We’re right back where we started as we enter the fourth quarter. The Celtics have trailed by as many as 16, but were much better in the third quarter, as they outscored the Sixers by eight in the frame and briefly took the lead themselves. 

Jayson Tatum has 21 points and 13 rebounds to power the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown has bounced back from a slow start to add 16 points. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are still leading the way for the Sixers with 43 combined points. 

 Kristaps Porzingis took an awkward step early in the first quarter, and while he went on to play 13 minutes in the first half, the Celtics started Luke Kornet in his place after the break. Now, the team has indicated that Porzingis is doubtful to return with left ankle soreness. 

This is likely just a precautionary measure considering Porzingis’ injury history. 

 The Sixers were in control all second quarter and briefly built their lead up to 16, but Jayson Tatum caught fire at the end of the frame to bring the Celtics back into the game. The Sixers’ 66 points were their most in a first half all season. 

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have 18 points apiece to lead the way for the Sixers, who are shooting 53.1% from the field and have turned it over just once. 

Tatum has 16 points to lead the way for the Celtics, who have already knocked down 13 3-pointers. They haven’t done much inside the arc, however, and have eight turnovers, which have led directly to nine Sixers points. 

 Former Celtic Guerschon Yabusele is back in Boston and looking right at home. He’s come off the bench to score a quick 10 points for the Sixers, giving them a huge boost with Joel Embiid off the floor. After Yabusele’s two makes, the Sixers are now 6 of 11 from 3-point range. 

 Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid have helped the Sixers jump in front at the end of the first quarter in Boston. Those two have combined for 20 of the Sixers’ 30 points, and the team is shooting 52% from the field overall. While the Celtics have knocked down seven 3-pointers already, they’re trailing because they’ve turned it over six times. 

 Minnesota Timberwolves: The Timberwolves entered this game on a three-game losing streak, so there was literally no better time than to break that cold snap than on Christmas. Anthony Edwards was the shining star for the Timberwolves in his Christmas Day debut, dropping 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Edwards put the tree topper on the game for Minnesota with a layup that iced the game and avoided a second-half collapse. 

Minnesota stifled the Mavericks in the first half, especially in the paint as they limited them to just six points. Rudy Gobert’s presence was enough for the Mavericks to think twice about attacking the rim in the first half, which aided the Wolves in building up a 28-point lead. While the Mavericks managed to come back to make it a game in the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves tightened up down the stretch and picked up an important win. Grade: B+

Dallas Mavericks: It was a tale of two halves for the Mavericks, as they got some sobering news at halftime with Doncic exiting the game with a left calf strain. At the time, Doncic was putting together another impressive performance, but he re-injured his left leg and was shortly ruled out for the rest of the game. Doncic is coming back from a heel contusion, and had a calf contusion earlier in the season as well on the same leg. As inspiring as Dallas’ almost-comeback-win was, the biggest storyline from this is Doncic’s injury status going forward. 

Depending on the severity of the injury, Doncic could be out for several weeks or even a month, which would be a worst case scenario for a Mavericks team that sits fourth in the West currently. But the second half of this contest served as a great example of how the Mavericks will fare without Doncic in the lineup should he miss an extended period of time. Dallas has gone 6-3 this season without Doncic in the lineup, and if Kyrie Irving’s performance Christmas Day — 39 points — was any indication, Dallas should be able to at least tread water without their franchise centerpiece. Grade: C+

 The Timberwolves avoided a meltdown in the second half as they almost surrendered a 28-point lead to a Mavericks team that was without Luka Doncic in the second half. The Mavericks were close to completing the comeback, but couldn’t execute down the stretch to pull off what would’ve been the biggest comeback the NBA has seen this season. Anthony Edwards had the game-icing bucket and finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Julius Randle had 23 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Mavericks, after falling behind big, fought back admirably in the fourth quarter but it was too late to finish it off. Kyrie Irving put the team on his back, and finished with 39 points, four rebounds and two assists. It was a moral win for the Mavericks down the stretch, but now the team looks ahead to see how long Doncic will be sidelined with a left calf strain.