Celtics beat Mavericks 120-100 as Jayson Tatum returns after 10-month Achilles injury absence

Boston extends control after early feeling-out period

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 at TD Garden on Friday, March 6, 2026, in a game shaped by efficient perimeter volume from Boston and a controlled minutes return for Jayson Tatum, who played his first game in nearly 10 months after a right Achilles rupture.

Boston’s overall shooting line reflected a high-volume three-point approach: 47-for-99 from the field and 16-for-48 from beyond the arc. Dallas finished 38-for-93 overall and 14-for-35 on three-pointers, keeping pace from deep but trailing in total made field goals and rebounding margin.

Tatum’s first game back: limited minutes, broad involvement

Tatum logged 27:10 and scored 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting, including 3-for-8 from three-point range. He added 12 rebounds and seven assists, contributing across categories while the Celtics distributed heavier scoring responsibility to other starters and the bench.

Tatum’s line combined double-digit rebounds with seven assists, an indicator of Boston’s willingness to use him as a connector as he returns to game action.

Brown and White set the scoring tone; Queta anchors the glass

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points, pairing it with seven rebounds and seven assists in 33:19. Derrick White added 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting with two steals and two blocks, and Neemias Queta produced 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting while collecting 15 rebounds. Boston’s rebounding advantage (66-49) created extra possessions and limited Dallas to fewer second-chance opportunities.

Boston also received meaningful bench production. Payton Pritchard scored 18 points in 33:49 and added six assists, while Luka Garza supplied 10 points in 17:55, including two made threes.

Dallas: Flagg and Thompson lead scoring, but efficiency and fouls mattered

For Dallas, Cooper Flagg scored 16 points but needed 23 shots (7-for-23) and committed five personal fouls. Klay Thompson provided the most efficient scoring punch, hitting 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-11 from three for 19 points in 18:01 off the bench.

Dallas’ starters combined for limited scoring output outside of Flagg and Max Christie (12 points). Khris Middleton finished with seven points on 2-for-8 shooting, while P.J. Washington scored five points on 2-for-9.

What the result means in the season series

The win gave Boston a 2-0 season sweep of Dallas. The teams’ first meeting ended in a 110-100 Celtics victory in Dallas on Feb. 3, 2026. Friday’s game added a significant roster note for Boston as Tatum returned to the lineup, while the Mavericks continue to lean on a mix of young primary creation and bench shooting to stay competitive.

• Final score: Celtics 120, Mavericks 100
• Key Celtics scorers: Brown 24, White 20, Queta 16, Tatum 15, Pritchard 18
• Key Mavericks scorers: Thompson 19, Flagg 16, Marshall 13, Christie 12