Boston didn’t need a perfect finish — it needed separation. The Celtics built it in the third quarter and cashed it in late, beating the Dallas Mavericks 110-100 on Feb. 4, 2026 at American Airlines Center.
The result kept Boston moving at 31-18 (WWLWL) and pushed Dallas to 19-30 (LLLLW), another night where the Mavericks’ late energy couldn’t fully erase the damage from the middle quarters.
Game flow: Boston wins the math in the middle
The Celtics set the tone early, taking the first quarter 32-29. Dallas’ offense stalled in the second, and Boston took advantage with a 20-15 edge to carry a 52-44 lead into halftime.
The swing came out of the break. Boston dropped 34 points in the third while holding Dallas to 23 — a +11 quarter that stretched the margin to 86-67 and effectively turned the fourth into a chase.
Dallas finally found traction late, winning the fourth 33-24, but the Mavericks’ comeback window had narrowed too far. Boston’s early cushion held to the final horn.
Ball movement: Celtics’ 27 assists set the table
Boston’s offense was cleaner and more connected, finishing with 27 assists as a team. That passing edge mattered in a game where Dallas couldn’t consistently generate easy looks, ending with 21 assists.
In practical terms: Boston repeatedly got into its actions, created advantages, and turned those possessions into assisted scores — especially during the third-quarter surge that decided the game’s shape.
Turning point: the third-quarter avalanche
Dallas entered halftime down eight and still within striking distance. The third quarter changed that calculus. Boston’s 34-point frame — paired with Dallas’ 23 — was the game’s defining stretch, flipping a manageable deficit into a 19-point hole.
Even with Dallas’ strong fourth, the Mavericks were forced to play nearly perfect basketball to climb all the way back, and Boston never let the margin fully collapse.
What it means going forward
Boston Celtics
At 31-18, Boston continues to stack wins behind an offense that can scale up quickly when the ball moves. The assist total (27) and the third-quarter punch underline a team capable of turning small advantages into decisive separation.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas’ 19-30 record reflects how thin the margins have been — and how costly extended lulls can become. The Mavericks showed fight with a 33-point fourth quarter, but the 15-point second and 23-point third left too much ground to cover. Cleaning up those dead stretches is the clearest path to turning competitive finishes into wins.