GDT: Mavs vs Celtics 01/18/16 7:30pm CT

[Underdog]

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle rested plenty of his starters the last two times his club played in the second half of back-to-back contests. That probably won't happen this time since most of his stars got plenty of rest in a blowout loss in the first game.

The Mavericks figure to be at full strength as they look to bounce back Monday night by defeating the visiting Boston Celtics for the seventh straight meeting.

Carlisle rested starters Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews and Zaza Pachulia in a 100-91 victory at New Orleans on Jan. 6 the night after a double-overtime win over Sacramento. The coach did one better when he sat those four along with Chandler Parsons in Wednesday's 108-89 defeat at Oklahoma City one night after losing in overtime to Cleveland.

On both occasions, he cited the heavy minutes logged by the starters in the first game. That won't be the case this time since Parsons' 28 minutes were the most on the team in Sunday's 112-83 loss at San Antonio.

Carlisle wasn't even around for the end since he was ejected 43 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Mavericks (23-19) actually led by two after one before things quickly fell apart.

"We've just got to play better," he told the club's official website. "I loved our first quarter. Second quarter, we had some mistakes that really took the air out of the game. We had a chance to recover, and we didn't."

Dallas has lost four of six overall and is 2-5 at home against Eastern Conference foes.

The Mavericks have taken the last five home meetings with the Celtics, and won 106-102 at Boston on Nov. 18 to extend their overall run in the series. Nowitzki scored 23 and Matthews added 18 as Dallas rallied from an 18-point deficit.

Isaiah Thomas was relatively held in check that night with his team-high 19 points. He is averaging 29.6 points in his last five games, with a 32-point effort in Saturday's 119-117 victory at Washington.

Thomas is among the NBA's leaders with 11.5 drives per game.

"He's just going," coach Brad Stevens said. "He's got a nice rhythm. We've got guys that are looking for him. He's playing on and off the ball, which I think is good."

Boston (22-19) is averaging 113.0 points in a three-game win streak coinciding with Jared Sullinger replacing Kelly Olynyk in the starting lineup at center. Jae Crowder is averaging 21.3 points in this run and Olynyk has provided a spark at 14.3.

"We've got a lot of guys that are really contributing and it's been good to get these last three," Stevens said.

Crowder will play at Dallas for the first time since he was traded by the Mavericks to the Celtics in the Rajon Rondo deal on Dec. 18, 2014. Second-year guard Marcus Smart, who has 23 points in his last two games, grew up not far from the city in Flower Mound, Texas.

The Mavs struggled on offense in a 1-2 trip, averaging 85.0 points on 37.9 percent shooting. They shot a season-low 35.8 percent Sunday.

Matthews was the only starter to score in double digits with 12 points. Nowitzki, Parsons and Pachulia combined for 14 points on 5-of-24 shooting.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828510

[EricaLubarsky]

I miss Jae.

[Melonhead]

Another above 500 team. Probably a loss, long shot of a win. But it's a shot.

Feel sad about Jae. He blossomed once he left Carlisle system. Wish we could get him back but he's found a home in Boston.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The Mavericks (23-19) actually led by two after one before things quickly fell apart.

This is becoming a habit.
This team seems to come unraveled extremely quickly and I don't understand it with the veteran leadership.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

This is becoming a habit.
This team seems to come unraveled extremely quickly and I don't understand it with the veteran leadership.

The chemistry isnt there. And there's nothing to fall back on when they get behind. Where's the scoring going to come from? Dirk is shooting bad, Wes normally shoots bad, Parsons is good for 1 in every 5 games, Williams seems to be the most consistent. And then theres Zaza. Hes great, but he cant do it all and needs someone to get him the ball in the right spots.

[CGM]

...the Celticks will pay for last night's embarrassment against the Sperz... there is no way on Earth that Don Dirk and his posse allow the Bostonian gang to win on their home turf...

Mavs - 109
Celticks - 101

[Bryan_Wilson]

I'd like to think that after 2 games in a row of just about the worst offense in the NBA that the Mavericks would show up with some fire and pride.

