BOSTON -- — Klay Thompson scored 25 points, Daniel Gafford gave the Mavericks 15 rebounds in what could be his last start at center for a while and Dallas beat the Boston Celtics 127-120 on Thursday night in their NBA Finals rematch.

With recently acquired big man Anthony Davis out with an abdominal strain and cheering on his new teammates from the bench, the Mavericks led by 27 points in the second half. Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points off the bench.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla put in his bench, and they unexpectedly pulled within single digits in the final minute.

Jaylen Brown, who won the NBA Finals MVP in June while leading Boston to a five-game victory over Dallas, scored 25 points and Jayson Tatum had 17. Payton Pritchard scored 21 to lead the second-string rally.

Takeaways

Dallas: Davis' anticipated debut with Dallas after he was acquired on Sunday for five-time All-NBA first-teamer Luka Doncic will have to wait until at least Saturday.

Boston: The finals rivals played both of their regular-season matchups this year in the last two weeks and split them. A potential rematch this summer is likely to turn on who is available.

Key moment

Irving had a slow start, with just four points in the first half. But with just under 10 minutes left he pulled up for a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Mavericks a 114-90 lead – their biggest of the game. After a timeout, Irving hit another 3 – this one a second-chance basket from the left side.

Key stat

Thompson scored 23 in the first half.

Up next

The Mavericks host Houston on Saturday and Boston visits the New York Knicks on Saturday.

