Klay Thompson’s electric first-half performance powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 127-120 victory over the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, flipping the script in a highly anticipated Finals rematch.
Thompson, acquired in the offseason, erupted for 23 of his team-high 25 points in the first half, setting the tone for Dallas in their first return to Boston since their Game 5 loss in last season’s NBA Finals.
The Mavericks entered the game amid major roster changes, with Luka Dončić, who led them to the Finals last season, being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal for star big man Anthony Davis. However, Davis’ debut for Dallas was delayed once again as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.
Despite Davis’ absence, the Mavericks found plenty of firepower. Kyrie Irving contributed 19 points, while Daniel Gafford, filling in at center, added eight points and 15 rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie led the bench with 22 points, helping Dallas’ reserves outscore Boston’s bench 57-45.
“Klay’s very comfortable in this building,” Irving said of his new teammate. “You can tell he has a confidence about him when he walked in. He got us focused at shootaround and helped settle our nerves.”
The Mavericks built a commanding 27-point lead early in the fourth quarter, prompting Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to pull his starters. Boston’s bench fought back in the final minutes, with Payton Pritchard scoring 21 points to trim the deficit to single digits.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points, while Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis added 17 each. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome Dallas’ early dominance.
Elsewhere in the NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards continued his scorching form, dropping 41 points in a 127-114 win over the Houston Rockets. One day after his 49-point explosion against Chicago, Edwards set a franchise record with his 14th career 40-point game, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns. The 23-year-old also became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers, surpassing Dončić.
Meanwhile, reigning MVP Nikola Jokić delivered his 24th triple-double of the season, tallying 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in just three quarters as the Denver Nuggets cruised past the Orlando Magic 112-90 for their fifth straight win.
