While they’re having a great season, the Boston Celtics shook things up on Tuesday, sending Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick two days before the NBA Trade Deadline.
That left the Celtics without their top bench scorer for Tuesday night’s road game against the Dallas Mavericks. Fortunately for Boston, it didn’t matter.
The Celtics beat the Mavericks anyway, 110-100, notching their third straight win and fourth consecutive regular-season victory in Dallas.
Fresh off winning his first career NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award earlier in the day, Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points and 11 rebounds in his second straight double-double.
Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard moved back to the bench in Simons’ absence and flourished in his old role, erupting for 26 points, seven assists and four rebounds in 35 minutes. Luka Garza also had a big game off the bench, contributing 16 points and making all four of his 3-point attempts.
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The Celtics won the first three quarters easily before taking their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, but still won by double digits. Star rookie and Maine native Cooper Flagg was stellar for the Mavericks, leading all scorers with 36 points while notching nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks in his first game against his hometown team.
After winning the first game of its road back-to-back, Boston will try to extend its winning streak on Wednesday night as an underdog against former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets. Udoka is 2-3 versus Boston but has won his last two games against them.
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