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Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Daniel Gafford vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Jaylen Brown gains possession)	0	0
11:47	Klay Thompson shooting foul	0	0
11:47	Kristaps Porzingis makes free throw 1 of 2	1	0
11:47	Kristaps Porzingis misses free throw 2 of 2	1	0
11:47	Daniel Gafford defensive rebound	1	0
11:33	Klay Thompson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Daniel Gafford assists)	1	3
11:10	Kristaps Porzingis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jayson Tatum assists)	4	3
10:56	Klay Thompson makes driving layup (Kyrie Irving assists)	4	5
10:43	Jayson Tatum lost ball turnover (Kyrie Irving steals)	4	5
10:26	Dante Exum traveling	4	5
10:13	Jaylen Brown misses 18-foot pullup jump shot	4	5
10:12	Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound	4	5
10:12	Kristaps Porzingis misses dunk	4	5
10:11	Klay Thompson defensive rebound	4	5
10:03	Dante Exum makes 25-foot three point shot (Klay Thompson assists)	4	8
9:46	Kessler Edwards personal foul	4	8
9:37	Daniel Gafford blocks Jayson Tatum 's 3-foot layup	4	8
9:36	Kessler Edwards defensive rebound	4	8
9:31	Kyrie Irving makes two point shot (Kessler Edwards assists)	4	10
9:21	Kristaps Porzingis offensive foul	4	10
9:21	Kristaps Porzingis turnover	4	10
9:03	Klay Thompson makes 20-foot pullup jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists)	4	12
8:48	Jaylen Brown makes 23-foot three point jumper (Derrick White assists)	7	12
8:36	Kyrie Irving makes 16-foot pullup jump shot	7	14
8:23	Jaylen Brown makes 16-foot two point shot	9	14
8:23	Daniel Gafford shooting foul	9	14
8:23	Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 1	10	14
8:11	Klay Thompson misses driving floating jump shot	10	14
8:10	Jaylen Brown defensive rebound	10	14
8:05	Jayson Tatum misses dunk	10	14
8:03	Kessler Edwards defensive rebound	10	14
7:57	Klay Thompson makes 24-foot three point shot (Dante Exum assists)	10	17
7:56	Celtics Full timeout	10	17
7:56	Spencer Dinwiddie enters the game for Dante Exum	10	17
7:37	Kristaps Porzingis makes dunk (Derrick White assists)	12	17
7:23	Klay Thompson misses 26-foot three point jumper	12	17
7:22	Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound	12	17
7:09	Derrick White misses 25-foot three point jumper	12	17
7:08	Kyrie Irving defensive rebound	12	17
6:59	Kyrie Irving misses 24-foot three point pullup jump shot	12	17
6:58	Jayson Tatum defensive rebound	12	17
6:43	Jaylen Brown misses driving floating jump shot	12	17
6:42	Daniel Gafford defensive rebound	12	17
6:28	Kyrie Irving misses two point shot	12	17
6:27	Al Horford defensive rebound	12	17
6:17	Daniel Gafford defensive 3-seconds (technical foul)	12	17
6:17	Jayson Tatum makes technical free throw	13	17
6:17	Luke Kornet enters the game for Jayson Tatum	13	17
6:17	Payton Pritchard enters the game for Al Horford	13	17
6:17	Max Christie enters the game for Kessler Edwards	13	17
6:17	Naji Marshall enters the game for Klay Thompson	13	17
6:09	Derrick White makes 16-foot driving floating jump shot (Luke Kornet assists)	15	17
5:42	Max Christie misses 23-foot three point jumper	15	17
5:41	Naji Marshall offensive rebound	15	17
5:31	Daniel Gafford makes 10-foot two point shot (Max Christie assists)	15	19
5:16	Derrick White makes 24-foot three point jumper (Payton Pritchard assists)	18	19
4:48	Spencer Dinwiddie misses 31-foot three point jumper	18	19
4:47	Payton Pritchard defensive rebound	18	19
4:35	Derrick White lost ball turnover (Kyrie Irving steals)	18	19
4:26	Spencer Dinwiddie makes 5-foot two point shot	18	21
4:03	Jaylen Brown misses 9-foot two point shot	18	21
4:02	Max Christie defensive rebound	18	21
3:56	Spencer Dinwiddie makes 15-foot running pullup jump shot	18	23
3:56	Payton Pritchard shooting foul	18	23
3:56	Olivier-Maxence Prosper enters the game for Daniel Gafford	18	23
3:56	Spencer Dinwiddie makes free throw 1 of 1	18	24
3:40	Derrick White makes 26-foot three pointer (Kristaps Porzingis assists)	21	24
3:15	Naji Marshall misses 26-foot three point jumper	21	24
3:14	Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound	21	24
3:05	Jaylen Brown lost ball turnover (Kyrie Irving steals)	21	24
3:02	Kyrie Irving misses running pullup jump shot	21	24
3:00	Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound	21	24
2:47	Jaylen Brown lost ball turnover (Naji Marshall steals)	21	24
2:41	Spencer Dinwiddie makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot	21	27
2:12	Kristaps Porzingis misses 17-foot two point shot	21	27
2:11	Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound	21	27
2:03	Spencer Dinwiddie misses 25-foot three point jumper	21	27
2:02	Olivier-Maxence Prosper offensive rebound	21	27
2:00	Kristaps Porzingis blocks Olivier-Maxence Prosper 's 3-foot two point shot	21	27
1:59	Jaylen Brown defensive rebound	21	27
1:56	Mavericks Full timeout	21	27
1:56	Jayson Tatum enters the game for Jaylen Brown	21	27
1:56	Sam Hauser enters the game for Kristaps Porzingis	21	27
1:56	Al Horford enters the game for Derrick White	21	27
1:56	Dante Exum enters the game for Kyrie Irving	21	27
1:54	Payton Pritchard misses 23-foot three point jumper	21	27
1:52	Celtics offensive team rebound	21	27
1:51	Payton Pritchard steps out of bounds turnover	21	27
1:42	Max Christie misses driving floating jump shot	21	27
1:41	Al Horford defensive rebound	21	27
1:32	Jayson Tatum makes 3-foot two point shot	23	27
1:28	Spencer Dinwiddie out of bounds bad pass turnover	23	27
1:08	Jayson Tatum misses two point shot	23	27
1:07	Jayson Tatum offensive rebound	23	27
1:06	Jayson Tatum misses two point shot	23	27
1:04	Mavericks defensive team rebound	23	27
50.0	Naji Marshall makes 13-foot two point shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists)	23	29
30.1	Jayson Tatum lost ball turnover (Olivier-Maxence Prosper steals)	23	29
20.0	Dante Exum makes 24-foot three point jumper (Naji Marshall assists)	23	32
0.0	Payton Pritchard misses 26-foot three point shot	23	32
0.0	Celtics offensive team rebound	23	32
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	23	32

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

TD Garden

Boston, MA

Date & Time

12:30 AM, February 7, 2025

Coverage

TNT, truTV, HBO Max

Attendance

19,156

Referees

Tony Brothers, Sean Corbin, Danielle Scott

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

2025-26 Atlantic Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Boston	39	20	.661	W1
New York	38	22	.633	W1
Toronto	35	25	.583	W1
Philadelphia	33	26	.559	W3
Brooklyn	15	44	.254	L7

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Klay Thompson scores 25 to lead Mavericks to 127-120 win over Boston as Davis delays Dallas debut

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