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CELTICS NOTEBOOK

Marcus Morris making the most of playing time

Marcus Morris entered Monday’s game in Dallas averaging 13.5 points and 23.4 minutes per game this season.Winslow Townson/AP

DALLAS — Marcus Morris has blended in perfectly with the Celtics, and like the team’s other new additions, he has sparkled in his opportunities to play.

The veteran swingman entered Monday’s game with the Dallas Mavericks averaging 13.5 points and shooting nearly 41 percent from the 3-point line.

The Celtics have brought Morris along slowly after he missed all of training camp with a sore right knee and legal issues.

That injury has limited his minutes. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he was instructed to limit Morris’s minutes and sit him on back-to-back sets until the end of November. Stevens is unsure if that timeline will be extended.

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Morris said he is still at about “80 percent” while adjusting to time limits.

“I know it’s healthy for my knee,” he said. “At times it’s frustrating not being out there, but how can I complain when we’re winning?”

When asked if he’s prepared to play without a minutes limit, Morris said, “I’m not sure because I haven’t [played extended minutes], so I’m not sure how my knee is going to respond. I’m hoping sooner than later.”

Morris started most of the past two seasons with the Detroit Pistons but has served as an offensive spark plug for the Celtics. He scored 10 of his 14 points Saturday against Atlanta in a 5-minute-37-second stretch of the second quarter.

Because of his above-average midrange shooting skills, Morris has the green light to shoot and keep shooting when he’s in the offensive flow.

“It’s a little different,” Morris said of the sporadic playing time. “But at the same time I’m a veteran and I’m always going to stay professional.

“Mentally sometimes it’s a little draining coming from the past couple of years where I’ve always finished games. I’m just assuming it’s just [letting] my knee get better and I’ll play [more].”

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Morris has flourished with the second unit. He credits Stevens for allowing him the opportunity to become an offensive focal point.

“Coach has put me in a great position to come in there and get some time with that second unit, we all know what I can do so I’m just staying super aggressive,” he said.

“I’m picking my spots the right way. At times, I’m just recognizing we need somebody to score. So I’m just taking that role.”

Morris attempted a career-high 357 3-pointers last season and said he is completely comfortable stretching his midrange game to the 3-point line.

He has gotten plenty of open looks from long range because of the Celtics’ other scoring options.

“I’ve only played nine games, so the more I continue to warm up, the more [the shots] will fall for me,” he said.

“I’m comfortable shooting any shot. Midrange has been my game but we have guys who can create and get you open shots and I’ve got to be able to knock them down.”

Morris scored 8 points in 26 minutes, 11 seconds in Monday’s 110-102 victory over the Mavericks.

Irving enjoying himself

The Celtics have not lost since Oct. 18. This is the type of situation All-Star guard Kyrie Irving wanted when he requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said he is enjoying this run with a group of young players and he’s enjoying the journey.

“It’s been a learning experience,” said Irving, who scored 47 points Monday night. “Where I am presently is just enjoying the challenge and the excitement of going into different environments and being able to come out with some wins, being challenged and just learning more about the individuals that I’m with in this locker room.

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“It’s just so new. It’s just so much fun when you have that type of receptive feeling from everybody. Everybody in this locker room, we’re getting used to each other and learning more about each other.”

Irving was asked about being the new “face of the franchise,” an assertion he didn’t agree with.

“I wouldn’t call it a face, the Boston Celtics is the Boston Celtics,” he said. “I’m one of the leaders here. [My experience here] has probably exceeded [expectations]. It’s hard to envision what it would actually look like. Now that I’m here, every single game is another day for us to experience new things as a group. I just try to bring that wisdom and knowledge to the table.”

Yogi as a bulldog

In his five years as Celtics coach, Stevens has come across several players he recruited to play at Butler University. One was Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell, who was a top point guard prospect in 2012 out of Park Tudor High School in Greenfield, Ind.

Ferrell eventually committed to Indiana University, but Stevens remembers trying to lure him to Butler.

“I recruited Yogi, unsuccessfully,” Stevens said with a smile. “I saw what you’re seeing now. He would have been awfully good at Butler.”

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Ferrell was undrafted out of Indiana but signed with the Brooklyn Nets and eventually signed a 10-day contract with the Mavericks.

Ferrell had 6 points in 37:21 Monday night.


Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.