As well as Kyrie Irving has played, the hobbled Mavericks have been a bottom-seven offense over the past month, minus Luka Dončić.

Individually, Irving’s numbers were better against the Celtics on Saturday, but for the Mavericks the result was all too familiar. They will see the Celtics again, in Boston, on Feb. 6, trade deadline day. Perhaps they will have Doncic back, or nearly back, by then.

The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics met in Dallas on Saturday for their first matchup since last season's NBA Finals. Dallas was missing many key pieces, including starters Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II, while Boston was wrapping up a four-game road trip.

DALLAS — Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA Finals.

The first Celtics-Mavericks matchup since Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals produced a familiar result: A comfortable Boston victory. The Celtics defeated Dallas 122-107 on Saturday at the American Airlines Center.

T he Dallas Mavericks fell 122-107 to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, as the Mavs' defense could never hold Boston in check, especially from behind the arc. The injury bug hit Dal

Dallas will face the defending champion Boston Celtics for the first of two matchups in a 12-day period on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA Finals.

Just after bouncing back and beating the Oklahoma City Thunder to respond to some losses, the Dallas Mavericks are hosting the Boston Celtics in a game they are

Still, there's no denying they produced a much-improved showing against the Mavericks to close out a difficult road swing on a high note. During a recent episode of the "How 'Bout Them Celtics?" podcast,