The Dallas Mavericks will be hoping to bring an end to their three-match losing streak when they travel to TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA on Friday.
The Celtics (36-15) are in second place behind the Cavs in the Eastern Conference, while the Mavericks (26-25) have slipped to 11th place in the Western Conference standings.
Match preview
© Imago
The Boston Celtics are being challenged for the top spot in the East this season, but made up ground to the Conference leaders, the Cleveland Cavaliers, by beating them 112-105 on Wednesday morning.
MVP candidate Jayson Tatum once again led the team with 22 points, seven assists and four rebounds, Derrick White contributed 20 points and five rebounds, while Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 35 points.
While the Cavs - led by Donovan Mitchell's 31 points and 10 rebounds - made a late charge, outscoring the C's 30-25 in the final frame, the defending champs ultimately held onto the lead they built up in the first quarter to pull within 4.5 games in the race for the top seed.
Notably, although Cleveland boast the second-best home figures in the NBA with a 24-4 record, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder's 21-3, the Celtics now possess the best record on the road at 20-6.
Joe Mazzulla's side are ranked inside the top five on both ends of the court this season, averaging 117.2 points per game, while allowing 108.4 PPG, though they are the third-worst team at covering numbers (20-30-1 ATS).
© Imago
Meanwhile, some are in disbelief while others are still in shock at the Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade fan-favourite and poster boy Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Anthony Davis.
Whether it was due to his conditioning, defence, or perhaps the franchise found him too high-maintenance, Dallas fans are still scratching their heads over how they gave up Luka in his prime and in the midst of a freefall.
Either side of the controversial trade, the Mavs were beaten 117-102 by the Pistons, got thumped 144-101 by the Cavs, and came up short 118-116 against the 76ers on the road on Wednesday.
Against Philly, evergreen Kyrie Irving led the team with 34 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Naji Marshall and Max Christie combined for 34 points and eight assists off the bench, but it was not enough to avoid a third straight and 25th loss for the season.
Jason Kidd's side are now 24-25-2 ATS and have slipped out of the top 10 in the scoring charts, averaging 115.3 points per game (11th in the league), while allowing 113.4 PPG (16th in the NBA).
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
Team News
© Imago
While injuries have been a bit of a thorn in the side of Porzingis in recent years, he is currently having a season to remember, averaging 19.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG, with a FG% of 46.9%, making him one to watch against the Mavs.
Tatum is listed as a minor doubt owing to a right knee issue he has been carrying since the victory over the Bulls, while JD Davison and Anton Watson are sidelined for the foreseeable future.
The big question for the Mavs is whether their new recruit Anthony Davis will be cleared fit to make his debut against the C's, after sitting out against the 76ers due to an abdominal strain injury.
Dereck Lively (ankle), Dwight Powell (hip) and Caleb Martin (hip) all missed the last match through injury and are unlikley to suit up for this one, though PJ Washington could return following the birth of his third child.
Boston Celtics possible starting five:
Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, White, Holiday
Dallas Mavericks possible starting five:
Thompson, Edwards, Gafford, Irving, Exum
We say: Boston Celtics to win by 7+ points
The Boston Celtics have been heating back up nicely over the last few weeks and will be brimming with confidence after downing the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road in midweek, while the Mavs are short-handed and on a three-match losing run.
We fancy the C's to rack up another big home win in this one.
Devesh Jaganath
