Who leads the Dallas Mavericks - Boston Celtics head-to-head series this season?

The Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics are on a crash course in the NBA Finals as two of the best back court duos are set to square off in Game 1 from TD Garden on Thursday night. The two finalists have met just twice this year, and if history serves as a preview for what’s to come the Celtics could very well be lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a record setting 18th time.

First match up back in January

Both games were played after the turn of the New Year and even though that was when the Mavericks started to turn things around, the Celtics won each of the games in the home and away series. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering the Celtics were the best team in the regular season and only lost 18 games during the regular season.

The first game came on the second half of a back-to-back series for Boston who had just downed the Houston Rockets the night before. The Celtics went in to Dallas and dropped the Mavs 119-110, despite Luka Doncic putting up a 33 point triple double and Kyrie Irving chipping in another 23 points.

Boston’s superstar back court of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were too much to handle for Dallas’ defense who had yet to undergo their mid season made over that made them a much more tenacious group defending their rim. Tatum had 39 points and 11 rebounds to lead all scorers and Brown poured in another 34 points while the tandem shot 24/43 from the field.

J&J too much for Dallas

The game was tight throughout the first quarter, but the Celtics took the lead and kept the lead for the final three quarters keeping the Mavs at an arms distance. Boston would go on to win 15 of their next 17 games, and extend their lead over the rest of the pack in the East while the Mavs continued to tread water in the West.

One of those wins in the streak of 15 in 17 games came against the Dallas Mavericks in TD Garden. It was a week after the All-Star Game and the Mavs had just incorporated Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington. Those trades would go on to make a big difference later in the year, but the two midseason editions weren’t enough to top the Celtics in Boston.

Things are different in Dallas these day

Doncic had another brilliant performance against Boston, registering a 37 point triple double, but this time Kyrie was kept quiet while Jayson Tatum got plenty of help from his supporting cast. Tatum had 32 points and 8 rebounds, but Kristaps Porzingis poured in 24 and Jaylen Brown chipped in another 25, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

It was a wire-to-wire win that the Celtics blew open in the fourth quarter. They eased past the Mavs 138-110 to rattle off their 10th straight win, while the Mavs were handed their first loss in what would turn out to be a three game win streak.

Dallas would turn things around after that three game slump and win 15 of their next 19 games to close out the season. This is a different team than the Celtics played in January or even March. Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington are now vital pieces of the puzzle, and Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic look like they are clicking more than ever. Will it be enough to take down the power house that is the Boston Celtics?