Game ID: 22400728
Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 23 33 27 37 120DAL 32 35 37 23 127
BOS vs DAL ScoutingBOS vs DAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BOS availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Horford missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 26 min (90% of 28)
OUT Hauser missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 14 min (69% of 21)
OUT Scheierman missed 3 since 1/25, out tonight
BOS availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 26 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 14 min since (69% of 21)
BOS availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 2 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 18 min since (65% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 19 min since (92% of 21)
BOS availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 1/31, returns tonight: 10 min (72% of 13)
OUT Scheierman missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 21 min since (75% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 17 min since (82% of 21)
BOS availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 7 since 1/25, returns tonight: 4 min (39% of 12)
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 18 min since (86% of 21)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 10 min since (72% of 13)
BOS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 23 min since (82% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 18 min since (86% of 21)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 18 min since (135% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 4 min since (39% of 12)
BOS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 14 min since (105% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 7 min since (63% of 12)
BOS availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Brown missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 27 min (78% of 35)
OUT Holiday missed 4 since 2/06, returns tonight: 20 min (64% of 31)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 11 min since (80% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 6 min since (56% of 12)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 33 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 4 since 1/22, returns tonight: 15 min (54% of 28)
OUT Lively II missed 7 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 5 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 14 min since (91% of 16)
BACK Edwards back 1/20 after 9, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 19 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 8 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 6 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 15 min since (54% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 16)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 9 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 1/29, returns tonight: 18 min (124% of 15)
OUT Powell missed 7 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 19 min since (67% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 11 min since (67% of 16)
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 10 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 8 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (71% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 25 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 14 min since (87% of 16)
BACK Williams back 2/02 after 2, 18 min since (124% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 11 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 9 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 21 min since (76% of 28)
BACK Williams back 2/02 after 2, 18 min since (124% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 19 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 3 since 2/02, returns tonight: 16 min (50% of 32)
OUT Lively II missed 12 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 2 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 10 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 23 min since (81% of 28)
NEW Gafford 22 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 17 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 13 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 3 since 2/04, returns tonight: 9 min (57% of 16)
OUT Williams missed 3 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 11 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Washington back 2/08 after 3, 16 min since (50% of 32)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 14 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 4 since 2/04, returns tonight: 15 min (101% of 15)
OUT Powell missed 12 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Washington back 2/08 after 3, 16 min since (50% of 32)
BACK Hardy back 2/10 after 3, 9 min since (57% of 16)
NEW Irving 36 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT Washington missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 15 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 13 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Hardy back 2/10 after 3, 7 min since (44% of 16)
BACK Williams back 2/12 after 4, 15 min since (101% of 15)
NEW Irving 36 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 16 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 25 and Washington at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Washington (2 straight), Lively II (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Dallas's 125 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Boston minus-4. Call it Boston 119, Dallas 111.
1/29 vs CHI 122-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 122-100. BOS shot 47% (41 of 87) to CHI's 40%, 18 of 44 from three, and went to the line 27 times to CHI's 12 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. BOS turned it over 8 times to CHI's 14. Porziņģis led with 34 (10 of 18, 8 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Brown added 28, White 22. The hinge was Q2, 41-28: a lead of 3 became 16, and the lead reached 24. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/31 @ NOP 118-116 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-116. BOS shot 50% (42 of 84) to NOP's 49%, 16 of 41 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 19 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. BOS turned it over 13 times to NOP's 18. The glass went 35-48 against them. Brown led with 28 (11 of 18, 3 of 6 from three); Tatum added 27, White 16. The hinge was Q2, 28-19: BOS came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 6. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +4.
2/02 @ PHI 118-110 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-110. BOS shot 50% (42 of 84) to PHI's 45%, 21 of 49 from three, and got to the line 16 times to PHI's 28. Tatum led with 35 (13 of 20, 5 of 8 from three); Brown added 21, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q4, 38-16: BOS came in trailing by 14 and left it ahead by 8. BOS trailed 44-61 at the half and won the second half 74-49. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/04 @ CLE 112-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 112-105. BOS shot 41% (40 of 98) to CLE's 40%, 17 of 48 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CLE's 26. Tatum led with 22 (7 of 23, 3 of 11 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); White added 20, Porziņģis 19. The hinge was Q1, 28-15: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/06 vs DAL 120-127 — BOS notes
BOS lost 120-127. BOS shot 52% (46 of 89) to DAL's 56%, 16 of 37 from three. BOS turned it over 14 times to DAL's 8, and DAL turned those into 9 steals. Brown led with 25 (9 of 16, 3 of 4 from three); Pritchard added 21, Tatum 17. Q4 was theirs, 37-23, the deficit cut from 21 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 104-83 against them. Tatum's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/08 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Anunoby (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 117, Boston 114, Boston keeping it close.
2/10 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Herro at 20 a game. Without Burks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 20 a game. Without Holiday (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 42 percent from three to Miami's 35 and the turnovers, Miami giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 12. Call it Boston 114, Miami 111, Miami keeping it close.
