The Celtics have nine games remaining before the All-Star break, beginning with Monday night’s home matchup against the Houston Rockets at TD Garden. Included in that span are road games against Boston’s top two Eastern Conference challengers: at Cleveland on Feb. 4 and at the New York Knicks on Feb. 8.

The Boston Celtics have been one of the better teams this season but over the past few weeks, they have seemed to lack some focus. Like many teams before them who have won the NBA title, Boston is experiencing the fatigue of the regular season.

Kristaps Porzingis said the Celtics have played like a 'house cat' at times this season coming off their title win last year.

The Boston Celtics readily admit that the aftermath of their championship celebration has impacted their intensity this season. “We were a lion last season, and some games this year

Kristaps Porzingis helped the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 122-107. The 2018 NBA All-Star finished the win with 18 points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks while shooting 6/12 from the field and 3/5 from the three-point range in 28 minutes of playing time.

The former Mavs big man left nearly three years ago, but hadn’t played a game at American Airlines Center until Saturday.

The Boston Celtics picked up a commanding 122-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, getting themselves back on track after they suffered an embarrassing blowout defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers just two days earlier.