Luka Doncic out of sorts as Jayson Tatum, Celtics snap Mavs’ win streak with ease

Luka Doncic coughed. He grimaced. He clearly was out of sorts, although the Mavericks kept telling us he was fine.
Then again Doncic and the Mavericks, with their NBA-high seven-game winning streak, no longer were facing sub -.500 competition. Thursday’s opponent, Boston, brought to American Airlines Center the NBA’s best record.
The ease of the Celtics’ 124-95 victory probably have had more to do with the significant step up in competition than whether Doncic was ill and/or injured, but the result was no less emphatic.
That double-thud you probably heard was the end of the Mavericks’ winning streak and Dallas’ collective 7-of-32 3-point shooting (21.9%).
And Doncic, who averaged a blistering 41.7 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists during the winning streak, was limited to 23 points and 9 rebounds and didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks said Doncic wasn’t ill, but numerous times on the court and on the sideline he was coughing and seemingly having trouble catching his breath. He left the court and went to the locker room during the first half, but the Mavericks said it was to re-tape his left ankle.
So much for TNT’s hoped-for showdown between MVP candidates Doncic and Jayson Tatum (29 points, 10 assists), and between the Celtics (27-12) and the league’s alleged hottest team. Asked what he told his team after the game, coach Jason Kidd described the Celtics as a measuring stick.
“We just lost to the best team in the league,” he said. “You can look and see how they played. The ball was shared. They executed their game plan. They did a lot of things. They got to the Finals last year and have a new coach.”
Also, the Celtics also were coming off two straight losses, most recently a 150-117 drubbing at Oklahoma City, so besides the national TV setting and MVP battle, Boston clearly had extra incentive.
“We have a tough stretch here,” Kidd said. “We don’t have the stretch that we just went through. We’re playing better teams. And so we got to be able to execute. We got to be able to make shots and if we’re not making shots, we got to figure out how to play a little bit better defense.”
The combined record of Dallas’ seven victims during its winning streak was 78-115. Next Dallas hosts Western Conference contender New Orleans (24-14) on Saturday, although the Pelicans won’t have injured Zion Williamson.
Dallas only led once Thursday, 9-7. With a 35-point second quarter, the Celtics took a 64-46 halftime lead. Three days after rallying from 18 down to win at Houston, the Mavericks certainly realized these weren’t the Rockets they were chasing.
Perhaps, too, the Mavericks finally showed their short-handedness, missing three key rotation players.
Maxi Kleber (hamstring surgery) is out indefinitely. Kidd said that Josh Green (right elbow strain) and Dorian Finney-Smith (right adductor strain) have begun light contact work and will accompany Dallas on its five-game road trip that begins Sunday in Oklahoma City, with hopes that one or both might return to games toward the end of the trip.
“We’ve got to do our jobs,” said Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored 18 points Thursday. “We can’t be in the business of making excuses. Anytime you’ve got the best player in the world on the floor, you’ve got a chance to win. And then two-through-10, whoever’s going to play, just has to do their job.”
On this night Doncic arguably wasn’t the best player on the court, in part because from all appearances he wasn’t himself physically, and because Tatum broke loose for 13 fourth-quarter points while Doncic remained on the bench.
The good news, Dinwiddie said, is that after more than a few blown games early in the season, the seven-game winning streak lifted Dallas (22-17) to fourth in the West.
“We can’t afford to revert back,” he said. “Obviously losing to the Celtics, on paper, isn’t the most terrible loss in the world. You just try to have a more cohesive showing and a better defensive showing, of course.
“But that kind of is what it is and we move forward and try to start a new win streak.”
Twitter: @townbrad
Photos: Luka Doncic out of sorts as Celtics snap Mavs’ win streak [ 38 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) and guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) react to a first half foul against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 1 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, hangs out court side with his family and Marin Feuer who helped facilitate the visit before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 2 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, hangs out court side with his family before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 3 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, sports his flex as he hangs out court side with his mom Carly Harris, dad Chase Harris and sister Charlee before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 4 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, hangs out court side with his dad Chase Harris and sister Charlee before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 5 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, hangs out court side with his dad Chase Harris and sister Charlee before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 6 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to contain a cough in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 7 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) runs back down court after hitting a late second quarter three-pointer against Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 8 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) puts up a jumper over Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 9 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari (8) passes the ball from his back after he and Dallas Mavericks guard Frank Ntilikina (21) dove for a loose ball during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 10 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) lays up a shot over Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 11 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to contain a cough in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 12 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) slaps Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) across the face as he tried to make a defensive rebound in the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 13 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) has treatment on his left leg as he sits out the first part of the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 14 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Kemba Walker (34) lays up a shot past Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 15 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to contain a cough in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 16 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) holds his chest after trying to contain a cough in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 17 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) has treatment on his left leg as he sits out the first part of the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 18 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to contain a cough in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 19 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari (8) and Dallas Mavericks guard Frank Ntilikina (21) dove for a loose ball during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 20 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) puts on his shoe as he returns to the lineup in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 21 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) dunks the ball over Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 22 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) draws the foul on Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) near the end of the first quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 23 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard McKinley Wright IV (23) reacts after the buzzer sounds on the end of the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 24 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) reacts to being called for a foul on Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 25 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) puts up a shot as is fouled by Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (7) during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 26 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) puts up a one-legged shot over Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 27 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (center) watches the fourth quarter from the bench as the Boston Celtics pull away at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 28 / 38 ] Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) takes a shot over Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (3) during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 29 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) puts up a shot as is fouled by Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (7) during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 30 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) makes a pass around Dallas Mavericks center JaVale McGee (00) during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 31 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard McKinley Wright IV (23) reacts after the buzzer sounds at the end of the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 32 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) looses the ball momentarily against Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) in the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 33 / 38 ] Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball on the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 34 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) guards Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) from going to the basket during the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 35 / 38 ] Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari (8) collects a loose ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Frank Ntilikina (21) lands on him during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 36 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles around Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 37 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) shoots over Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 38 / 38 ] Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) and guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) react to a first half foul against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) [ 1 / 38 ] Cash Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, hangs out court side with his family and Marin Feuer who helped facilitate the visit before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, January 5, 2023. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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