2/12 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 18 a game. Without Holiday (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Fox at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 121 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-6. Call it Boston 119, San Antonio 110.
2/20 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Embiid at 26 and Maxey at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Okeke (3 straight), Lowry (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Brown (2 straight), Holiday (4 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Philadelphia minus-12 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Philadelphia's 115. Call it Boston 114, Philadelphia 109.
1/29 @ NOP 137-136 — DAL notes
DAL won 137-136. DAL shot 54% (52 of 96) to NOP's 53%, 20 of 43 from three. DAL turned it over 18 times to NOP's 8, and NOP turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 51-36 for them. Irving led with 25 (10 of 21, 3 of 9 from three); Washington added 25, Gafford 22. The hinge was Q3, 40-30: DAL came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4. DAL trailed 57-63 at the half and won the second half 80-73.
1/31 @ DET 102-117 — DAL notes
DAL lost 102-117. DAL shot 43% (37 of 87) to DET's 44%, 11 of 33 from three. DAL turned it over 16 times to DET's 6, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Irving led with 28 (9 of 23, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Washington added 22, Gafford 16. Q1 was theirs, 32-28, but the other 3 periods went 89-70 against them. They led by as many as 11. Irving's -14 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 @ CLE 101-144 — DAL notes
DAL lost 101-144. DAL took 10 more shots (103 to 93), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to CLE's 57%, 9 of 43 from three. Hardy led with 21 (8 of 19, 3 of 12 from three); Exum added 14, Kelley 12. Q3 was theirs, 29-28, the deficit cut from 45 to 44, but the other 3 periods went 116-72 against them. Exum's -35 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 @ PHI 116-118 — DAL notes
DAL lost 116-118. DAL shot 47% (40 of 85) to PHI's 55%, 11 of 33 from three, and went to the line 31 times to PHI's 19 — 25 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 44-34 for them. Irving led with 34 (11 of 21, 2 of 8 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Marshall added 19, Christie 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-22, turning a 5-point deficit into a 7-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 96-82 against them. Dinwiddie's -15 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/06 @ BOS 127-120 — DAL notes
DAL won 127-120. DAL shot 56% (49 of 88) to BOS's 52%, 15 of 33 from three. DAL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. Thompson led with 25 (11 of 17, 3 of 6 from three); Dinwiddie added 22, Marshall 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-27: a lead of 11 became 21, and the lead reached 27. Exum was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/08 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Gafford at 14 a game. Without Washington (3 straight), Lively II (12 straight), Hardy (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without VanVleet (3 straight), Smith Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 116 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/10 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Christie at 18 a game. Without Lively II (13 straight), Hardy (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and LaVine at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/12 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Christie at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Lively II (14 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 29 free throws a game; Curry at 33 and Podziemski at 14 a game. Without Kuminga (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 114 a night to Dallas's 123 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-5. Call it Dallas 117, Golden State 116, Golden State keeping it close.
2/13 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 28 and Thompson at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Washington (2 straight), Davis (2 straight), Lively II (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Herro at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, Dallas at 42 percent from three to Miami's 33 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-6. Call it Dallas 115, Miami 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DP D. Peterson
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JT J. Tatum
JW J. Walsh
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
DALDE D. Exum
DG D. Gafford
KE K. Edwards
KI K. Irving
KT K. Thompson
MC M. Christie
NM N. Marshall
OP O. Prosper
SD S. Dinwiddie
BOS/DAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Klay Thompson scores 25 to lead Mavericks to 127-120 win over Boston as Davis delays Dallas debut
BOSTON -- — Klay Thompson scored 25 points, Daniel Gafford gave the Mavericks 15 rebounds in what could be his last start at center for a while and Dallas beat the Boston Celtics 127-120 on Thursday night in their NBA Finals rematch.
With recently acquired big man Anthony Davis out with an abdominal strain and cheering on his new teammates from the bench, the Mavericks led by 27 points in the second half. Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points off the bench.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla put in his bench, and they unexpectedly pulled within single digits in the final minute.
Jaylen Brown , who won the NBA Finals MVP in June while leading Boston to a five-game victory over Dallas, scored 25 points and Jayson Tatum had 17. Payton Pritchard scored 21 to lead the second-string rally.
Takeaways Dallas: Davis' anticipated debut with Dallas after he was acquired on Sunday for five-time All-NBA first-teamer Luka Doncic will have to wait until at least Saturday.
Boston: The finals rivals played both of their regular-season matchups this year in the last two weeks and split them. A potential rematch this summer is likely to turn on who is available.
Key moment Irving had a slow start, with just four points in the first half. But with just under 10 minutes left he pulled up for a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Mavericks a 114-90 lead – their biggest of the game. After a timeout, Irving hit another 3 – this one a second-chance basket from the left side.
Key stat Thompson scored 23 in the first half.
Up next The Mavericks host Houston on Saturday and Boston visits the New York Knicks on Saturday.