Luka Doncic Scores 15 in Mavericks' Win over Kyrie Irving, Celtics
Harrison Barnes and J.J. Barea each scored 20 points; Luka Doncic added 15 points, eight assists and three steals; and DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the visiting Boston Celtics 113-104 at the American Airlines Center on Saturday.
Jayson Tatum led the C's with 21 points. Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart each had 19.
The Mavs, who started the season 3-8, have won six of their past seven games to move to 9-9. The 10-10 Celtics dropped their fourth game in five tries.
Luka Doncic's All-Star Ceiling Transcends Potential ROY Award
Not only does Doncic look like the clear Rookie of the Year, but he has an outside shot at being named an NBA All-Star.
Doncic has been on fire during the Mavs' hot streak. In the eight games since the Mavs' win over the Washington Wizards on November 6, the 19-year-old has posted 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Doncic has also been money from the three-point line following a rough 0-of-5 effort in his debut, making 41.5 percent of his threes.
On Saturday, Doncic's court vision was excellent, like when he drove through the lane and kicked it out to a wide-open Barnes for a three-pointer:
He also put a great fake on Irving and threw in a three-pointer from the top of the arc:
Doncic proved he's tough down low as well, putting in this shot after a post-up:
The ex-Real Madrid star elicited effusive praise on Twitter. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer offered a simple and effective compliment:
Tim Cato of The Athletic noted the value Doncic provides at the point:
And Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported on one remarkable stretch:
Overall, Doncic is the best player on one of the hottest NBA teams. It's certainly feasible Doncic and the Mavs come back to Earth at some point, but if they become a clear playoff contender as the midseason draws closer, the rookie has to be at least considered for an All-Star bid, especially given his impact on a Mavs team that went just 24-58 last year.
Inconsistent Offense Will Keep Celtics from Ruling East This Season
While the defense wilted again by giving up 113 points or more for the third time in four games, the Celtics are still one of the better teams on that end overall. Boston entered Saturday first in defensive efficiency, per ESPN.com.
However, in a league that has seen a dramatic increase in scoring from 106.3 points per game last year to 110.4 points per contest this season, the C's offense is going in the wrong direction.
Of note, Boston had just 69 points through three quarters on Wednesday against the 6-14 New York Knicks, who are one of the NBA's worst defensive teams.
The cold spell against the Mavs was symbolic of the team's offensive problems: At times, they simply can't buy a shot. Entering Saturday, Boston had made just 43.5 percent of its field goals, which is the third-worst mark in the league.
Also, the final score is a bit deceiving, as the Mavs were up 16 points with just over two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. That's because the Celtics scored just 13 points through nine minutes in the final frame.
Boston can't afford offensive struggles if it is to contend for the East title. The Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are not only the top three teams in the conference but also three of the top four scoring clubs in the East as well. The Charlotte Hornets are the lone exception.
Right now, that's the team the C's are tied with for sixth in the East. If the Celtics want to break into the conference's upper echelon, they have to figure things out on offense quickly.
What's Next
The Celtics finish a three-game road trip with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The Mavs will hit the road to face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
