NBA Finals: Celtics dominate Mavericks in Game 1 win as Kristaps ...
The Boston Celtics, behind a huge return from Kristaps Porzingis, have jumped out in front early in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics, who broke open a nearly 29-point lead in the first half, cruised to a dominant 107-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night at TD Garden. The Celtics have now won eight straight games, and they've won every single Game 1 they've played so far this postseason.
Luka Dončić and the Mavericks, on the other hand, are now playing from behind in their first NBA Finals appearance since they won the championship with Dirk Nowitzki in 2011. They had won five straight road games entering Thursday night, too.
Kristaps Porzingis powers huge Celtics runPorzingis missed Boston’s last 10 games with a calf injury he first sustained in its opening-round series against the Miami Heat.
But after coming off the bench for just the second time in his career, he immediately made up for lost time. Porzingis put up eight points early in the first quarter — including a huge early dunk after he blew past Dereck Lively and a bucket in the face of Josh Green. That put the Celtics up by double digits and forced an early Mavericks timeout in the first period.
He then came out of the timeout, drilled a very deep 3-pointer and immediately came up with a block on the other end to set up another 3-pointer for the Celtics. Just like that, after a 23-5 run, the Celtics were up by 17 points. That marked the largest lead after the first quarter in a Game 1 of an NBA Finals in history.
Porzingis and the Celtics kept it going in the second quarter, and easily took a 21-point lead into the locker room at the break. They opened the second on a 21-11 run, took a brief 29-point lead and made 11 3-pointers as a team in the first 24 minutes. Porzingis had 18 points and shot 7-of-9 from the field in the first half. The Mavericks, on the other hand, went just 3-of-13 from the 3-point line as a team.
Despite the huge deficit early, Dallas started cutting away at Boston’s lead slowly in the third quarter. Then, after a few huge buckets from Kyrie Irving and a clutch 3-pointer from Dončić to cap a 20-6 run, it was suddenly an eight-point game.
That, however, was as close as Dallas got. Boston rallied immediately out of a timeout and ended the period on a 14-2 burst. That gave the Celtics a 20-point lead once again, and was more than enough to push them to the eventual 18-point win.
Porzingis finished with 20 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes in the win for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown led the way with 22 points while shooting 7-of-12 from the field, and Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Celtics set a new NBA Finals record, too, after seven different players made multiple shots from behind the arc.
Dončić finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mavericks. He shot just 4-of-12 from behind the arc, and he accounted for all but two of Dallas' made 3-pointers. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Irving finished with 12 points. Their 89 points marks the fewest points they've scored so far in the postseason.
Though it's still early — Dončić and Irving are more than capable of keeping the Mavericks in it — the Celtics look like a team poised to run to what would be their 18th championship in franchise history. Sunday's Game 2 isn't a must-win for Dallas by any means, but the Mavericks will need to at least keep it close before the series heads to Texas for the first time. Otherwise, things could get out of hand quickly.
Stay with Yahoo Sports for live coverage of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals and instant analysis as the Mavericks and Celtics kick off their quest for the title.
Live39 updates
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 5:07 AM GMT+2
Though things got close for a brief moment in the second half, the Celtics have taken a 1-0 series lead over the Mavericks. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 22 points, and Kristaps Porzingis dropped 20 in his return.
Luka Dončić led all scorers with 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:46 AM GMT+2
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:45 AM GMT+2
Aside from a quick burst at the beginning of the third quarter, the Celtics have been in complete control of the game from the opening tap. Eight Celtics have played, and with 4:57 left in the game six of them are in double digits.