However, I'm just going to flip a coin before tip off and judge them based on that. Seems legit enough based on what they have shown us this season.

[yahyes]

Mavs can erase that loss last night from their memory with a win. They gotta bounce back.

[turin]

Tonight looks like Parson's 1 good game in 5. Mavs will win tonight if he keeps this pace up.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Weird how set in stone some of these lineup changes are for RC. CP hits 2 3's and has Crowder guessing on pump fakes and RC takes him out at the usual first sub. Then on first bad TO he calls a timeout when we are up 17-4?

[yahyes]

Up Tempo

[turin]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

This is becoming a habit.
This team seems to come unraveled extremely quickly and I don't understand it with the veteran leadership.

Turnovers do them in. They play well for a stretch, then a cascade of turnovers cost them 10+ points in less than 2 minutes, and they're stunned. I think it's sloppy play with a lack of focus on the importance of every possession.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Oh good grief I wish I could rewind this and hear what was just said... all I caught from Boston broadcast was- "Kelly has similar skills equal or better than Dirk".























This just in Boston drug crimes are up.

[Melonhead]

HAHAHAHA BUZZER 3...YA DONT SAY?

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

HAHAHAHA BUZZER 3...YA DONT SAY?

Swear to freaking God we give up more bullshit 3's than the rest of the NBA combined.

[yahyes]

JJ time

[Skywalker]

Of course that 3 goes in. Also, be ready for the inevitable run by Boston

[turin]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Swear to freaking God we give up more bullshit 3's than the rest of the NBA combined.

Unreal isn't it? Game after game after game this year. SMH

[yahyes]

Felton though

[turin]

Nice to see that little Mav run.

[yahyes]

Point guard JJ works too

[yahyes]

That jerebko guy with the celtics is playing like it's last game of the season. Mavs defense can't let up

[Melonhead]

Dont get down guys. Itll be tied by half. The ebb and flow of basketball...




...unless youre the warriors or spurs. Deer Lourde.

[yahyes]

Mavs have been up while Dirk has scored 4 points so far. These kind of leads are the time where he can extend the lead

[Melonhead]

FK that did not look good for Deron. FKN REFS Carlisle should be up their ass for that no call

[Bryan_Wilson]

How in the world is that not a blocking fo... oh nvm... watching Mavericks basketball.

[TheSportyChannel]

Chandler Parsons looks like he can take over once Dirk retires. Superstar potential

[Bryan_Wilson]

Crowder, undercover Maverick.

0-7, 1 rebound, 1 DWill knee, 15mins.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Crowder, undercover Maverick.

0-7, 1 rebound, 1 DWill knee, 15mins.

lol

[TheSportyChannel]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Crowder, undercover Maverick.

0-7, 1 rebound, 1 DWill knee, 15mins.

He's probably marked this game on his calender and got to excited to play his former team to show he got better. He's better than this and I'd still take Jae and his contract over Parsons.

[yahyes]

I don't know if Deron should play much if he feels aggravating knee pain. Time for JJ and Felton to step up.

[turin]

This game is getting uncomfortably close. I'm fearing a Maverick turnover spurt about now. Hope I'm wrong.

[turin]

More ugly basketball. SMH

[turin]

Mav's need to be driving the rim.

[BPo001]

Layup line for Thomas right now.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Layup drill and we can't put McGee in? God I'm so sick of small ball

[DGM]

Rick refuses to deploy his shot blocker.

[DGM]

Powell is awful tonight.

[TheSportyChannel]

Parsons with a terrible shooting 3 and the gets his shot blocked. I've hate Parsons since last year. I have been right all along when Mavs fans used to make fun of me cause I said Parsons would never live up to his contract. This man is going to be one of the worst players in Dallas Mavericks history. He will be joining the Clippers in the future and we will all be booing him. Trust me cause for some reason my predictions usually come true.

[turin]

What's up with no McGee tonight? SMH. Thank heavens Harris is hitting 3's or this game would be almost out of reach.