Sweet Return for Jayson Tatum as Celtics Rout Mavericks at TD Garden

The raucous TD Garden crowd welcomed the return of their hero, Jayson Tatum, as the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Saturday, 7 March. The NBA contest was an emotional moment for Tatum, who had been out for almost 10 months due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon. In his first game back since the injury, Tatum posted a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Although not 100 per cent fit, his 27 minutes of action were highly impactful for the team’s cohesion. The coaching staff implemented a gradual minutes restriction, with short five-to-six minute spells per quarter to protect his fitness.

This marked Tatum’s first appearance since he suffered the injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the New York Knicks in May last year. Despite an early wobble, missing his first six attempts, Tatum remained the focal point of the Celtics’ offence, creating space for his teammates. His early scoring drought was offset by Jaylen Brown, who led with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. This victory also signalled a positive trend for Boston, who had swept four of their last five games.

Derrick White also contributed 20 points. Under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics controlled the game from the opening quarter to the final whistle.

On the visitors’ side, attention was on Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. In his TD Garden debut, Flagg looked promising with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson added 19 points, but the Mavericks’ collective performance was not enough to stop a six-game losing streak.

Naji Marshall added 13 points for Dallas, who are under heavy pressure to conduct a thorough evaluation before continuing their road trip in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics now have 19 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at home. The remainder of the schedule will be utilised by management to restore the best rhythm for Jayson Tatum as they pursue a championship in the playoffs.