Jayson Tatum’s triple-double leads Celtics past Mavs

Jayson Tatum posted a triple-double with 29 factors, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to propel the NBA-leading Boston Celtics to a 124-95 win over the host Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening.

Tatum scored 18 and Jaylen Brown added 15 of his 19 within the second half as Boston snapped a two-game dropping streak. Tatum recorded his solely earlier triple-double on April 19, 2021, in a loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Four different Celtics completed in double figures, together with Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon, who added 15 apiece.

Luka Doncic scored 23 factors, Spencer Dinwiddie had 18 and Christian Wood had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double for Dallas, which had its seven-game win streak finish.

All however three of Doncic’s factors got here within the opening half.

Dallas erased Boston’s 5-0 begin with a 9-2 run and took a 9-7 lead on Dinwiddie’s working dunk with 6:50 left within the first quarter.

The Celtics sprinted forward thereafter, as a Grant Williams triple started his private five-point stretch and an prolonged 15-3 staff run.

It was 29-20 on the finish of the primary quarter — a margin that would have been better if not for Dallas’ 9-of-12 effort on the free-throw line. Doncic, who completed an 11-point quarter with a floater and two free throws within the final minute, was 5 of seven on the line.

Brogdon’s three-point play capped Boston’s 5-0 run to begin the second. The hosts obtained again inside eight on a Kemba Walker drive, however Grant Williams adopted with an and-one.

Derrick White capped the Celtics’ 4 straight 3-point makes, taking a 55-37 lead with 4:14 earlier than halftime.

Each staff’s stars heated late within the first half, making it 64-46 on the break. Tatum scored seven of Boston’s final eight factors and Doncic posted seven straight for Dallas over the ultimate 3:38.

Wood scored two jumpers for Dallas after halftime, however the groups traded 7-0 runs halfway by means of the third. Tatum’s finger roll capped the Boston streak, giving it a 71-50 lead at 7:44.

Dinwiddie’s three began the Dallas run and arrange Wood for an alley-oop dunk on the finish.

Brogdon hit the Celtics’ third throughout a span of 5 treys with 3:08 left. Smart adopted after which sank three straight free throws to create the 89-65 lead after three.

In the fourth, Dallas responded to Tatum’s step-back triple with a fast 6-0 run that included back-to-back Dwight Powell buckets.

Jaden Hardy (15 factors) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (eight factors) bookended one other 8-0 Maverick run with two 3-pointers, however Tatum’s three-point play and a feed to Brown for an alley-oop dunk highlighted a 13-0 run with 4:12 left.

–Field Level Media/Reuters