The Dallas Mavericks head to Boston for a Friday night matchup against the Celtics in what could be a lopsided affair. The Mavs are struggling through a rebuild year, mired in a five-game losing streak and sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Celtics are contending for the top seed in the East, boasting a strong home record (20-10) and elite defensive efficiency. This game marks the second meeting of the season between the teams, with Boston winning the first encounter on February 3, 2026, in Dallas. All eyes will be on potential returns for key players, adding intrigue to an otherwise predictable contest.
Venue Location
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. This iconic arena has been the Celtics’ home since 1995 and seats over 19,000 fans. Boston has been dominant here this season, allowing just 107.1 points per game at home.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and locally on NBCS-BOS.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with significant absences, but Boston could get a massive boost.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury/Details |
| Mavericks | Kyrie Irving | G | Out for Season | Left knee surgery (suffered in February 2026) |
| Mavericks | Dereck Lively II | C | Out for Season | Right foot surgery |
| Mavericks | Brandon Williams | G | Out | Left quadriceps contusion (missed March 5 game vs. Orlando) |
| Mavericks | Marvin Bagley III | F | Out | Neck sprain (missed March 5 game vs. Orlando) |
| Celtics | Jayson Tatum | F | Questionable | Right Achilles repair (upgraded from out; expected to possibly debut after nearly 10 months out) |
Dallas welcomed back rookie forward Cooper Flagg on March 5 after an eight-game absence due to a left foot sprain; he contributed 18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks in his return.
Key Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles, especially if Tatum returns. Boston’s depth and defense (allowing a league-low 107.1 PPG) should exploit Dallas’ injury-riddled lineup, which ranks near the bottom in offensive efficiency (113.5 PPG).
- Jaylen Brown (BOS) vs. Cooper Flagg (DAL): Brown, averaging 28.9 PPG, will test the rookie Flagg (20.4 PPG) in his hometown return. Flagg’s athleticism and shot-blocking (4 blocks in his last game) could challenge Brown’s drives, but Brown’s experience and scoring efficiency (55.5% FG) give him the edge.
- Jayson Tatum (BOS, if active) vs. P.J. Washington (DAL): Tatum’s potential debut (pre-injury averages: 24.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG) would pit him against Washington (7.0 RPG). Tatum’s versatility could overwhelm Dallas’ frontcourt, especially with Lively out.
- Derrick White (BOS) vs. Luka Dončić (DAL): White’s defensive prowess (elite perimeter D) faces Dončić, the league’s leading scorer at 32.4 PPG. With Irving sidelined, Dončić (also leading in assists at 10.3) will shoulder the load, but Boston’s team defense could limit his impact.
- Other Notes: Boston’s Neemias Queta or Al Horford will handle Dallas’ depleted center rotation, while Baylor Scheierman provides shooting depth for the Celtics.
Recent Team Forms
Dallas is in freefall, dropping five straight and winning just 2 of their last 10. Their offense has sputtered (110.0 PPG over last 10), exacerbated by injuries.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Mar 5 | at Orlando | L | 114-115 |
| Mar 3 | at Charlotte | L | 90-117 |
| Mar 1 | vs. Memphis | L | 87-100 |
| Feb 27 | vs. Oklahoma City | L | 90-117 |
| Feb 25 | at Sacramento | L | 105-124 |
| Feb 22 | at Indiana | W | 134-130 |
| Feb 20 | at Minnesota | L | 111-122 |
| Feb 18 | at LA Lakers | L | 104-124 |
| Feb 10 | at Phoenix | L | 111-120 |
| Feb 8 | at San Antonio | L | 125-138 |
Boston has been consistent, going 7-3 in their last 10 with high-scoring wins (e.g., 148-111 vs. Brooklyn). A recent blowout loss to Charlotte snapped a three-game win streak, but their defense remains stout.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Mar 4 | vs. Charlotte | L | 89-118 |
| Mar 2 | at Milwaukee | W | 108-81 |
| Mar 1 | vs. Philadelphia | W | 114-98 |
| Feb 27 | vs. Brooklyn | W | 148-111 |
| Feb 25 | vs. Chicago | W | 124-105 |
| Feb 23 | vs. New York | L | 89-111 |
| Feb 21 | vs. Miami | W | 98-96 |
| Feb 19 | at Houston | W | 114-93 |
| Feb 3 | at Dallas | W | 110-100 |
| Feb 1 | vs. Milwaukee | L | 105-112 |
Series History
The Celtics hold a slight all-time edge in the regular season: 48 wins to Dallas’ 41 (89 games). Boston has dominated recently, winning 8 of the last 10 meetings, including a 110-100 victory on February 3, 2026 (Jaylen Brown: 33 PTS; Cooper Flagg: 36 PTS). Dallas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 road games against Boston but 6-2 ATS in its last 8 overall vs. the Celtics.
Betting Trends
- ATS Trends: Celtics 36-26 ATS overall (57.7%), but 1-1 as 14.5+ favorites. Mavericks 28-34 ATS (45.2%), 6-2 ATS in last 8 vs. Boston.
- O/U Trends: Mavericks games have gone under in 6 of last 10; Celtics over in 5 of last 10. Boston home games average 221.2 total points.
Game Odds
Dallas Mavericks 224.5
Boston Celtics – 15.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, March 5, 2026
