The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics met in Dallas on Saturday for their first matchup since last season's NBA Finals. Dallas was missing many key pieces, including starters Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II, while Boston was wrapping up a four-game road trip.

READ MORE: Three-point barrage carries Celtics over Mavericks in NBA Finals rematch, 122-107

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA Finals.

The Dallas Mavericks returned home to host the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in a Saturday matinee on ABC and ESPN. The Mavericks lost to the Celtics 122-107 in an NBA Finals rematch at the American Airlines Center.

Dallas led 16-6 just four minutes into the game and had a 29-25 advantage after one quarter. The Celtics built a 15-point lead in the second quarter, but the Mavericks scored the final five points in the half to trail 59-49. Boston had no turnovers in the first half.

In a rematch of the 2024 NBA finals, the defending champion Boston Celtics visited the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Individually, Irving’s numbers were better against the Celtics on Saturday, but for the Mavericks the result was all too familiar. They will see the Celtics again, in Boston, on Feb. 6, trade deadline day. Perhaps they will have Doncic back, or nearly back, by then.

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) has his shot blocked by Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21 ... Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics in their next three games. Mike is the Mavericks Beat Writer for The Dallas Morning News.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford recently joined ANTA Basketball, strengthening a growing partnership with his teammate Kyrie Irving, the brand’s Chief Creative Officer.

On Thursday, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wondered whether the Mavs could go and get former Boston Celtics stretch-five Kelly Olynyk, who is currently playing for the Toronto Raptors.

Gilgeous-Alexander logged the second 50-point effort of his career. He put up 54 in a home win over the Utah Jazz on Jan. 22. Gilgeous-Alexander, who singlehandedly outscored the Warriors in the first quarter with a 21-point performance, finished 16-for-29 from the field. He padded his point total with an 18-for-21 night at the free-throw line.

The Dallas Mavericks signed a massive center over the weekend, and Jason Kidd recently talked about what he likes about his game, and him excelling in this area could lead to more minutes.