No Luka Doncic for the 16th straight game. Dereck Lively II in a giant walking boot. Reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks wobbling in play-in territory. In those and other vivid ways, much had changed in the 222 days since Dallas and Boston last met,

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will meet in Dallas on Saturday (5:30 p.m. EST on ABC) in a rematch of the 2024 NBA Finals. Boston defeated Dallas in five games for its 18th championship victory.

As well as Kyrie Irving has played, the hobbled Mavericks have been a bottom-seven offense over the past month, minus Luka Dončić.