Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks: History, Recent Results, and What to Expect in 2026-27

Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks is a matchup defined by one championship series, one blockbuster trade, and two teams heading in very different directions. The Celtics beat the Mavericks 4-1 in the 2024 NBA Finals to win their record 18th title, and the two clubs meet twice more this season, on November 15 in Boston and November 30 in Dallas. This guide covers the all-time record, the Finals, the latest results, the 2026-27 schedule, and the roster stories that shape both games, with every claim tied to reported figures and the latest numbers checked against public sources.

Who Leads the All-Time Series Between the Celtics and Mavericks?

The Celtics lead the all-time regular-season series 49-41 through the 2025-26 season, according to the Land of Basketball game log. That figure comes from a single secondary source, so treat it as a close estimate and confirm it on NBA.com or Basketball-Reference before quoting it as official.

Boston also holds the only playoff edge. The two teams have met in the postseason just once, in the 2024 NBA Finals, and the Celtics won that series 4-1. The regular-season gap is modest given that the Mavericks joined the league in 1980, about 34 years after the Celtics began play, which means the two franchises have had far fewer games to build a long rivalry.

Because the teams play in opposite conferences, they meet only twice per regular season, once at each arena. That schedule keeps the rivalry small in volume but large in memory, since most casual fans remember the Finals more than any single regular-season result.

What Happened in the 2024 NBA Finals?

Boston won the 2024 NBA Finals 4-1 between June 6 and June 17, and Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP. The series gave the Celtics their 18th championship and their first since 2008, which put them ahead of every other franchise in total titles. You can read the full series summary on Wikipedia.

The game-by-game results were:

• Game 1, June 6, in Boston: Celtics 107, Mavericks 89
• Game 2, June 9, in Boston: Celtics 105, Mavericks 98
• Game 3, June 12, in Dallas: Celtics 106, Mavericks 99
• Game 4, June 14, in Dallas: Mavericks 122, Celtics 84
• Game 5, June 17, in Boston: Celtics 106, Mavericks 88

Dallas avoided a sweep with a 38-point win in Game 4, the only game the Mavericks took. Boston closed the series at home in Game 5, which finished the franchise’s long wait for a banner after the 2008 title.

How Have the Recent Regular-Season Games Gone?

Boston has won three of the last four regular-season meetings, and the Celtics took both games in 2025-26. Here are the results as reported on the teams’ season pages:

• January 25, 2025, in Dallas: Celtics 122, Mavericks 107
• February 6, 2025, in Boston: Mavericks 127, Celtics 120
• February 3, 2026, in Dallas: Celtics 110, Mavericks 100, with rookie Cooper Flagg scoring 36 points for Dallas
• March 6, 2026, in Boston: Celtics 120, Mavericks 100, in Jayson Tatum’s first game of the season

The February 2025 game stands out because Dallas won in Boston only weeks after the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The March 2026 game stands out for a different reason, since Tatum returned to the court that night after recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points in that game.

When Do the Celtics and Mavericks Play in 2026-27?

The Celtics and Mavericks play twice in the 2026-27 regular season: on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in Boston, and on Monday, November 30, 2026, in Dallas. The NBA released the 2026-27 schedule in mid-August, and the season started on October 20.

The November 15 game is set for 6:00 p.m. Eastern at TD Garden, with Dallas as the visitor. The November 30 game is listed for 8:00 p.m. Eastern with Boston visiting. Dallas plays home games at American Airlines Center, though no source named the venue for this specific game, so check the official NBA.com schedule for the final tip time and arena before you make plans. Network assignments can also change as the season moves along.

How Do the Two Teams Compare Heading Into 2026-27?

The Celtics enter the season as a playoff-level team that is rebuilding its core, while the Mavericks enter with a new front office, a new coach, and a young star to build around. The gap between their 2025-26 records shows how different the two paths have been.

Where Do the Celtics Stand?

Boston finished 2025-26 with a 56-26 record, first in the Atlantic Division and second in the East. The Celtics lost a first-round series to Philadelphia in seven games after leading 3-1. Joe Mazzulla remains the head coach, and a group led by William Chisholm and Aditya Mittal owns the team after its purchase in 2025.

The biggest offseason move was the July 6, 2026, trade that sent Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, to Philadelphia. ESPN reported that Boston received Paul George and several draft picks in return. Tatum is healthy after his Achilles recovery, according to preseason coverage, and the supporting group includes Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Paul George is 36 and expected to miss some games, so Boston’s depth will matter.

Where Do the Mavericks Stand?

Dallas finished 2025-26 with a 26-56 record, 12th in the West, and missed the playoffs. The year brought major change. The Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison in November 2025, traded Anthony Davis to Washington in February 2026, and named Masai Ujiri team president in May 2026. Jason Kidd left the coach’s seat later that month, and Dusty May took over in June 2026 for his first NBA head-coaching job.

Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, won Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 games. Kyrie Irving missed all of 2025-26 with a torn ACL and is expected back this season. Preseason previews from outlets such as Yahoo project Dallas as a lower-tier team, though a healthy Irving beside Flagg could raise that ceiling.

Which Players Should Fans Watch in This Matchup?

Cooper Flagg and Jayson Tatum draw the most attention, and each carries a different story. Flagg scored 36 against Boston in his first meeting with them as a pro, so he already has a standout game in this rivalry. Tatum returned from a serious injury against Dallas last March and now plays his first full season since.

Other names worth tracking include:

• Kyrie Irving, who returns from a torn ACL and shares a backcourt with Dallas’s rising star
• Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who give Boston steady guard play
• Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington, who anchor Dallas’s frontcourt
• Paul George, whose health will shape how often Boston gets his scoring and size

Rosters change often during an NBA season, so check each team’s official site for the final lineup on game day.

How Do the Championship Histories Compare?

The Celtics own 18 championships, the most in NBA history, while the Mavericks own one, won in 2011. Boston’s titles span from 1957 to 2024. Dallas won its title by beating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the 2011 Finals, with Dirk Nowitzki named Finals MVP. The Mavericks also reached the Finals in 2006 and 2024, and you can see their full record on the franchise’s Wikipedia page.

These numbers explain why the 2024 series felt lopsided on paper, since a franchise with 17 earlier banners faced one chasing its second. Dallas has built much of its identity on the Nowitzki era and its 2024 Finals run, while Boston has stayed a title-contending franchise for decades.

Why Does the Rivalry Feel Smaller Than Other Celtics Matchups?

The Celtics and Mavericks play in different conferences and share no division, so they meet only twice each season and almost never in the playoffs. Rivalries in the NBA grow from repeated postseason series, such as Boston against the Lakers or the Knicks, and the 2024 Finals is the only time these two franchises have faced each other when it counted most.

That does not make the games meaningless. Both November games give fans a chance to see how two very different rosters compare, and the memory of the 2024 series adds some extra interest every time the teams share a court.

What Does This Matchup Mean for Each Team’s Season?

The first game on November 15 gives Boston a chance to test its new roster against a young Dallas team, and it gives Dallas a measuring stick for Flagg and Irving together. Early-season games reveal how new lineups fit, how coaches adjust, and which stars stay healthy.

For Boston, the games offer an early read on life after the Brown trade. For Dallas, they offer a look at Dusty May’s system and at Ujiri’s first full season shaping the roster. Fans of both teams can use these two meetings as checkpoints rather than verdicts, since 82-game seasons rarely turn on a single night in November.

Where Can Fans Follow the Games?

Fans can follow both games through each team’s local broadcast partner, NBA League Pass, and national TV windows when games are selected for them. The league publishes broadcast details on its schedule page, and the details sometimes change after the initial release.

For the most reliable information, use NBA.com, the Celtics’ official site, and the Mavericks’ official site. Local arena rules, ticket policies, and start times appear there first. If you plan to attend, confirm the date and venue a few days before each game, since schedule updates do occur.

Conclusion

Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks has produced one Finals, a modest regular-season lead for Boston, and two scheduled games this November. The Celtics hold the history and the 2024 banner, while the Mavericks hold a new regime and Cooper Flagg. Watch the November 15 and November 30 games for early signs of how each team looks after a busy offseason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has won more games, the Celtics or the Mavericks?

The Celtics lead the all-time regular-season series 49-41 through the 2025-26 season, according to the Land of Basketball game log. This comes from one secondary source, so confirm it on NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. Boston also leads the playoff series 4-1 after beating Dallas in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Who won the 2024 NBA Finals between Boston and Dallas?

The Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals 4-1 over the Mavericks between June 6 and June 17. Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP. The title was Boston’s 18th, its first since 2008, and Dallas avoided a sweep with a 122-84 win in Game 4 at home.

When do the Celtics and Mavericks play in 2026-27?

The teams play on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern in Boston, and on Monday, November 30, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern in Dallas. Confirm tip times and venues on the official NBA schedule, because broadcast and arena details can change after the initial release.

Did the Celtics beat the Mavericks last season?

Yes. Boston won both 2025-26 meetings, 110-100 in Dallas on February 3, 2026, and 120-100 in Boston on March 6, 2026. Cooper Flagg scored 36 points in the first game for Dallas, and Jayson Tatum played his first game of the season in the second.

How many championships do the Celtics and Mavericks have?

The Celtics have 18 NBA championships, the most of any franchise, with their most recent coming in 2024. The Mavericks have one, which they won in 2011 by beating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the Finals. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP in that series.