Irving and the Mavericks take on Tatum and the Celtics

Updated Jan. 24, 2025 2:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Boston Celtics (31-14, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (24-21, seventh in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Saturday, 5:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Boston plays Dallas for a non-conference matchup.

The Mavericks are 13-9 on their home court. Dallas is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 7.6.

The Celtics are 16-6 in road games. Boston is at the bottom of the league scoring 42.1 points per game in the paint.

The Mavericks make 47.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the Celtics have allowed to their opponents (45.3%). The Celtics score 5.3 more points per game (117.2) than the Mavericks allow their opponents to score (111.9).

TOP PERFORMERS: P.J. Washington is averaging 13.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Mavericks. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games.

Jayson Tatum is averaging 27.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 4-6, averaging 110.1 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points per game.

Celtics: 5-5, averaging 109.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.6 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Klay Thompson: day to day (ankle), Dwight Powell: day to day (hip), Dante Exum: out (wrist), Jaden Hardy: day to day (ankle), Luka Doncic: out (calf), Naji Marshall: day to day (illness), Dereck Lively II: out (ankle).

Celtics: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.