DALLAS — Despite having no Kristaps Porzingis (knee imflammation) to play against his former team, the Boston Celtics still managed to beat the Dallas Mavericks Monday, 119-110.

Although the Mavs have had their fair share of problems this season, I think this win put the C’s back on the right track in staying on top of the east. Last week they lost to the Denver Nuggets at home, which snapped their 20-home stand on the season. Nonetheless, they bounced back against the Houston Rockets, and Monday’s win made it two games in a row.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each picked it up for the C’s to make up for the loss of their big man who should be an all-star this season. Tatum finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds, Brown had 34 points and the led the Celtics past Luka Doncic and their former teammate Kyrie Irving.

Luka still had a triple-double with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists. Brown dropped with Luka with a step back that send him to the ground before knocking down a mid range shot in the second quarter. Irving had 23 points and was his usual shake and baking self, but wasn’t as aggressive on offense as he’s been in years past.

Tough schedule up next, but possible to win all of them

The C’s won’t have any games for the week as they’ll face Miami, a team they lost to in game 7 of the eastern conference finals last season. Then it’s the Clippers, Pelicans, Pacers and Lakers in that order. Luckily, after the Heat, the C’s will have seven straight home games, and we’ve seen what they can do at home. It’s all a matter of their next game.

Miami isn’t the same team they were last year, but Celtics fans have learned the hard way to never count them out. The Heat currently sit at the sixth spot in the east, but they come alive in the playoffs.