Australia’s Dante Exum has played an important role as the Dallas Mavericks posted their first victory since the bombshell Luka Doncic trade with an upset 127-120 road win over Boston.
Mavs superstar Klay Thompson scored 25 points while Spencer Dinwiddie (22) and Naji Marshall (20) shone off the bench to help Dallas snap the Celtics’ four-game winning streak on Friday (AEDT).
Exum, in his fourth game back from a long-term wrist injury, scored a season-best 15 points on five-of-eight shooting from the field and added five assists.
For the first time in team history, Dallas had three starters and three bench players score 15 or more points.
The Mavericks’ win over last year’s NBA Finals opponent improved their season record to 27-25, while the reigning champion Celtics (36-16) remain second in the Eastern Conference.
Kyrie Irving added 19 for the Mavs in his first regular-season win over the Celtics since 2001, after losing 15 of his previous 16 encounters with his former team.
“We got out in that early lead and we just wanted to keep the pressure on them,” Irving told TNT.
“It’s tough to win in this building.
“My record hasn’t been great as of late against them, so it was good to go against them and play well.”
Irving has had more time with the ball since Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the move that rocked the NBA world.
“It’s been a bit of an adjustment but it’s exciting,” Irving said.
“We’ve got new guys out there and we’re just trying to get as many reps as we can but we don’t have that much practice time.
“It feels good to get the guys acclimated and look towards the future. It’s bright for us.”
Thompson didn’t score in the final period as Boston rallied, threatening to pull off what would have been a remarkable comeback when they slashed a 27-point deficit back to single figures.
But Dallas steadied and held on despite the efforts of Jaylen Brown (25 points), Payton Pritchard (21), Kristaps Porzingis (17) and Jayson Tatum (17).
Received by the Mavs in the Doncic trade, Anthony Davis remains sidelined with an abdominal strain.
Slovenian superstar Doncic, who has joined LeBron James at the Lakers, has not played since suffering a calf strain last month.
He didn’t suit up for the start of LA’s three-game home stand against Golden State, but could debut for his new team within a week.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/mavs-upset-celtics-for-first-win-of-post-doncic-era-c-17643284
