The Boston Celtics embark on an intriguing five-game stretch with Friday night’s visit from the Dallas Mavericks. Riding a nine-game winning streak and owning an eight-game lead atop the Eastern Conference, the Celtics don’t necessarily have to worry about racking up wins in that streak.
But here’s our question: Is there a game in this next batch where a win would be a little better than the others?
There will be a lot of eyes on the Celtics over these next five games. Let’s detail the road ahead and what additional motivation Boston could find in each of these matches to start the month of March:
March 1: Mavericks vs. Celtics
We only have the Jayson Tatum-Luka Doncic battle twice a year and the matches have rarely disappointed. Given all the talk around the MVP race, Friday’s game is another chance for Tatum to showcasing all the ways he impacts winning beyond scoring.
In his last five games against Doncic, Tatum averaged 31.6 points, 12 rebounds and 5.2 assists. That includes a 39-point, 11-rebound night in Boston’s triumph at Dallas in January.
It was supposed to be Grant Williams’ return to TD Garden, but alas, that will have to wait for Charlotte’s visit on April 12 in one of the final games of the regular season.
Forsberg hypemeter: 2 stars out of 5. The Mavs are playing better and need wins while hanging around in playing territory in the crowded Western Conference. This is a solid test for Boston if Doncic is fully healthy. Oh, and Kyrie Irving is in town, if that helps.
March 3: Warriors at Celtics
Of course, the Warriors have endured their struggles this year. Some wanted them to blow him up at the trade deadline. But not only have they won 10 of their last 12 games, they’re also the damn Warriors.
Even with Boston’s new team, Golden State is still the same team that bolstered the Celtics in the Finals in 2022. Boston is 1-2 against the Warriors in a row, including two overtime thrillers.
The Forsberg hype: 4.5 stars out of 5. The Celtics will get a stage on Sunday to show how much they’ve changed since 2022. Kristaps Porzingis didn’t play in the first meeting this year, which adds another wrinkle to this matchup.
The Celtics don’t have any must-wins in this stretch, but this one could be better than any other potential triumph in this lot.
March 5: Celtics vs. Cavaliers
The Celtics have already asserted their dominance in the East, having built an eight-game lead over their closest competitors. (Cleveland and Milwaukee are tied for second place heading into Friday’s action.)
The Cavaliers have been torrid in 2024, but have barely progressed to catch the Celtics despite winning 17 of 18 over a month in early February. It’s been a bumpier road since then, and after last year’s first-round playoff exit, the Cavaliers still have to prove they’re more than just a good regular-season team.
The Forsberg hype: 3 stars out of 5. The Celtics faced the Cavaliers on both ends in a home-and-home game in Boston in mid-December. The Cavs are much healthier and will have strong motivation against a Celtics team that might otherwise focus on all Western Conference foes in this stretch.
If the Celtics are motivated to assert their dominance in the East, this game takes on even more spice. The Jaylen Brown-Donovan Mitchell match is always fun too.
March 7: Celtics at Nuggets
Do we even need a preamble here? Should we jump straight to the hype? The reigning champions. The MVP favorite.
Denver is quietly progressing towards first place in the West and the Celtics are still in difficulty. abandon the first confrontation in Boston in January.
The Forsberg hype: 5 stars out of 5. This appears to be the biggest game remaining on Boston’s schedule. (As the Bucks show signs of getting back on track, you can make a case for visiting Milwaukee later this month.)
The Celtics took a lot of positives from the Denver loss. They were much better at chasing matchups after that. The Celtics should be extremely motivated for this one, and if Tatum wants to move up into the MVP ballot, this game could help make his case for greater consideration.
March 9: Celtics vs. Suns
The Celtics have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league, although the first three games of this road trip don’t really bode well. They range from the altitude of Denver to the Valley of the Sun.
This looks like another big night for Tatum with Kevin Durant and his childhood buddy Bradley Beal (sidelined for now) on the opposite side.
The Forsberg hype: 2.5 stars out of 5. While Phoenix is almost at full health, this one doesn’t lack star power. We’re curious to see how the Celtics choose to defend the talent-filled Suns, especially against Devin Booker.
