The Dallas Mavericks are in the middle of a rough patch, and things won’t get any easier Tuesday night when they host the Boston Celtics-especially with P.J. Washington officially ruled out due to concussion protocol.
Washington took a tough shot to the head during Saturday’s loss in Houston, catching an accidental elbow from teammate Naji Marshall in the fourth quarter. After briefly sitting on the bench, visibly shaken and rubbing his forehead, he headed to the locker room and didn’t return. Now, he’ll miss at least one game as he enters the league’s concussion protocol.
That’s a blow for a Mavericks squad already trying to snap a season-worst four-game skid. Washington has been a reliable presence all year, averaging 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and nearly 2 assists per game across 36 appearances. He’s also logging close to 31 minutes a night-valuable two-way minutes that Dallas will have to replace against a Celtics team that’s firing on all cylinders.
Brandon Williams is also on the injury report, listed as questionable with a right lower leg contusion. He left Saturday’s game early after a collision with Houston rookie Reed Sheppard and didn’t return.
Before the injury, Williams was electric-dropping 13 points in just nine minutes, hitting five of his first seven shots and knocking down two of three from deep. That kind of instant offense has been his calling card off the bench, where he’s averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 43 games this season.
The Mavs could get some reinforcement in the backcourt, with two-way guards Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly both listed as probable. Center Moussa Cisse, meanwhile, is questionable.
One bright spot in this recent slide? Cooper Flagg.
The rookie phenom continues to shoulder a massive offensive load-and he’s doing it with poise well beyond his years. After torching Charlotte for a record-setting 49 points, Flagg followed it up with 34 more against the Rockets, including 21 in the second half alone.
That came after he missed two games with a rolled left ankle, a reminder that even at less than 100%, he’s still the engine of this team.
“He’s built to win,” head coach Jason Kidd said after the game. “He’s going to try to do everything to help his team win. He’s done that all season.”
Flagg had a chance to tie the game late in Houston, missing a driving layup with 25 seconds left and a three-pointer shortly after that could’ve cut the deficit to one. But inside the Mavericks’ locker room, there’s no hesitation about who they want with the ball when the game’s on the line.
“Coops? Oh, amazing,” said center Daniel Gafford.
“Put the ball in his hand and good things happen throughout the stretch of the game. We trust him to take those shots… and the majority of the time, those shots fall.”
That trust isn’t just talk-Flagg’s already earned it. And after a 49-point outing just days ago, it’s clear the Mavericks are committed to riding with their rookie star, win or lose.
As for the Celtics, they’re coming in hot. Boston just dismantled the Bucks 107-79 on Sunday, a game that saw them flip a 12-0 deficit into a defensive clinic. Milwaukee managed just 16, 19, and 18 points in the final three quarters-numbers that speak volumes about the Celtics’ ability to lock in and shut teams down.
Jaylen Brown led the way with 30 points and a season-high 13 boards. He’s been on a tear lately, averaging nearly 10 rebounds per game over his last seven outings-bumping his season average to a career-best 6.9. Brown’s evolution as a rebounder and leader hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“There’s 1,000 ways to lead,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “And one of them is what you saw Sunday-he had nine rebounds in the first half alone. It’s just another way that he leads.”
The Mavericks split their two games with Boston last season, with the road team winning both. But this time around, Dallas is facing a Celtics squad that’s not only healthy and deep, but playing with the kind of defensive intensity that can smother even the most explosive offenses.
With injuries piling up and the trade deadline looming, this matchup isn’t just about snapping a losing streak-it’s about seeing what this Mavericks team is really made of.