Tatum and Brown Lead Celtics to Victory Over Mavericks with Stellar Performance

In an electrifying display of talent, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown propelled the Boston Celtics to a 119-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Tatum delivered a stellar performance with 38 points and 11 rebounds, while Brown contributed 35 points to secure the win for the NBA-leading Celtics.

The Celtics’ All-Star duo proved more efficient on the second night of a back-to-back compared to the Dallas pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who were coming off a four-day break. Tatum and Brown combined for an impressive 24-of-43 shooting from the field, outshining Doncic and Irving, who managed 21-of-50 from the field.

Doncic, who recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists, struggled from beyond the arc, not hitting his first 3-pointer until the fourth quarter and finishing 2 of 8 from long range. Irving, returning from an unexpected break, scored 23 points after a game against Golden State was postponed following the tragic death of Warriors assistant Dejan Milojević.

Jrue Holiday contributed 17 points, and the Celtics’ defensive efforts were evident with Tatum and Brown each recording two blocks, while Tatum added three steals. The victory marked the end of a challenging stretch for the Celtics, finishing 8-3 in an 11-game span within 18 days.

Tim Hardaway Jr. led the scoring for Dallas with 20 points, but the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, sidelined with right knee inflammation, proved a setback for the Mavericks. Porzingis, who led the Celtics in the previous game with 32 points, traded to Washington in 2022, will now go over two years without playing in Dallas.

Grant Williams faced his former team for the first time since an offseason trade, but Tatum showcased his defensive prowess by swatting an attempted 3-pointer from Williams at the first-quarter buzzer. Despite a late push from the Mavericks, the Celtics maintained control, with Brown’s clutch 3-pointer sealing the victory at 109-98.

The Celtics will now enjoy a well-deserved two-day break after a demanding stretch of games.