According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, the Boston Celtics’ upcoming matchup against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks (scheduled for Nov. 11) will be aired on NBA TV, replacing a previously scheduled matchup between the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.
While the Rockets are the only team with two MVPs on their roster and the Pelicans have been competitive throughout the season, New Orleans doesn’t have star rookie forward Zion Williamson at their disposal after he was diagnosed with a meniscus tear prior to the season. As a result, their matchup will have less star power than a showdown between the Celtics’ stars — Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward — and the Mavs’ euro duo in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Furthermore, with a 5-1 record, the Boston Celtics are now the top team in the Eastern Conference standings and the buzz around Beantown is much more positive than it was at this point last season.
Led by Walker, a three-time All-Star, and Tatum (a All-Star hopeful), the Celtics have shared the ball well and managed to overcome slow starts because of the type of firepower they have offensively. Behind Walker and Tatum are Hayward, looking to return to All-Star form and wing Jaylen Brown, who was Boston’s most consistent player prior to succumbing to an illness that’s kept him out of the Celtics’ last three games.
Together, the quartet averages 84.9 points per game, with three players averaging at least 20 points per contest.
With Doncic acting as the conductor of Dallas’ offensive orchestra, averaging 9.5 assists per game (ranked second in the NBA), he and Porzingis average a combined 47.2 points per game.
Considering Doncic’s average of 26.7 points per game (ranked seventh in the league) is just above Walker’s average of 26.0 points per game (ranked 12th in the NBA), so the point guard battle should be an explosive one.
As intra-conference matchups that feature two teams unlikely to meet in the NBA Finals, fans should savor the gameplay of two teams with upper-end talent. Especially as it’s aired nationally.
The two teams will meet again on Dec. 18, although next time, Boston will be the team fighting for a win on the road.
