

Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Match Player Stats | Feb 6, 2025 Post-Dončić Upset
The dallas mavericks vs boston celtics match player stats from February 6, 2025 revealed something few basketball minds predicted. Just days after shipping Luka Dončić to Los Angeles, the rebuilt Mavericks walked into TD Garden and outplayed the defending champions 127-120.
This wasn’t just any regular season win. It was a potential glimpse into what Dallas basketball might look like in the post-Dončić era.
The Matchup Nobody Gave Dallas a Chance to Win
The pregame numbers told a clear story:
Boston entered with everything in their favor:
- 36-15 record as reigning NBA champions
- Four straight victories
- 8-2 against Dallas in their previous 10 meetings
- Fresh off dismantling these same Mavericks 4-1 in the 2024 Finals
Dallas looked completely outmatched:
- Middling 26-25 record
- Three consecutive losses
- Just traded away their franchise cornerstone
- No established offensive identity without Dončić
Every statistical model predicted a comfortable Boston win. The box score told a different story.
Klay Thompson: Instant Statistical Impact
The newly acquired Thompson didn’t just contribute—he led the charge with remarkable efficiency:
- 25 points (team high)
- 11-17 field goals (64.7%)
- 3-6 from three (50%)
- Zero turnovers
- +13 in 29 minutes
For perspective, during the 2024 Finals, Boston’s defense successfully neutralized Dallas’ perimeter shooting. The Celtics held the Mavericks under 30% from three-point range across the series.
Thompson’s arrival changed that equation immediately, similar to the impact he had during his time with the Golden State Warriors.
Balanced Attack: A Complete Offensive Transformation
The most telling statistical story was Dallas’ unprecedented scoring distribution:
- Klay Thompson: 25 points
- Spencer Dinwiddie: 22 points
- Naji Marshall: 20 points
- Kyrie Irving: 19 points
- Max Christie: 15 points
- Danté Exum: 15 points
Six players scored 15+ points against a Boston defense that had stifled them just months earlier. This balanced approach created a stark contrast with their Finals appearance, where Dončić averaged 29.2 points while no other Maverick consistently topped 20.
During the 2024 Finals, Dallas averaged just 96.6 points against Boston. They exploded for 127 in this February rematch.
Irving vs Boston: The Statistical Pattern Continues
Kyrie Irving’s numbers against his former team followed a familiar trend:
- 19 points
- 7-17 field goals (41.2%)
- 4 assists, 4 steals
Throughout the 2024 Finals, Irving shot poorly against Boston’s defensive schemes. Despite Dallas’ overall offensive improvement in February, Irving’s individual efficiency remained challenged.
This statistical consistency suggests Boston maintains specific defensive countermeasures against their former point guard, similar to strategies they’ve deployed against other elite guards in matchups like their game against Cleveland.
Gafford: Interior Dominance Beyond Scoring
While others handled scoring, Daniel Gafford controlled the paint:
- 15 rebounds (13 defensive)
- 5 assists
- 2 blocks
- 8 points on 4-7 shooting
His rebounding nearly matched his total from the entire 5-game Finals series. This statistical leap highlighted his expanded role in Dallas’ revamped frontcourt.
Celtics Stars: Strong Individual Performances in Defeat
Despite the loss, Boston’s core players posted numbers that would typically translate to victory:
Jaylen Brown continued his Dallas dominance:
- 25 points
- 9-16 field goals (56.3%)
- 3-4 three-pointers (75%)
Brown’s statistical consistency against Dallas remained remarkable. During his Finals MVP run, Brown averaged 20.8 points on efficient shooting.
With Jrue Holiday sidelined, Payton Pritchard stepped up:
- 21 points
- 9-15 shooting (60%)
- 6 rebounds, 6 assists
- 33 minutes
This performance foreshadowed Pritchard’s eventual 2025 Sixth Man of the Year award.
Boston’s star duo contributed:
- Jayson Tatum: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
- Kristaps Porziņģis: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
The Statistical Keys to Victory
Two statistical categories ultimately determined the outcome:
Turnover Battle:
- Mavericks: 8 turnovers
- Celtics: 14 turnovers
Bench Production:
- Mavericks reserves: 57 points
- Celtics reserves: 36 points
During the 2024 Finals, Boston’s defense consistently forced Dallas into mistakes. In February, the Mavericks protected the ball while capitalizing on Boston’s errors.
Spencer Dinwiddie (22 points) and Naji Marshall (20 points) provided bench scoring that Boston couldn’t match.
