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The Boston Celtics took the courtroom to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon forward of a really special day for the franchise: the retirement of Kevin Garnett’s #5 jersey. Practically a yr after Garnett’s induction into the Basketball Corridor of Fame, he returned to the TD Backyard to turn out to be the twenty fourth participant in Celtics historical past to have their quantity raised to the rafters.
Maybe in tribute to the legendary massive man, the Celtics and Mavericks performed a bodily, defense-oriented sport of basketball this afternoon. Each groups placed on defensive performances amongst their better of the season, however finally, it was Dallas that did simply sufficient to come back away with the victory.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in scoring with 21 factors (although on simply 7-of-23 taking pictures from the sphere), countering 26 factors from his younger celebrity counterpart Luka Dončić. This afternoon, the distinction was three-point taking pictures. Each groups tried 37 threes for the sport, however Dallas discovered pay grime on 15 of theirs, whereas the Celtics solely linked on 9.
A scorching scoring begin for each groups proved to be comparatively short-lived. After opening play by combining 29 factors within the first six minutes of the sport, protection returned to the forefront, they usually mixed for simply 9 the remainder of the best way. Boston’s protection was its typical swarming self, holding the Mavericks nicely underneath 40% taking pictures, however some offensive miscues (4 first quarter turnovers) held the Celtics again from gaining a lot of a bonus. They entered the second quarter with a 20-18 lead.
The anticipated duel between Tatum and Dončić was practically minimize quick early. With simply over two minutes remaining within the first quarter, Dončić got here up limping after a drive to the basket with an obvious left leg harm. He tried to stay on the courtroom, however solely lasted a pair possessions extra earlier than testing of the sport and continuing instantly into the locker room. He finally appeared to keep away from vital harm, and returned to the sport on his regular substitution sample within the second quarter.
Because the Celtics’ star has risen because the begin of the brand new yr, so too has the Mavericks’. The 2 groups entered the sport with similar information because the begin of January and, notably, the 2 greatest defenses in basketball, as nicely. These defenses dominated the day for a lot of the primary half, paying homage to the Massive Ticket by placing the clamps on each other in an extremely low-scoring affair within the early going.
Late within the first half, the Celtics lastly discovered a spark. They strung collectively a number of profitable offensive possessions to construct some momentum, earlier than Brown threw down a large one-handed slam that introduced the TD Backyard crowd to its toes. A pair of Tatum buckets later, and the Celtics had been all of a sudden having fun with an abrupt nine-point lead. That lead would maintain by the top of the half, and the Celtics entered the break with a 47-38 lead.
The Mavericks made some inroads on the Boston lead because the second half started. Though visibly hampered by his first half harm, Dončić started to take management of the proceedings. The Mavericks went on a 24-8 run in only a five-minute span halfway by the third quarter to regain the lead after having trailed by as many as 13 factors only a few minutes earlier. The Celtics staunched the bleeding considerably within the remaining minutes of the third, however nonetheless entered the ultimate body trailing 76-73.
Boston regained the driving force’s seat with an early 10-2 run, spearheaded by a pair of well timed three-pointers from Payton Pritchard. A 3 from Dončić minimize the Celtics’ result in two, and an prolonged chilly spell ensued, as the 2 groups spent the subsequent couple of minutes exchanging bricks and the rating remaining stationary till simply after the six minute mark.
This was one other standout efficiency from Al Horford, who has seemed revitalized in current weeks because the Celtics have continued to excel. This afternoon, he placed on his greatest Robert Williams impression, stuffing each a part of the stat sheet en path to 17 factors, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals and a pair of blocks. Arguably his most essential bucket got here with just below 5 factors to play within the fourth quarter, as he broke an 83-83 tie by ending by contact for an and-one layup to place the Celtics forward by three.
Crunch time arrived with the Celtics clinging to a one-point lead, 90-89, with just below three minutes to play in regulation. Good linked on a pair of free throws to push Boston forward to 3, however Dončić answered with a ridiculous step-back three to tie the sport with a minute and a half to play. The 2 groups traded empty possessions, earlier than Spencer Dinwiddie linked on one other three to place Dallas forward by three with 9 seconds to play.
Popping out of Ime Udoka’s timeout, the Celtics inbounded to Brown, who kicked the ball again to Marcus Good for a three-point try. The shot was no good, however Dončić was whistled for a taking pictures foul on the play. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd used his coach’s problem on the play, and after a video evaluate, the play was overturned.
The Celtics gained the following midcourt leap ball, and Udoka referred to as a fast timeout to arrange yet another shot for the Celtics. Tatum’s three-point try couldn’t discover the underside of the online, and the Mavericks walked away victorious.
Subsequent up, the Celtics will make one other nationwide TV look, travelling to the west coast for a Wednesday evening battle towards the Golden State Warriors at 10 PM EST on ESPN.
For extra postgame protection of Boston’s hard-fought loss towards Dallas, tune into the Garden Report Postgame Show LIVE on CLNS Media proper after the sport. Be a part of A Sherrod Blakely, Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon, Jimmy Toscano and host John Zannis for a full breakdown.
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