In Dallas, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics hold off Cooper Flagg

THE Celtics (32v-18d) stay in touch with the Knicks (32v-18d) in the race for 2nd place in the East. Last night in Dallas, Joe Mazzula’s team won their third in a row by defeating the Mavs (100-110). Success, which of course carries a sign Jailen Brownin a double-double (33 points and 11 rebounds).

Waiting for the arrival of Nikola Vucevic, acquired against Anferni Simmonsthe winger was excellently supported by a Payton Pritchard very inspired off the bench (26 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds). in front, Cooper Flaggfacing the team the Newportan grew up with for the first time, struggled and finished as the game’s leading scorer (36 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists), his third straight game with 30 or more points.

The visitors started to pull away in the second quarter, with a 16-point lead (34-50) on a 3-pointer. Luka Garza. The following minutes would allow the home team to stabilize this gap of around ten points.

Strong finish to the third quarter

Until the end of the third quarter, where the Celtics signed, on the basis of a great address to the distance, a very painful 14-4 for the Texans. With 10 minutes to go, Derrick White hit from under the circle and gave his team the biggest advantage of the match (69-92). This is where Cooper Flagg would try to multiply to wake up the Mavs. The display of talent unfortunately did not have a major impact on the result, because Dallas did not manage to string together the required rates in parallel.

Above all else, Jaylen Brown wanted to act like a boss, like his under-the-circle feint that got both Flagg and Daniel Gafford jumping. Three minutes from the end, Brown, who benefited from too much space in the opponent’s racket, signed a “floater” that almost touched the ceiling. And the gap remained at 15 points (93-108). Boston will not be worried in the remaining minutes.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

The Celtics bench crushes the Mavs bench. The Greens may have traded Anferni Simmons, but their bench still has value. The proof is also this match where Peyton Pritchard stood out, just like Luca Garza, unsustainable behind the arc (16 points on 6/8 shooting including 4/4 from distance). The two combined perfectly well in a pick-and-pop at the end of the third quarter, when the visitors took the lead. Note that Pritchard scored more points by himself than the entire opposing bench (22).

The Mavs are drifting away from the playoffs. For the first time this season, the Texans have lost five games in a row, putting them seriously out of contention. Dallas is 12th in the West with 19 wins and 31 losses. That’s a four-game difference with the Blazers (23w-27d), 10th. A dynamic that’s all the more troubling as the Texans now face their neighbors the Spurs twice, first at home and then in San Antonio. This trip will open a “road trip” (Suns, Lakers, Wolves, Pacers and Nets) spanning All-Star Weekend.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.