Shooting Efficiency: Quality Look Generation
Both teams shot well, but Dallas maintained a critical edge:
Field Goal Percentage:
- Mavericks: 55.7% (49-88)
- Celtics: 51.7% (46-89)
Three-Point Shooting:
- Mavericks: 45.5% (15-33)
- Celtics: 43.2% (16-37)
These numbers reveal how Dallas generated better quality shots throughout the game. During the 2024 Finals, Boston held the Mavericks under 30% from three-point range.
The Exum Factor: Box Score Revelation
The most surprising statistical outlier came from Danté Exum:
- +29 plus/minus in just 19 minutes
- 15 points on 5-8 shooting
- 4-6 from three-point range
This means Dallas outscored Boston by 29 points during Exum’s court time in a game decided by 7 points. His statistical impact represents exactly the type of bench contribution Dallas lacked in their Finals appearance.
Ball Movement Revolution: The Statistical Evidence
The assist numbers reveal Dallas’ offensive transformation:
- 32 assists on 49 made baskets (65.3% assist rate)
- Seven different players with 2+ assists
- No player with more than 5 assists
During the 2024 Finals, Dallas relied heavily on Dončić (8.8 assists per game) and Irving (5.0 per game) to create nearly all their offense. The February stats show a complete shift toward shared creation.
Boston’s Defensive Regression: The Numbers
The defensive statistics reveal a surprising vulnerability in Boston’s championship armor:
Points Allowed to Dallas:
- 2024 Finals: Under 100 points in 4 of 5 games
- February 2025: 127 points
Opponent Field Goal Percentage:
- 2024 Finals: Held Dallas to approximately 43%
- February 2025: Allowed 55.7%
While regular season intensity differs from playoffs, this defensive regression suggests Boston genuinely struggled with Dallas’ new approach.
Statistical Evolution: Finals vs February
Comparing Dallas’ statistical profile across both matchups reveals their complete transformation:
2024 NBA Finals (Celtics won 4-1):
- Luka Dončić averaged 29.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists
- Dallas held under 100 points in four games
- Team shot approximately 43% from field, under 30% from three
- Heavy isolation offense
February 2025 Regular Season:
- Six players scored 15+ points
- Team shot 55.7% overall, 45.5% from three
- 32 assists on 49 made field goals
- Only 8 turnovers
- 127 points against championship defense
This statistical contrast shows how Dallas reinvented their approach following the Dončić trade.
Historical Statistical Context: Post-Superstar Success
The Dallas performance fits a pattern seen occasionally in NBA history. Teams sometimes show statistical improvement immediately after trading a cornerstone star:
- The 2011 Nuggets won more games after trading Carmelo Anthony
- The 2018 Pacers remained competitive after losing Paul George
- The 2019 Clippers maintained solid metrics after trading Blake Griffin
While one game doesn’t make a trend, Dallas’ statistical profile against the defending champions suggests potential sustainability in their new approach.
Statistical Takeaways: Basketball Identity Transformation
The dallas mavericks vs boston celtics match player stats from February 6, 2025 offer insights beyond just one regular season game.
The numbers show how basketball identity can transform almost overnight. Without their former superstar, Dallas generated higher quality shots through movement and trust. Six players scoring 15+ points, 55.7% team shooting, just 8 turnovers, and 32 assists against the defending champions.
For Boston, despite strong individual performances from Brown (25 points), Pritchard (21 points), and others, their defensive metrics slipped significantly from their championship standard.
This statistical snapshot represents just one February game, but it hints at an intriguing new chapter in this rivalry.
FAQs – Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Match Player Stats
Who led all scorers in the February 6, 2025 Mavericks vs Celtics game?
Klay Thompson of Dallas and Jaylen Brown of Boston tied as the game’s top scorers with 25 points each. Thompson shot 11-17 from the field, while Brown went 9-16.
How did Kyrie Irving perform against Boston?
Irving scored 19 points with 4 assists and 4 steals but shot just 7-17 from the field (41.2%), continuing his pattern of efficiency struggles against Boston’s defensive scheme.
When did the Mavericks trade Luka Dončić?
The Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in early February 2025, just days before this February 6th matchup with Boston.
What was the key statistical difference in the game?
Turnovers proved decisive. Dallas committed only 8 compared to Boston’s 14, creating additional possessions that contributed to the Mavericks’ 7-point victory margin.
Which player had the biggest impact off the bench?
Danté Exum recorded an astounding +29 plus/minus in just 19 minutes of playing time, meaning Dallas outscored Boston by 29 points during his limited court time in a game decided by only 7 points.
What was the result of the 2024 NBA Finals between these teams?
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the 2024 NBA Finals, with Jaylen Brown earning Finals MVP honors.
Who replaced Jrue Holiday for Boston in this game?
With Holiday sidelined by a shoulder injury, Payton Pritchard stepped into an expanded role, playing 33 minutes and contributing 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.