The Boston Celtics bounced back from their most lopsided loss of the season with an impressive 122-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Jayson Tatum led the way with 24 points, while Derrick White caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 16 of his 23 points in the period, including Boston’s first 11 points after halftime. Jaylen Brown added 22 points as the defending champions shrugged off a sluggish start to secure the win in their first matchup with Dallas since last season’s NBA Finals.
After falling behind 16-6 early, the Celtics found their rhythm, using their signature ball movement and perimeter shooting to take control. Boston’s bench and balanced scoring proved critical, with Kristaps Porzingis contributing 18 points in his first game back in Dallas since the 2022 trade that sent him to Washington. Porzingis, who had missed his previous four trips to Dallas due to injuries, showed no signs of discomfort as he helped the Celtics dominate in transition and in the paint.
The third quarter was the turning point for Boston. White’s scoring explosion ignited a 25-point lead, silencing the Dallas crowd and sparking multiple “Let’s go Celtics!” chants from the visiting fans. Boston’s sharp shooting came alive as the game progressed; after a slow start from beyond the arc (2 of 8 in the first quarter), they finished with 20 made 3-pointers on 52 attempts, maintaining their status as the NBA’s leaders in both categories.
Kyrie Irving led with 22 points for the Mavericks, while Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench and Daniel Gafford posted a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds. However, Dallas struggled without Luka Doncic, falling to 5-11 since the superstar was sidelined with a calf strain on Christmas Day. The team also suffered another blow when backup center Maxi Kleber fractured his right foot in the third quarter, leaving the Mavericks down to two healthy centers.
The Celtics, now 35-13, regained their stride following their loss to the Lakers and showcased their depth and resilience. Boston will host Dallas on February 6 to complete the season series as they continue to chase their goal of repeating as NBA champions. Let’s provide a grade for every Celtics player.
Jayson Tatum: B+
Stats: 24 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 5 PF, 8-22 FG, 4-12 3PT, 4-4 FT, -4, 35 MIN
Tatum led the Celtics in scoring with 24 points, adding 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 35 minutes. While he shot just 8-of-22 from the field and 4-of-12 from deep, he was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. His offensive output and defensive presence were solid, but his 3 turnovers and 5 personal fouls highlighted areas for improvement. Despite some inefficiency, Tatum remained the go-to option in key moments.
Derrick White: B+
Stats: 23 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 7-16 FG, 4-10 3PT, 5-6 FT, +7, 36 MIN
White’s stellar third-quarter explosion proved to be the game’s turning point. He scored 16 of his 23 points in the period and finished with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Shooting 7-of-16 overall and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, White showcased his scoring ability and efficiency. His +7 plus/minus reflected his value, as he was pivotal in extending Boston’s lead during critical stretches.
Jaylen Brown: B+
Stats: 22 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 6 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 10-21 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-6 FT, +10, 31 MIN
Brown provided consistent scoring with 22 points on 10-of-21 shooting while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Although he struggled from beyond the arc (0-of-5) and at the free-throw line (2-of-6), his ability to attack the paint and make plays for teammates stood out. His +10 plus/minus reflected his strong all-around contribution to the Celtics’ victory.
Kristaps Porzingis: B+
Stats: 18 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 6-12 FG, 3-5 3PT, 3-3 FT, +1, 28 MIN
Porzingis had a balanced performance in his return to Dallas, scoring 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. He also added 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, showing his versatility on both ends of the floor. His +1 plus/minus was modest, but his efficient shooting and impact in transition and the paint helped the Celtics control the game.
Jrue Holiday: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 6-12 FG, 5-10 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 30 MIN
Holiday was a two-way force, contributing 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-10 from deep. He added 3 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and a block in 30 minutes. Holiday’s ability to hit timely shots and provide strong defense made him a key factor in Boston’s win, as reflected by his +4 plus/minus.
Payton Pritchard: B-
Stats: 6 PTS, 9 REB (3 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +21, 27 MIN
Pritchard made his presence felt off the bench, scoring 6 points while grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing 4 assists. His hustle on the boards, including 3 offensive rebounds, and efficient shooting (2-of-4 from three) earned him a +21 plus/minus. While his scoring was limited, his energy and playmaking were crucial in maintaining Boston’s momentum.
Luke Kornet: B-
Stats: 2 PTS, 10 REB (4 OREB, 6 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +21, 17 MIN
Kornet was a force on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds in just 17 minutes while also contributing 5 assists and 2 blocks. Although he scored only 2 points on 1-of-4 shooting, his +21 plus/minus showcased his value in anchoring the defense and facilitating the offense during his time on the floor.
Al Horford: C+
Stats: 4 PTS, 6 REB (4 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +16, 19 MIN
Horford had a modest performance with 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist in 19 minutes. Though he struggled with his shooting (2-of-8 from the field), he contributed on the boards, grabbing 4 offensive rebounds. His +16 plus/minus highlighted his defensive impact and ability to provide spacing and leadership in limited minutes.
Sam Hauser: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 14 MIN
Hauser had a quiet night, contributing 6 points on 2-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc in 14 minutes. While his offensive efficiency was solid, he made minimal impact elsewhere, grabbing just 1 rebound and recording 1 assist. His -1 plus/minus reflected his limited influence on the game overall.
Jaden Springer: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 2 MIN
Springer played just 2 minutes and recorded 1 steal without attempting a shot. His brief stint did not allow him to make a significant impact, but he showed activity on defense during his limited opportunity.
Jordan Walsh: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 2 MIN
Walsh also played 2 minutes but struggled to make an impact, recording 1 turnover and missing his only shot attempt. His limited minutes and lack of statistical contributions resulted in a neutral performance.
