The Boston Celtics made a brief stop in Phoenix and spent a long night there.
The next morning, sunlight fell over them as though heralding the challenges the new day would bring.
The players boarded their charter flight in high spirits, ready to fly to Dallas—the final stop of this road trip.
Not only was this the last game of their six-game road swing, but it was also a crucial battle, because their opponent would be the formidable Dallas Mavericks.
So far, the Dallas Mavericks had compiled a 30-20 record, ranking fifth in the highly competitive Western Conference.
This game would undoubtedly be a stern test for the Boston Celtics.
Worth mentioning was that in this matchup, the Boston Celtics would also face a former teammate—Monta Ellis.
During the offseason after last season ended, the Milwaukee Bucks had made it clear that they wanted to retain Monta Ellis, offering him a two-year extension worth roughly 24.8 million.
However, after careful consideration, Monta Ellis knew that if he remained with that team, his individual development would likely be limited or even stagnate.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decisively made a bold choice: he opted out of the final year of his contract, which paid as much as 11 million, and entered free agency in search of broader opportunities.
Thanks to Monta Ellis's exceptional skills and formidable ability, numerous teams on the free-agent market had their eyes on him, extending olive branches and offering attractive contracts.
Faced with so many choices, Monta Ellis carefully considered them before ultimately choosing to join the Dallas Mavericks.
The two sides signed a three-year contract worth 25 million, with the deal granting Monta Ellis a player option in its third year.
This season, Monta Ellis had displayed remarkably strong form.
Every game, he was