The Boston Celtics readily admit that the aftermath of their championship celebration has impacted their intensity this season. “We were a lion last season, and some games this year we’ve looked like a house cat,” center Kristaps Porzingis said after the Celtics’ 122-107 win Saturday over the Dallas Mavericks. “We want to have that spirit as a team this year, and it’s tough. Obviously we can’t trick ourselves and make it [like] it’s playoffs every game. It’s tough, just human nature. But we know the group that we have and we know that we’re going to bring it to the big games, but we need to bring it consistently and keep building on top of good wins like tonight.”
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Brad Townsend @townbrad
See what Kristaps Porzingis wished for the Mavericks in his return to Dallas dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 10:25 PM
See what Kristaps Porzingis wished for the Mavericks in his return to Dallas dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 10:25 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Kristaps Porzingis had a solid return to American Airlines Center and had some interesting comments about the Celtics and his time with the Mavericks. Here’s the Mavs-Celtics notebook:
mavs.com/porzingis-retu… – 9:58 PM
Kristaps Porzingis had a solid return to American Airlines Center and had some interesting comments about the Celtics and his time with the Mavericks. Here’s the Mavs-Celtics notebook:
mavs.com/porzingis-retu… – 9:58 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Porzingis: We were a lion last season, and in some games this year we’ve looked like a house cat. – 8:53 PM
Porzingis: We were a lion last season, and in some games this year we’ve looked like a house cat. – 8:53 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics end road trip with 122-107 win over #Mavericks, good response from LAL loss. Tatum 24, White 23, Brown 22, Porzingis 18, Holiday 17. – 8:08 PM
#Celtics end road trip with 122-107 win over #Mavericks, good response from LAL loss. Tatum 24, White 23, Brown 22, Porzingis 18, Holiday 17. – 8:08 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Strong, balanced performance from the entire Celtics starting 5 tonight:
White: 23-5-4
Holiday: 17-3-4
Brown: 22-8-6
Tatum: 24-6-3
Porzingis: 18-4-5 – 8:08 PM
Strong, balanced performance from the entire Celtics starting 5 tonight:
White: 23-5-4
Holiday: 17-3-4
Brown: 22-8-6
Tatum: 24-6-3
Porzingis: 18-4-5 – 8:08 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Celtics starters in the Finals rematch:
White — 23 PTS | 5 REB | 4 3P
Brown — 22 PTS | 8 REB | 6 AST
Tatum — 24 PTS | 6 REB | 4 3P
Porzingis — 18 PTS | 5 AST | 2 BLK
Holiday — 17 PTS | 2 STOCK | 5 3P pic.x.com/E2yd037kbm – 8:07 PM
Celtics starters in the Finals rematch:
White — 23 PTS | 5 REB | 4 3P
Brown — 22 PTS | 8 REB | 6 AST
Tatum — 24 PTS | 6 REB | 4 3P
Porzingis — 18 PTS | 5 AST | 2 BLK
Holiday — 17 PTS | 2 STOCK | 5 3P pic.x.com/E2yd037kbm – 8:07 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Some lapses in this one, especially on the boards, and another slow start, but getting White/Jrue back on track, continuing Porzingis’ momentum & the new rotation working are all progress…has to carry over to Monday vs. HOU, who will likely have Thompson/Eason this time. – 8:04 PM
Some lapses in this one, especially on the boards, and another slow start, but getting White/Jrue back on track, continuing Porzingis’ momentum & the new rotation working are all progress…has to carry over to Monday vs. HOU, who will likely have Thompson/Eason this time. – 8:04 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
I love the look of these Porzingis corner crashes. Might be a new wrinkle the #Celtics found in recent weeks. – 7:50 PM
I love the look of these Porzingis corner crashes. Might be a new wrinkle the #Celtics found in recent weeks. – 7:50 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Porzingis giving these guys a massive lift. Has hit 33 of his last 57 shots. – 6:40 PM
Porzingis giving these guys a massive lift. Has hit 33 of his last 57 shots. – 6:40 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Really nice two-man game between KP and Jaylen pic.x.com/A1g047fLIR – 6:37 PM
Really nice two-man game between KP and Jaylen pic.x.com/A1g047fLIR – 6:37 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Feels like forever since we’ve seen that KP/JB connection
bsky.app/profile/johnka… – 6:25 PM
Feels like forever since we’ve seen that KP/JB connection
bsky.app/profile/johnka… – 6:25 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics gaining some offensive traction, on a 16-4 run to begin 2Q. Nice bounce pass from Porzingis to Brown for the dunk and #Mavericks timeout. BOS 41, DAL 33, 6:26 left in 2Q. – 6:24 PM
#Celtics gaining some offensive traction, on a 16-4 run to begin 2Q. Nice bounce pass from Porzingis to Brown for the dunk and #Mavericks timeout. BOS 41, DAL 33, 6:26 left in 2Q. – 6:24 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Mixed reaction when Porzingis introduced. It’s been nearly 3 years since he was traded, after all, but this will be his first game playing in AAC since then. pic.x.com/LqvHipB2Y9 – 5:38 PM
Mixed reaction when Porzingis introduced. It’s been nearly 3 years since he was traded, after all, but this will be his first game playing in AAC since then. pic.x.com/LqvHipB2Y9 – 5:38 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Believe it or not this is Kristaps Porzingis’ first game in AAC since his trade to Washington in 2022. Here’s what we wrote about him before Game 3 of the Finals here — when he was unable to play.
Is KP playing? New team, familiar story for Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis before – 5:29 PM
Believe it or not this is Kristaps Porzingis’ first game in AAC since his trade to Washington in 2022. Here’s what we wrote about him before Game 3 of the Finals here — when he was unable to play.
Is KP playing? New team, familiar story for Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis before – 5:29 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Listening to Chuck Cooperstein on the court with Chris Arnold, he just said the last time Kristaps Porzingis played at AAC as an opponent was January, 2018. Sounds about right. – 4:54 PM
Listening to Chuck Cooperstein on the court with Chris Arnold, he just said the last time Kristaps Porzingis played at AAC as an opponent was January, 2018. Sounds about right. – 4:54 PM
More on this storyline
Bobby Krivitsky: The Celtics end their four-game road trip on a high note with a 122-107 win in a Finals rematch vs. a shorthanded Mavs team. Jayson Tatum: 24 points, 6 rebounds, Jaylen Brown: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, Derrick White: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, Kristaps Porzingis: 18 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, Jrue Holiday: 17 points, 4 assists. Boston: Only 5 turnovers, 21-10 advantage in points off giveaways, 33 assists on 44 FGs, 20/52 (38.5%) on 3s. -via Twitter / January 25, 2025
Gary Washburn: Holiday, Porzingis and Horford are all OUT tonight for #Celtics. #Clippers -via Twitter @GwashburnGlobe / January 22, 2025
Cameron Tabatabaie: Celtics downgrade Kristaps Porzingis to questionable tonight against LAC. He’s dealing with a non-covid illness Horford and Holiday remain questionable -via Bluesky / January 22, 2025