Jaylen Brown: 22 points
Kristaps Porzingis: 20 points
Jayson Tatum: 15 points
Derrick White: 15 points
Jrue Holiday: 12 points
Al Horford: 10 points
As a team, Boston is shooting 48% from the floor and 39% from three. A complete team effort on the offensive end of the floor to go along with holding Kyrie Irving to just 12 points.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:35 AM GMT+2
Still just 1-of-11 for non-Luka Mavericks from distance, and Doncic has missed his last four attempts from outside as well. 5-of-23 as a team from beyond the arc. Celtics with 15-of-40 from deep have almost made as many as the Mavericks have missed (18) with eight minutes left.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:22 AM GMT+2
Make that a 14-0 run. Dallas is struggling to create offense with Luka on the bench, and Kyrie cannot seem to find windows in the paint or connect from deep. Dallas' two vaunted guards have combined for three assists.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:21 AM GMT+2
Kyrie Irving's ineffectiveness has really stood out as the Celtics rebuilt this lead into a 20-plus-point advantage. He was spooked by Porzingis on one drive and traveled on a step-back. Just 6-of-19 and 0-5 from 3 through three quarters with 3 turnovers.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:20 AM GMT+2
Boston's defense has been stifling on this 11-0 run to get the lead back to 19. Jaylen Brown with big blocks. Jrue Holiday had switched onto Doncic before this latest break for him for the last minute of the 3Q.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:19 AM GMT+2
The Celtics' star has been making highlight plays on the defensive end of the floor in Game 1.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:19 AM GMT+2
Non-Luka 3’s: 1-of-10. That’s not optimal production for the Mavs, especially when the Celtics don’t mind you taking 3’s
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:17 AM GMT+2
After Luka Doncic's rangy 3-pointer cut Boston's 29-point lead to 72-64 midway through the third quarter, Boston responds with an 8-0 run — with help from some light fouls from Dereck Lively II — capped by a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer. Tatum is up to 13-8-5, and the Celtics look to close the third better than the last quarter.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:10 AM GMT+2
Well, well, well ... the game isn't over just yet. A Luka Dončić 3 with 4:39 to go in the third quarter has cut the Celtics lead to just eight points at 72-64. Dončić has 27 points in the game and 10 in the quarter to get the Mavs back in it. While Dallas is having trouble moving the ball on the offensive end — just five assists on 27 made baskets, Dončić is keeping them connected as Kyrie Irving struggles from the field 12 points on 6-of-16 from the floor.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 4:07 AM GMT+2
This building has grown pretty quiet and angsty as Luka Doncic comes out scorching from deep. Dallas has cut this all the way down to 8 in less than 8 minutes, and 10 points have come from the Mavericks' All-NBA superstar.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:59 AM GMT+2
After trailing by as much as 29 in the first half, the Mavericks have started the second half with some purpose, cutting the 21-point lead at the break to 16 with 7:42 to go in the third quarter. A couple of Kyrie Irving baskets and two Celtics turnovers have helped steady the ship for the Mavs, who'll need to go on a run to get back in the game heading into the 4th quarter.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:38 AM GMT+2
Luka had more bounce in his legs and aggression hunting his own shot in the last minutes of the first half to finish with 17 points. Can that carry over? This is a team that overcame an 18-point third-quarter deficit in Game 6 against OKC …
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:37 AM GMT+2
How's that for coming back from injury? Eighteen points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor — including a couple of 3s — to go along with 2 blocks and 3 rebounds. Not a bad return to action after missing more than a month with a calf strain.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:27 AM GMT+2
This is how the Celtics are designed, with 3-point shooting being their bread and butter, but a 24-point differential from distance (10-of-24 to Dallas' 2-of-12) is the bulk of Boston's 27-point edge right now.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:25 AM GMT+2
Daniel Gafford, welcome to your Kodak moment.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:24 AM GMT+2
The Celtics are just overwhelming the Mavs now. Luka can’t get the ball upcourt. It’s looking like a blowout. More turnovers and a 29-point lead for Boston.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:20 AM GMT+2
Porzingis is the one guy Dallas cannot game plan for. His size is too much for the Mavs wings and his length at the rim disrupts Kyrie and Luka. Porzingis has 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks off the bench at 6:29 of the second quarter.
Fri, June 7, 2024 at 3:13 AM GMT+2
Good Sam Hauser minutes. He forced a turnover on Luka, a Kyrie brick from the corner and cashed his first two threes (one from each corner).
