The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks both look to regain some momentum Wednesday night when they meet in what is the first contest of a six-game homestand for the Celtics.
Despite a career-high 23 points from Josh Green, the Mavericks dropped a 98-97 decision to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The Nuggets played without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, but erased a halftime deficit by outscoring the Mavericks 24-18 in the third quarter.
It wasn’t the first time Dallas came up short against an undermanned team this season. The Mavericks also lost when the Washington Wizards were without Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. They also fell to the Orlando Magic without Paolo Banchero, and the New Orleans Pelicans when they were without Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
The Celtics are coming off Monday’s 121-107 loss to the Chicago Bulls that ended a nine-game winning streak.
Boston committed 15 turnovers in the loss. Those miscues helped lead to 22 fastbreak points for the Bulls, who made 14 3-pointers and ended a four-game losing streak. Boston shot 43.7 percent from the field.
Boston point guard Marcus Smart played Monday after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. He had eight points, eight assists and one rebound in 35 minutes.
Wednesday’s game will feature two of the NBA’s top scorers in Boston forward Jayson Tatum and Dallas guard Luka Doncic. Tatum is averaging 30.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, and Doncic enters the matchup averaging an NBA-best 33.5 points to go with 9.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.9 steals per contest.
If Dallas guard Spencer Dinwiddie plays Wednesday, he may not be at 100 percent. Dinwiddie, who is averaging 17.6 points over his last 10 games, dislocated his left shoulder in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Denver. He did not practice Monday and is listed as questionable.
Kidd kept it vague when asked if Dinwiddie might miss time because of the injury.
The Celtics are 6-1 at home this season.
