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,

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

A tough night for Dallas in their highly anticipated rematch, with challenges on and off the court shaping the team's immediate future.

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

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.

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the ... Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench and Daniel Gafford had 19 points and matched a season high ...

Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 24 points and Derrick White added 23 to lead the visiting Boston Celtics to a 122-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

The 2027 first-round pick was the only one Dallas had to offer because NBA rules prohibit trading first-round picks in successive years, and the Mavericks, at the time, owed the Knicks a first-rounder in 2024 or 2025 from the Kristaps Porzingis deal ( it officially became the ‘24 pick in April) and Brooklyn one in 2029 from the Irving deal.

"It reminds you that there’s greatness still within you," Thompson said after a blistering first quarter against the Wizards.

Connor McGregor at the Bucks-Jazz game and other pictures of the day in the NBA

Excellent two-way play

The Dallas Mavericks have an important three-game stretch against winnable teams coming up, which started with Monday's home contest against the lowly Washington Wizards. Nine players were missing combined between both teams, including Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and Malcolm Brogdon.