Celtics Cruise To Game 1 Win Over Mavericks
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 107-89, in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on Thursday night. The Celtics lead the series 1-0.
The Celtics didn’t look like a team that had a whole week to rest, and they didn’t waste time translating their supremacy over a Mavericks team that looked a bit outmatched early on. Boston looked suffocating on defense and highly efficient on offense, and that recipe led them to a 37-20 lead in the first quarter. The Celtics doubled the Mavericks’ points at one point in the second quarter, and while Dallas showed some signs of life, it was still a 21-point game at halftime. Dallas made it an eight-point contest in the third quarter, and it looked as if the team was ready to mount a comeback, but Boston tightened things up defensively and made it a 20-point game with 12 minutes left. The Mavericks didn’t have enough weapons to turn things around in the final minutes, and the Celtics cruised to victory, putting themselves just three wins away from their first NBA title since the 2007-08 season.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in this win, putting up 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks. Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench in his first taste of action since April 29 and finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Jayson Tatum had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick White had 15 points and five assists, while Jrue Holiday notched 12 points, eight rebounds and five dimes. Seven Boston players drained two or more threes, a new record in a Finals game in NBA history.
Luka Doncic was the best player for the Mavericks, but his 30-point, 10-rebound double-double wasn’t enough. Kyrie Irving struggled massively and finished with 12 points but shooting 6-for-19 from the field. P.J. Washington was the only other starter who scored in double digits after recording 14 points and eight rebounds. Jaden Hardy looked good off the bench and finished with 13 points.
The Celtics didn’t look like a team that had a whole week to rest, and they didn’t waste time translating their supremacy over a Mavericks team that looked a bit outmatched early on. Boston looked suffocating on defense and highly efficient on offense, and that recipe led them to a 37-20 lead in the first quarter. The Celtics doubled the Mavericks’ points at one point in the second quarter, and while Dallas showed some signs of life, it was still a 21-point game at halftime. Dallas made it an eight-point contest in the third quarter, and it looked as if the team was ready to mount a comeback, but Boston tightened things up defensively and made it a 20-point game with 12 minutes left. The Mavericks didn’t have enough weapons to turn things around in the final minutes, and the Celtics cruised to victory, putting themselves just three wins away from their first NBA title since the 2007-08 season.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in this win, putting up 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks. Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench in his first taste of action since April 29 and finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Jayson Tatum had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick White had 15 points and five assists, while Jrue Holiday notched 12 points, eight rebounds and five dimes. Seven Boston players drained two or more threes, a new record in a Finals game in NBA history.
Luka Doncic was the best player for the Mavericks, but his 30-point, 10-rebound double-double wasn’t enough. Kyrie Irving struggled massively and finished with 12 points but shooting 6-for-19 from the field. P.J. Washington was the only other starter who scored in double digits after recording 14 points and eight rebounds. Jaden Hardy looked good off the bench and finished with 13 points.