BOSTON CELTICS 105 d DALLAS MAVERICKS 98
Jaylen Brown celebrates the game two win.Credit: Getty Images
KEY POINTS
MISSED CHANCE FOR MAVS
The Mavericks needed Boston to have a bad night at the offensive end and they got it, at least by Boston’s super high standards. The Celtics shot just 10 of 39 from the three-point line and that kept the game close for much of the night but the Mavs could never find a way to produce cohesive offence. Doncic’s triple double, 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, was exceptional but he also had eight turnovers as the Celtics refused to let him make easy passes to his teammates. At the other end, Jayson Tatum overcame his shooting woes to turn provider with 18 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists, several of those passes found Jrue Holiday who had a team-best 26 points. “They were double-teaming him and he made the right play – I don’t know if he had a triple-double (looks at scoreboard), he was a rebound short,” Holiday said. “The way he led us, getting into the paint and findng me wide open – it was all about him.” The only concern for Boston will be a possible calf injury to centre Kristaps Porzingis in the final quarter. He went off, hopefully, he will be back for game three in Dallas.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) is blocked by Boston Celtics’ Derrick White (9) and Jaylen Brown (7).Credit: AP
CLUTCH BLOCK AT THE END
Boston’s defence has been exceptional in the first two games and the chase-down block from Derrick White and Jaylen Brown on PJ Washington in the final minute said it all about the level of desperation Boston are defending with. Perhaps one of them fouled the Dallas forward but both got a chunk of the ball and stopped a bucket that would have cut the lead to three points. White was first to get his hand to Washington’s dunk attempt before Brown swiped it away. Holiday called it “elite defence”. White said both men just wanted to make a play, then figure out who got the block statistic. “We were arguing over who got the block,” White joked to ESPN post game. “That was me for sure.”
EXUM, GREEN PUSH FOR MINUTES
Dante Exum has been down the rotation in recent weeks but with the Mavericks needing more playmakers and to play at a faster pace, coach Jason Kidd threw him into the game late in the third quarter and he made an open three-pointer from a Doncic pass and played some tough defence. He opened the fourth quarter and did little wrong. Green had his moments and will continue to play his role but he may well be called upon to try and create more in game three given the need to free up Doncic and Kyrie Irving for some easy shots. Green can pass the ball too.