10 Most important games on Dallas Mavericks' 2024-25 schedule

3. First rematch of the 2024 Finals against the Boston Celtics

"To be the best, you have to beat the best," is something the Mavs will have to remember for the 2024-25 season. The Mavs will be playing the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics twice next season, and the first matchup will be on January 25 on ABC.

Every Mavs fan wants them to get revenge on the Celtics, and the Mavs having the first Finals rematch in Dallas is a great way to send a message to the NBA that they are ready to get back to the Finals, with the Celtics being a potential 2025 Finals opponent.

The matchup at home against the Celtics can provide Kyrie Irving comfort after he deeply struggled against the Celtics in Boston during the Finals. The matchup also provides Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis to be fully healthy to play against his former team (if he has returned by then).

Porzingis didn't play much with injuries against the Mavs in the Finals, but had bad blood like Irving against each other's former teams. If healthy, both can have bad blood to settle at full force.

Playing at home against the Celtics is another good test for the Mavs to see how good they can be in the middle of the season against the defending champions. A statement win at home sends a message to the NBA the Mavs are ready to get back to the Finals, and be a tough team to beat.