Celtics at Mavericks
The Boston Celtics took out some frustration in the opener of a three-game road trip and will attempt to make it two wins in a row when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. After a three-game losing streak that was capped by a home loss to the lowly New York Knicks, the Celtics produced 45 first-quarter points en route to a 114-96 win at Atlanta on Friday.
Boston got six players into double figures -- led by 16 points from Aron Baynes -- and led by as many as 29 points to snap a three-game road slide. "I just thought our pace was really good, starters and the bench," Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the media after he was able to spread the minutes around on the front end of a back-to-back. The Mavericks have won six of their last eight and five of the victories have come at home, where they are 7-2. Harrison Barnes scored a season-high 28 points in Wednesday's 119-113 win over Brooklyn as Dallas improved to 4-3 against Eastern Conference opponents.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE CELTICS (10-9): Baynes needed just 23 minutes to produce his 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot, and no starter played more than 24 minutes against Atlanta. Gordon Hayward, who has struggled at times as he works his way back from last season's foot injury, is averaging 15 points over his last two games as he continues to get used to a new bench role. Boston played Friday without forward Al Horford (knee) but hopes to have him available in Dallas.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (8-9): Barnes hit five 3-pointers in Wednesday's win and reserve guards Devin Harris and J.J. Barea added 18 points apiece, with Harris providing four steals in his best performance since returning from a hamstring injury. "He's been awesome since he came back," Barea told reporters of Harris. "Smart player, defensively, offensively. He really had a great game tonight. And we needed it from the bench." While the veterans have stood tall, 20-year-old guard Dennis Smith Jr. is battling a wrist ailment and scored a season-low four points on 19 minutes against the Nets.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Mavericks SG Wesley Matthews (hamstring) has missed four of the last five games and C Dwight Powell (knee) sat out the last two contests.
2. Celtics SF Jayson Tatum has zero turnovers in 82 minutes over his last three games.
3. Boston has won four straight meetings, including an overtime matchup in Dallas last year in which Irving scored 47 points.