dallas went to the zone again and it didn’t work. The Celtics have too many players capable of scoring in a variety of ways. Quentin Grimes kept Boston’s lead from getting too out of hand as he cleaned up a missed free throw by Daniel Gafford to cut the lead to 11 in the final four minutes.
That would be the closest the lead would be as Dallas couldn’t break it below 10 points and Boston would go on to win 122-107.
The biggest reason Boston won this game was their three-point barrage. They shot 20/52 from three, which is a solid percentage, but Dallas shot just 8/22. Making 14 fewer three-pointers is a massive hill to climb, and the Mavs couldn’t do it in this one.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 22 points, but needed 23 shots to get there. Quentin Grimes was not far behind with 20 points, all coming in the second half. Daniel Gafford (19 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks), PJ Washington (17 points), Spencer Dinwiddie (12 points) and Jaden Hardy (10 points) were also in double figures for MAVS.
Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 24 points, but it took him 22 shots to get there. Derrick White (23 points) and Jaylen Brown (22 points, eight rebounds, six assists) were hot on his tail. Kristaps Porzingis (18 points) and Jrue Holiday (17 points) were also in double figures, the first time this season that all five Celtics starters scored 15+ points.
The Mavericks will host the Wizards on Monday night.
Read more: Could Mavs trade with Hawks for veteran center?
Stick with Mavericksgameday for more Free Dallas Mavericks coverage Throughout the 2024-25 season
Follow Mavericksgameday on Twitter and Austin Vaizey Twitter