2024 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 as Kristaps Porziņģis Shines

Celtics Take Commanding Lead with Dominant Performance

The Boston Celtics, led by a resurgent Kristaps Porziņģis, asserted their dominance early in the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics dismantled the Dallas Mavericks with a decisive 107-89 victory in Game 1 on Thursday night at TD Garden. This win extends the Celtics’ playoff streak to eight consecutive victories, maintaining their flawless record in Game 1s this postseason.

Porziņģis Sparks Early Celtics Run

, returning from a calf injury that sidelined him for the last 10 games, made an immediate impact. Coming off the bench, he quickly scored eight points in the first quarter, including a dunk past Dereck Lively II and a contested shot over Josh Green. This early surge put the Celtics in double digits, prompting a quick timeout from the Mavericks.

Following the timeout, Porziņģis nailed a deep three-pointer and blocked a shot on the defensive end, leading to another Celtics three-pointer. This 23-5 run gave Boston a commanding 17-point lead, the largest after the first quarter in NBA Finals history.

Celtics Extend Lead in Second Quarter

The Boston Celtics maintained their momentum into the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 21-point lead. They opened the quarter with a 21-11 run, at one point leading by 29 points. Boston’s offense was on fire, making 11 three-pointers in the first half alone. Porziņģis contributed significantly, scoring 18 points on 7-of three-pointers in the first half. Porziņģis scored 18 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field. Meanwhile, the Mavericks struggled, making just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Mavericks’ Third Quarter Surge Falls Short

Despite the significant deficit, the Mavericks made a push in the third quarter. Key baskets from Kyrie Irving and a clutch three-pointer from Luka Dončić highlighted a 20-6 run, narrowing the Celtics’ lead to just eight points. However, Boston quickly responded with a 14-2 burst, restoring their 20-point advantage and securing their control of the game.

Boston’s Balanced Attack Seals the Win

Kristaps Porziņģis finished with 20 points and six rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. Jaylen Brown led the team with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Jayson Tatum contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, despite committing six turnovers. The Boston Celtics set an NBA Finals record with seven different players hitting multiple three-pointers.

Luka Dončić was the standout performer for the Mavericks, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He made 4-of-12 three-pointers, accounting for most of Dallas’ long-range success. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Kyrie Irving finished with 12 points. The Mavericks’ 89 points marked their lowest scoring output of the postseason, with only nine assists as a team compared to Boston’s 23 assists and nine blocks.

Boston Celtics Poised for Championship Run

While it’s still early in the series, the Celtics’ dominant performance suggests they are well on their way to potentially claiming their 18th championship. Game 2 on Sunday night in Boston is not a must-win for Dallas, but the Mavericks need to keep it competitive to avoid falling into a deeper hole before the series shifts to Texas.

When is next Game of Celtics?

The Boston Celtics and Mavericks will clash again on 9th June Sunday night in Boston. A second consecutive blowout could set the tone for a quick series, putting the Mavericks in a challenging position as they seek to even the score.

Celtics’ Depth Shines in Game 1 Victory

Boston’s comprehensive performance was evident throughout the game. With 4:57 left in the fourth quarter, six Celtics players had reached double digits in scoring:

• Jaylen Brown: 22 points
• Kristaps Porziņģis: 20 points
• Jayson Tatum: 16 points
• Derrick White: 15 points
• Jrue Holiday: 12 points
• Al Horford: 10 points

As a team, the Celtics shot 48% from the floor and 39% from three-point range. Their balanced offense complemented a stout defense that limited Kyrie Irving to just 12 points.

The Boston Celtics’ impressive depth and collective effort were key in their commanding Game 1 victory, setting the stage for what could be a memorable NBA Finals run.

Brown Scores 22, Porzingis Returns with 20 as Boston Celtics Dominate Mavericks in NBA Finals Opener

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, and Kristaps Porzingis added 20 in his return to action as the Boston Celtics secured a 107-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Derrick White contributed 15 points for Boston, which surged ahead by 29 points in the first half and hit 16 three-pointers to set a commanding tone in their quest for an 18th NBA championship.

Porzingis, who had been out since April 29 with a strained right calf, came off the bench to make an immediate impact, adding six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes of play. Six Celtics scored in double figures.

Dallas managed to reduce the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, but Boston quickly reasserted control.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 30 points. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds. However, Dallas struggled with offensive consistency, recording only nine assists on their 35 field goals.

Former Celtic Kyrie Irving had a tough night, finishing with 12 points. He was greeted with boos during his introduction and whenever he touched the ball, following his previous altercations with Boston fans and a fine for an obscene gesture during the 2022 playoffs at TD Garden.

The Celtics, aiming for their first championship since 2008, showed no signs of rust after their 10-day break following their sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They displayed energy and cohesion, moving the ball well and finding open shots. They also attacked the Mavericks’ defense inside, resulting in several dunks.

Aside from Doncic, who shot 12 of 26 from the field, the Mavericks struggled to establish their offense early on.

Dallas had a brief lead midway through the first quarter before the Celtics went on a 44-16 run to lead 58-29 in the second quarter.

The Mavericks responded with a 35-14 run, including 15 points from Doncic, to cut the Celtics’ lead to 72-64. However, Boston ended the third quarter with a 14-2 run to extend their lead to 86-66 going into the fourth quarter. Dallas had just five assists through the first three quarters, the fewest by any NBA team in the last three seasons over the same span.

Porzingis returned to action with 7:17 left in the first quarter, replacing Al Horford. Despite wearing a white compression sleeve on his right leg, Porzingis quickly made his presence felt.

He scored his first points with a pair of free throws after being fouled by Doncic, then added a short jumper over Doncic. He followed that with a two-handed dunk over Derrick Lively and a block on Jaden Hardy’s layup attempt. The Celtics capitalized on the momentum, with Porzingis hitting a 16-footer to cap a 17-5 run over the final 5:24 of the quarter. Boston led 37-20 at the end of the first quarter.

Porzingis finished the first half with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, marking a successful return to the court and helping the Celtics secure a strong start to the NBA Finals.

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