Game ID: 22500908
Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
Friday, March 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 21 37 32 30 120DAL 22 31 27 20 100
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 2/27 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backNEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 21 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 23 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Walsh missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/10 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/10 after 2, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/27 · back-to-backOUT Flagg missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 7 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Powell back 2/24 after 2, 11 min since (77% of 14)
BACK Cisse back 2/26 after 6, 7 min since (47% of 14)
DAL availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Flagg missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Washington missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 8 since 2/07, returns tonight: 24 min (123% of 20)
BACK Powell back 2/24 after 2, 15 min since (104% of 14)
BACK Cisse back 2/26 after 6, 10 min since (70% of 14)
DAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Flagg missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Washington missed 3 since 2/26, returns tonight: 28 min (90% of 31)
OUT Bagley III missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Nembhard back 3/01 after 8, 24 min since (123% of 20)
BACK Powell back 2/24 after 2, 16 min since (114% of 14)
BACK Cisse back 2/26 after 6, 14 min since (97% of 14)
NEW Martin 15 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Johnson 10 to 18 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Flagg missed 8 since 2/12, returns tonight: 26 min (77% of 34)
OUT Marshall missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 25 min (85% of 30)
OUT Bagley III missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Washington back 3/03 after 3, 28 min since (90% of 31)
BACK Nembhard back 3/01 after 8, 23 min since (116% of 20)
BACK Powell back 2/24 after 2, 18 min since (128% of 14)
BACK Cisse back 2/26 after 6, 14 min since (97% of 14)
NEW Martin 15 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Johnson 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Bagley III missed 4 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 2 since 3/03, returns tonight: 26 min (183% of 14)
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 26 min since (77% of 34)
BACK Washington back 3/03 after 3, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 30)
BACK Nembhard back 3/01 after 8, 20 min since (101% of 20)
NEW Middleton 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 15 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Powell 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Johnson 10 to 21 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 5 since 2/27, returns tonight: 20 min (92% of 21)
OUT Poulakidas missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 28 min since (83% of 34)
BACK Washington back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 30)
BACK Nembhard back 3/01 after 8, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Cisse back 3/06 after 2, 26 min since (183% of 14)
NEW Martin 15 to 21 min over the last 4
NEW Powell 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Johnson 10 to 18 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Poulakidas missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 28 min since (85% of 34)
BACK Washington back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 24 min since (81% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 20 min since (92% of 21)
BACK Nembhard back 3/01 after 8, 14 min since (71% of 20)
BACK Cisse back 3/06 after 2, 26 min since (183% of 14)
DAL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Poulakidas missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 29 min since (88% of 34)
BACK Washington back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (86% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 20 min since (94% of 21)
DAL availability going into 3/13 · back-to-backOUT Poulakidas missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 30 min since (90% of 34)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 20 min since (92% of 21)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and White at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 117, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Williams at 16 and Marshall at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Bagley III (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to Dallas's 117. Call it Boston 116, Dallas 105, Boston by 11.
2/27 vs BKN 148-111 — BOS notes
BOS won 148-111. BOS shot 67% (52 of 78) to BKN's 49%, 22 of 34 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BKN's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 39-25 for them. Brown led with 28 (9 of 12, 4 of 4 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Vučević added 28, Pritchard 22. The hinge was Q3, 43-26: a lead of 9 became 26, and the lead reached 41. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +40.
3/01 vs PHI 114-98 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-98. BOS shot 44% (40 of 91) to PHI's 40%, 16 of 49 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to PHI's 6, and PHI turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 59-37 for them. Brown led with 27 (9 of 17, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Queta added 27, White 21. The hinge was Q2, 36-22: BOS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 16. White was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/02 @ MIL 108-81 — BOS notes
BOS won 108-81. BOS shot 43% (41 of 95) to MIL's 36%, 20 of 50 from three, and got to the line 9 times to MIL's 19. BOS turned it over 10 times to MIL's 16. The glass went 54-41 for them. Pritchard led with 25 (10 of 23, 5 of 10 from three); González added 18, White 18. The hinge was Q1, 30-20: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 31. White was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
3/04 vs CHA 89-118 — BOS notes
BOS lost 89-118. BOS shot 38% (30 of 79) to CHA's 46%, 10 of 36 from three. BOS turned it over 15 times to CHA's 4, and CHA turned those into 10 steals. White led with 29 (9 of 17, 3 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Brown added 20. Q3 was theirs, 25-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-64 against them. Hauser's -21 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs DAL 120-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-100. BOS shot 47% (47 of 99) to DAL's 41%, 16 of 48 from three. The glass went 58-45 for them. Brown led with 24 (9 of 17, 2 of 5 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); White added 20, Pritchard 18. The hinge was Q4, 30-20: a lead of 10 became 20, and the lead reached 25. White was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/08 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Harden at 20 and Allen at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Wade (3 straight). 4 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and White at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-13 a night and Cleveland minus-1 and the line, where Cleveland takes 29 free throws a game to Boston's 18. Call it Boston 113, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/10 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Fox at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Barnes (4 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 99, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and White at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Walsh (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and San Antonio plus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 99 a night to San Antonio's 109. Call it San Antonio 113, Boston 109, Boston keeping it close.
