Luka Doncic's Mavericks Shocked Before Celtics Clash

The Dallas Mavericks were stunned at home on Friday night, falling 110-107 to the Boston Celtics. It was a shocking loss for the Mavericks, who were playing without their star player, Luka Doncic. Doncic is nursing a calf injury and is expected to miss several games.

The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who scored 32 points. Jaylen Brown added 25 points and Marcus Smart chipped in with 23 points. The Mavericks were led by Kristaps Porzingis, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 20 points.

The Mavericks were in control for most of the game, but the Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter. The Celtics took the lead with just over two minutes remaining and held on for the victory.

The loss is a big setback for the Mavericks, who are now 9-9 on the season. The Celtics, meanwhile, improve to 12-6.

What went wrong for the Mavericks?

There were a number of factors that contributed to the Mavericks' loss. First, they were without their best player, Luka Doncic. Doncic is the Mavericks' leading scorer and assists leader. Without him, the Mavericks' offense struggled to generate consistent offense.

Second, the Mavericks were outrebounded by the Celtics 51-39. The Celtics were able to get second-chance opportunities and they took advantage of them. The Mavericks also struggled to defend the Celtics' three-point shooting. The Celtics made 14 three-pointers in the game.

Finally, the Mavericks made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes down the stretch. They turned the ball over five times in the fourth quarter and they missed several free throws. These mistakes proved to be costly.

What's next for the Mavericks?

The Mavericks will have to regroup quickly as they face a tough schedule in the coming weeks. They will play the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. Both of those teams are among the best in the NBA.

The Mavericks will need to find a way to win without Doncic if they want to stay in contention for a playoff spot. They will also need to improve their rebounding and three-point defense.

Conclusion

The Mavericks' loss to the Celtics was a disappointing setback, but it is not the end of the season. The Mavericks have a talented roster and they have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the NBA. They will need to find a way to win without Doncic if they want to stay in contention for a playoff spot.

The Mavericks' next game is on Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are one of the best teams in the NBA and they will be a tough challenge for the Mavericks. However, the Mavericks have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the league. They will need to play their best game if they want to win.