What an anticlimactic way to end the game. Derrick White, on the inbounds, steps on the line. Ball is turned over to Philly. Game over. 118-114.

Big, BIG game by the Sixers.

Philly up 116-111 with 6.2 seconds left, and on defense.

Fouling here would be... horrific.

Late surge by Boston, due to a plethora of Philly mistakes, has kept the Celtics in it. What a meltdown by the Sixers.

Celtics just down five

Tatum and Brown established themselves in spurts earlier in the game, but have taken major chunks of actual game time off. Can't afford to have either become bystanders.

Make that 20 points now for Caleb Martin. On just 10 shots.

Sixers up by 15 in what is unquestionably their best game of the season.

Caleb Martin, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistent shooting this season, has 14 points on eight shots.

Been a tremendous release valve for the Sixers tonight.

Don't think the Celtics figured they'd be in a late-game dog fight with the Sixers, but that underscores just how much health factors into a team's overall level.

The Sixers, playing with all of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, are tied 82-82 with the Celtics as they head into the final frame.

Tatum cans his fourth triple, and the Celtics score the first seven points of the second half.

Jaylen Brown is attempting to find his rhythm, but is just 3-11 from the field with four turnovers.

Halftime in Boston.

Sixers up 66-58.

Embiid with 18 points, and six rebounds. Maxey also with 18 points, and 8 assists.

Jayson Tatum finally came alive late, finishing the first half with 16 points and three made triples.

Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard have both struggled. A combined 2-of-14 shooting.

This is, by far, the best we've seen the Sixers this season.

Ball is moving, defense on a string, excellent shot-profile, and top-tier individual execution by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Boston have some adjustments to make for the second half.

It's unfair to say the Celtics rely on the three too much, especially as the long ball helped them win a championship last season, but there are games where they flat-out need to generate more paint touches.

This, it appears, is one of those games.

Strong first quarter from Philly, who lead the Celtics 30-25.

Sloppy ball-handling by Boston, who has committed 6 turnovers.

Boston does have seven made triples, but needs to mix it up in the second quarter. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have not gotten downhill a ton.

Sixers getting a real lift from Tyrese Maxey, who has been the heart of the offense early. 10 points, and four assists. Looks the like ankle twist pre-game hasn't influenced Joel Embiid much either. 7/4 in eight minutes.

Philly looking surprisingly competent in this first quarter.

The Celtics open the game with a three-pointer, much to the surprise of everyone.

You can't make this up. Joel Embiid, during pre-game warmups, stumbled and fell, tweaking his ankle.

Embiid is expected to play, but this is yet another unfortunate moment for the 7'2 center, who has struggled with odd injuries for a while now.

The Dallas Mavericks, on the heels of losing Luka Dončić and being down by 28 points, dug deep and found a way to not just get back into this one, but actually create a real chance to come away with a win.

Super, super impressive second-half effort by Dallas.

Kyrie Irving has been an absolute late-game monster. 37 points, and Dallas has cut Minnesota's lead all the way down to five.

Alright, alright, alright, Mavs.

Dallas turned up the defense as Edwards was out, and climbed back to within nine points after having been down by a whopping 28.

I may have to retract my "dud" comment from earlier!

Mavs finally showing life. Now down 14. Kyrie Irving is lifting Dallas' offense (30 points), and Anthony Edwards is at the scorer's table, ready to check in.

Wolves lead the Mavericks 90-68 after three quarters. Anthony Edwards with a cool, calm, and collected 20/5/5 line with two steals and stellar defense all throughout.

Might not be a bad idea to call his night early, and let the reserves handle the rest of this one.

Mavs are hitting 39% as a team, and their defense is in shambles. One of those games where you burn the game tape afterwards.

We're quickly approaching blow-out territory with the Wolves up 26.

This has been an unfortunate dud on the schedule, obviously not aided by the injury to Luka Dončić.

With Dončić out, Dallas will need to find offense elsewhere than just Kyrie Irving. Dereck Lively could be an interesting candidate to go to, simply to see what the second-year center has to offer in an enhanced role.

Luka Dončić has been ruled out for the rest of the game due to a calf strain.

The 25-year-old superstar's night ends with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 16 minutes.

Wolves are going to head into the halftime with a 57-40 lead on their hands. Encouraging game from them so far. Offense has been a rough watch this season, but things have flowed well.

Randle and Edwards have combined for 11 assists, and the Wolves are 10-21 from three.

Oh no. Luka Dončić is headed to the locker room, walking gingerly. He's dealt with a heel contusion recently.

He couldn't even run back on the defense. Bad news for the Mavericks, who are already down 13.

Anthony Edwards has been phenomenal in this first half.

13 points and four assists isn't a box score stuffer, but he's been excellent at choosing his spots, and has moved the ball at the right time.

We have a scuffle between Daniel Gafford and Rudy Gobert, both of whom failed to remember the real meaning of Christmas.

The Mavericks are making questionable decisions. Offense looking less than crisp, and their defense is slipping. Seven early turnovers, and they look discombobulated when rotating on the other end.

Donte DiVincenzo has come in and cashed three triples in nine minutes off Minnesota's bench, which has itself cooking.

Dončić leading the way for Dallas with 14 points and 5 rebounds.