Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA Finals.

Tatum was coming off of playing 41 minutes in a tough loss to the Rockets on Monday night. However, he got the green light to play which comes as no surprise seeing as he’s been one of the more durable stars in the NBA this year, missing just three games thus far.

The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics met in Dallas on Saturday for their first matchup since last season's NBA Finals. Dallas was missing many key pieces, including starters Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II, while Boston was wrapping up a four-game road trip.

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA Finals.

Dallas led 16-6 just four minutes into the game and had a 29-25 advantage after one quarter. The Celtics built a 15-point lead in the second quarter, but the Mavericks scored the final five points in the half to trail 59-49. Boston had no turnovers in the first half.

Seven different Celtics had at least three assists, including Luke Kornet with FIVE. Daniel Gafford's name was thrown in trade rumors not even two weeks ago because of how poorly he'd been playing.

DALLAS — Jayson Tatum scored 24 points ... Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench and Daniel Gafford had 19 points and matched a season high with 15 rebounds ...

DALLAS — Jayson Tatum scored 24 points ... Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench and Daniel Gafford had 19 points and matched a season high with 15 rebounds ...

Ben Simmons has returned from five games out with illness and back soreness to help the Brooklyn Nets beat fellow NBA strugglers the Charlotte Hornets.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Keon Johnson led a balanced Brooklyn attack with 18 points, and the Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 104-83 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Jalen Wilson added 15 points and Tosan Evbuomwan had 14 for the Nets,

Australia's Ben Simmons has returned from a five-game absence amid doubt around his NBA future to help the Brooklyn Nets snap a seven-game

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