PREVIEW
CELTICS (4-5) AT MAVERICKS (5-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: BSSW
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: This is the first of a short two-game home stand for the Mavs, who also will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, then hit the road for games in Chicago (Wednesday) and San Antonio (Nov. 12). . .The Mavs are 3-1 at home and are in first place in the Southwest Division and in third place in the Western Conference. . .Jalen Brunson was big-time this past Wednesday with 31 points and 10 rebounds during a 109-108 win in San Antonio. And he completely took over the game down the stretch when he scored 13 consecutive points. All of this came one day after Brunson tallied 25 points and grabbed seven boards during a loss to the Miami Heat. . .Luka Doncic and Brunson have been flat-out balling over the last two games. In the past 2 games, Doncic is averaging 28 ppg and 7.5 rpg and is 20-of-49 (40.8 percent) from the field and 10-of-14 from the free throw line, and Brunson is averaging 28 ppg and 8.5 rpg and is 19-of-30 (63.3 percent) from the floor and 15-of-20 from the charity stripe. Brunson, however, may be back to his old role of coming off the bench. That’s because there’s a pretty good chance the Mavs will have forward Kristaps Porzingis back for tonight’s contest. Porzingis missed the last five games with lower back tightness and is averaging 12.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg in 26 mpg. . .Coach Jason Kidd said forward Reggie Bullock practiced Friday and is available to play tonight. Bullock left the game against the Spurs in the first half with a facial injury.
About the Celtics: Following a loss at home to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, the Celtics were 2-5 after the first seven games. That was the Celtics’ first 2-5 start — or worst — after seven games since the 2006-’07 season. . .During the game against the Bulls, the Celtics took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter. Then came a collapse, as they wound up getting outscored by the Bulls, 39-11, in the fourth quarter and losing 128-114. Afterwards, Flower Mound Marcus product Marcus Smart said Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – Boston’s two young All-Stars – need to start getting their teammates more involved in the offense by passing the ball more. Two days later before Boston’s game in Orlando, the Celtics had a players only meeting to air out their differences. That was followed by a 92-79 win over the Magic. And that was followed by a 95-78 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, although the Celtics are still dead-last in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics outscored the Heat in the second quarter, 33-9. . .Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of the Celtics: “They’re a team that can put a lot of points up. And defensively, you look at Tatum. Everyone is going to talk about him. But Marcus Smart and those guys – Al Horford – are veterans. They know how to play. There’s no panic over there. They beat a very good team in Miami.”. .Brown is averaging 25.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg, Tatum averages 22.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg, and Horford is averaging 13.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg and leads the NBA with three blocks per game. But Brown will not play tonight due to a hamstring injury.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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