3/12 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Holmgren (2 straight), Jal. Williams (11 straight), Hartenstein (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; White at 21 and Tatum at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vučević (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-8 and the line, where OKC takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 17. Call it OKC 111, Boston 108, Boston keeping it close.
3/14 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; White at 22 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Vučević (3 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sarr at 17 and Riley at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Reese (2 straight), George (5 straight), Whitmore (44 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Washington's 134 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 121, Washington 111, Boston by 10.
2/27 vs MEM 105-124 — DAL notes
DAL lost 105-124. DAL shot 42% (37 of 88) to MEM's 51%, 9 of 32 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MEM's 21 — 22 points from the stripe to their 18. DAL turned it over 20 times to MEM's 11, and MEM turned those into 13 steals. Williams led with 16 (5 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); Gafford added 14, Christie 13. Q4 was theirs, 35-23, the deficit cut from 31 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 101-70 against them. Marshall's -24 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 vs OKC 87-100 — DAL notes
DAL lost 87-100. DAL shot 39% (33 of 85) to OKC's 45%, 9 of 31 from three. DAL turned it over 17 times to OKC's 8, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Martin led with 18 (6 of 11, 3 of 5 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Christie added 14, Williams 14. Q2 was theirs, 24-22, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. Middleton's -15 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ CHA 90-117 — DAL notes
DAL lost 90-117. DAL shot 38% (28 of 74) to CHA's 48%, 3 of 22 from three, and went to the line 42 times to CHA's 19 — 31 points from the stripe to their 13. Williams led with 18 (4 of 10, 10 of 11 at the line); Washington added 13, Powell 12. Q2 was theirs, 25-26, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Martin's -29 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 @ ORL 114-115 — DAL notes
DAL lost 114-115. DAL shot 45% (39 of 86) to ORL's 45%, 14 of 32 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ORL's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. Thompson led with 24 (7 of 12, 7 of 12 from three); Middleton added 19, Washington 18. Q1 was theirs, 33-26, but the other 3 periods went 89-81 against them. They led by as many as 14. Christie's -12 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ BOS 100-120 — DAL notes
DAL lost 100-120. DAL shot 41% (38 of 93) to BOS's 47%, 14 of 35 from three. The glass went 45-58 against them. Thompson led with 19 (7 of 13, 5 of 11 from three); Flagg added 16, Marshall 13. Q1 was theirs, 22-21, but the other 3 periods went 99-78 against them. Washington's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Barrett at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray-Boyles (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 115, shooting 41 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Thompson at 17 and Williams at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Bagley III (5 straight), Poulakidas (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 39 percent from three to Dallas's 32. Call it Toronto 115, Dallas 109.
3/10 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Kuminga at 21 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Kuminga (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 115, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 17 and Williams at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Poulakidas (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-10 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 105 a night to Dallas's 115. Call it Atlanta 121, Dallas 106, Atlanta by 15.
3/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jerome at 21 and Jackson at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 120, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Thompson at 17 and Flagg at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Poulakidas (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 40 percent from three to Dallas's 32 and the glass, where Dallas has been minus-4 a night and Memphis minus-9. Call it Memphis 119, Dallas 113.
3/13 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gafford at 17 and Thompson at 17 a game. Without Poulakidas (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Allen (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 10 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Dallas's 119. Call it Cleveland 116, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
GO Gonzalez
HG H. González
JB J. Brown
JT J. Tatum
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
RH R. Harper Jr.
SH S. Hauser
DALBW B. Williams
CF C. Flagg
CM C. Martin
DP D. Powell
KM K. Middleton
KT K. Thompson
MC M. Christie
MC M. Cisse
NM N. Marshall
PW P. Washington
RN R. Nembhard
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
Jayson Tatum scores 15 points in return from Achilles surgery, Celtics beat Mavericks 120-100
BOSTON -- — Jaylen Brown had 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Friday night in Jayson Tatum 's first game in almost 10 months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon .
Tatum had 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a rust-filled 27 minutes. He played in five- and six-minute spurts in his first game since suffering the injury in during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to New York in May.
Derrick White added 20 points to help Boston win for the fourth time in five games. Dallas has lost six straight.
No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg , a Maine native playing his first game in TD Garden, had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Dallas. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points, and Naji Marshall had13 points.
Tatum missed his first six shots, including three 3-pointers. But he continued to look for his teammates and actively screening to initiate the offense.
The Celtics have 19 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at TD Garden to try to ramp up Tatum for the playoffs.