Jaylen Brown recorded 33 points and 11 rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-100 on Tuesday, February 3 at American Airlines Center. The result pushed Boston to 32-18, third in the Eastern Conference standings, while Dallas fell to 19-31 and matched its season-worst five-game losing streak.
The matchup featured a scoring duel between Brown and rookie Cooper Flagg, who finished with 36 points, nine rebounds and six assists. The No. 1 overall pick became the first teenager in NBA history to post three straight 30-point games, continuing a surge that included a 49-point outing five nights earlier.
Boston’s offense gained rhythm early behind Payton Pritchard, who scored 26 points and shot 12-of-20 from the field with seven assists. The guard had 15 points before halftime, and the visitors never trailed again after Brown hit consecutive 3-pointers midway through the first quarter to erase an early deficit.
Luka Garza provided a decisive spark in the third period by drilling four 3-pointers during a 14-4 run that extended the lead to 86-67. The big man scored 16 points in 20 minutes, helping the Celtics shoot 47-of-96 overall and 13-of-39 from long range.
Dallas relied heavily on Flagg’s creation, while Daniel Gafford added 10 points and 12 rebounds despite aggravating a right ankle injury that had sidelined him for 16 games earlier this season. Caleb Martin scored 13 points and Max Christie added 10, but the Mavericks shot 42% from the field and 9-of-32 from beyond the arc, which limited their comeback chances.
Boston played without Anfernee Simons following a trade that sent him to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic earlier in the day. The roster adjustment placed more ball-handling responsibility on Pritchard and Derrick White, who combined for 34 points and 15 assists.
The Celtics led by as many as 23 points in the second half and controlled the rebounding margin 47-49, while Brown’s shot volume created spacing that allowed secondary scorers to attack closeouts. Flagg kept Dallas within range late with aggressive drives and free-throw shooting, finishing 10-of-11 at the line.
Boston continues its Texas trip against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen its position near the top of the East. Dallas returns home Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs before visiting the same opponent on Saturday, seeking to halt its slide in the Western Conference race.
