Neither the Celtics nor the Mavericks were at full strength for Thursday’s NBA Finals rematch at TD Garden.
Boston ruled out starting guard Jrue Holiday, who had been listed as questionable with a right shoulder impingement. Holiday has dealt with a shoulder issue since early in the season, but he played in Boston’s previous seven games and 18 of its previous 19.
It was the eighth DNP of the season for the 34-year-old. The Celtics posted a 5-2 record in the first seven.
Dallas, which underwent a dramatic franchise facelift ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, was missing several key contributors. Dereck Lively II (ankle), P.J. Washington (personal reasons), Dwight Powell (hip) and trade pickup Caleb Martin (hip) all were ruled out. Anthony Davis, acquired from the Lakers in Los Angeles’ stunning blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, was listed as questionable with an abdominal muscle strain and was not expected to play against Boston, according to a report from longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein.
The Celtics entered the game on a four-game winning streak after knocking off first-place Cleveland 112-105 on Tuesday. They routed the Mavericks in the teams’ first meeting, winning 122-107 at American Airlines Arena on Jan. 25.
Thursday’s matchup was Dallas’ first visit to Boston since Game 5 of last season’s NBA Finals, which the Celtics won to clinch their first NBA championship since 2008. The Mavs lost all three Finals games at TD Garden.
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