Mavs-Celtics: Tatum to test Dončić as three-game trip begins

BOSTON — If you were picking out fun cities, you could do worse than Boston, Toronto and Milwaukee.

But if you’re trying to get some mojo working on the road in the NBA, this is a mighty tough trio of towns to try to do it.

The Mavericks are 1-4 on the road over the first month of the season, which has been extremely home-friendly. That said, their 8-3 record at American Airlines Center so far is good, but not great.

They have to make up some ground in hostile environments. And they don’t come much more hostile than these three Eastern Conference venues, starting against the East-leading Celtics.

Though he doesn’t get a lot of mention yet Jayson Tatum is a legit MVP candidate so far this season. He’s led the Celtics with 30.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. And he hasn’t missed a game yet.

But the Celtics are not a one-trick pony.

Here’s what else you need to know about the opener of this three-game trip.

• Jaylen Brown is the No. 2 to Tatum that is precisely the kind of compliment the Mavericks would like to have for Luka Dončić. Brown is averaging 25.3 points and 6.9 rebounds, both career-bests.
• The Celtics are coming off a rare clunker, getting spanked 121-107 at Chicago. They got a little happy with the three-point arc, hoisting 50 of the long balls and while they made 19, they were often out of position when they missed. The Bulls had a huge rebounding advantage and shot 52 percent.
• The loss at Chicago was the lone blemish on a three-game trip that included wins at Atlanta and New Orleans. The Celtics are beginning a six-game home stand that will stretch into December.
• The Mavericks have had some good luck in Boston recently. They have won their last two trips to the TD Garden, although last year’s victory required a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining by Spencer Dinwiddie. Overall, the Mavericks have won the last four meetings with the Celtics.
• Luka Dončić surpassed 50 triple-doubles last week and is 10^th on the all-time list of triple-double leaders. Next up is Boston legend Larry Bird with 59 triple-doubles.
• It will be an unusual break on the road for the Mavericks after this game. They don’t play again until Saturday afternoon in Toronto. After that, they have a quick turnaround in Milwaukee on Sunday.
• Spencer Dinwiddie is questionable with left shoulder soreness. Maxi Kleber still is recovering from a lower-back issue after his hard fall last week. He has missed the last three games and is listed as doubtful. For Boston, Robert Williams (knee) is out.

• DALLAS MAVERICKS (9-7) at BOSTON CELTICS (13-4)
• When: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.
• Where: TD GARDEN, Boston.
• TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest, ESPN.
• Radio:1 The Freak, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
• Twitter: @ESefko

Twitter: @ESefko