Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown power Celtics past the Mavs
BOSTON (AP) As Dallas began to close the margin, Jayson Tatum made the contest with Luka Doncic a one-on-one contest.
And each time, the Boston star outperformed the Mavericks.
On Wednesday night, following a rare loss, Tatum scored 37 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown added 31 points to help the NBA's top-ranked Celtics defeat Dallas 125-112.His capacity to respond to the situation. His capacity to elevate others around him, according to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. He'll play every night, so you can depend on it.
Doncic, the top scorer in the NBA, led the Mavericks with 42 points. Tatum, the fourth-leading scorer in the league, has a sprained ankle and was listed as questionable.
He intended to play. He was aware of his opponent, according to Brown. "Don't fall for his tricks. He was aware that he would be playing throughout.
Up until Dallas scored 13 of the next 15 points in the third quarter, Boston had a 27-point lead. With about 3:30 left, the Mavericks closed the gap to nine, 104-95, and it was 117-107 when the two stars faced off.
Following a two-handed, rim-hanging slam by Tatum after a drive, Doncic was assessed an offensive foul. Tatum was fouled by Doncic, who then blocked his attempt to make a layup. Tatum then made two free throws to give Boston a 121-107 lead.
Brown recalled that Luka "kind of got things going a little bit, and then the team got it going a little bit." It's simply about enduring the adversity.
Prior to Monday's loss to the Bulls, the Celtics had won nine straight games and had the most victories in the league with 14.
Chicago was only one game, according to Brown. There will be occasions when you won't make shots, which will put pressure on our defense. This team will play ethically the majority of the time.
Boston had been defeated by the Mavericks four times in a row. Three of the victories were decided by 3-pointers in the waning seconds, two of them with absolutely no time left on the clock.
Tatum remarked, "Dallas has gotten the best of us the previous few years," acknowledging that Brown was "probably accurate" about the likelihood of his missing the game. "I'm going to try to lace them up every time." It's never really an option to sit around.
Doncic, however, was unable to hold this one close.
Dallas's Spencer Dinwiddie scored 15 points despite having a dislocated shoulder and being listed as questionable.
Six minutes into the game, Boston led 17-14 until Brown scored nine straight points, including seven for Boston. When the Celtics led by 13 points, 55-42, in the second quarter, Tatum had 16 points and five rebounds. The Celtics then scored 13 of the next 14 points to take a 25-point advantage.
Final score, Celtics 125 - 112 Mavs.
Up next, Mavericks play Toronto on Saturday while Celtics host Sacramento on Friday night.