On June 17, the Boston Celtics secured their 18th NBA title by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
However, on Friday, the Mavericks sought a measure of revenge in the NBA 2K25 Summer League.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, unable to play in last month’s finals due to injury, led the Mavs to a 101-90 victory over the Celtics at Cox Pavilion.
Prosper’s stellar performance was a highlight, as he scored 22 points and added four assists, shooting an efficient 8-of-14 from the field. This win marked the Mavericks’ first victory of the summer, bringing their record to 1-3. Reflecting on the loss to the Celtics in June, Prosper said:
“I remember. I keep receipts of everything. We lost to them, but we knew we had to do something today, and I’m glad we got the W.”
From the start, the Mavericks controlled the game, never trailing and leading by as many as 14 points in the first half. They entered halftime with a 55-45 lead, thanks to a last-second three-pointer by Jazian Gortman. Although Boston closed the gap to 83-78 with 6:29 remaining, the Mavericks responded with a decisive 13-2 run, sealing the game with key contributions from Prosper, Emanuel Miller, AJ Lawson, and Melvin Ajinca.
Summer league coach Jared Dudley praised the team’s resilience and adjustments.
“You’re not going to be leading from the start to the finish,” Dudley said. “They’re going to make a run. Overall, guys responded, no one was arguing, no heads were down.”
Lawson scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Gortman added 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Jarod Lucas contributed 13 points in just 14 minutes.
Dudley admitted to a coaching oversight for not utilizing Lucas earlier, recognizing his elite shooting ability.
The Mavericks minimized turnovers, committing just 11 compared to 45 in their previous two games combined.
“We knew we were much better than the way we played the first three games,” Prosper said. “It feels great to finally get a win under our belt.”
As the Mavericks prepare for their final summer league game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dudley mentioned that guard Justin Webster, who had not played in the previous four games, would see action. Webster, a Prestonwood Christian Academy alum, had been working hard and deserved an opportunity to showcase his skills.
With renewed confidence, the Mavericks aim to carry the momentum from this victory into their matchup with the Thunder, hoping to finish the summer league on a high note.
