Dallas Mavericks 89 - 107 Boston Celtics summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Finals
Holiday was the sixth and last Celtics in double digits with this three ball from the corner. Boston went 38.1% from the three point line, hitting 16 long balls while the Mavs made just 7/27. Jayson Tatum had a quiet night on the scoring end, dropping 15 but did just about everything else. He ended the night with 15, 11 and 5 assists in the 107-89 win.
The Mavs will look to pick themselves up and dust themselves off after getting their bell rung in Game 1. They will have to make some adjustments if they are going to even up the series, but the Celtics know they have a huge chance to take a commanding lead to Dallas if they can win on Sunday night at 8:00 pm ET.
With the game on the line, it was Jaylen Brown who took the reigns and and put the Celtics back up by double digits when it looked like the Mavs might pull even. He ended the night with 22, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks on a night where he went 7/12 from the field.
Jaylen Brown got the richest contract in NBA history this offseason. He was great in the offseason, but Boston paid him that much to show up and play like he did in the opening game of the NBA Finals. He was a mad man on on the defensive end. This block was just one of the many defensive plays he made, but the timing of it couldn't have been more prefect. The Celtics would stretch the lead back out to 20 heading into the 4th quarter.
Luka cut the lead to 8 in the third quarter, but that was as close as the Mavs would get after their sluggish start.
Kyrie and the Mavs made a brief comeback attempt in the third quarter, cutting the one time lead from 29 down to 9, but the Celtics had an answer when things got a little to tight. Irving was held to just 12 points on 6/19 shooting in a night that the Boston fans didn't shy away from showering him with boos.
Porzingis ended his dream start to Game 1 with 18 points in the first half hitting seven of his nine shots and helping the Celtics build a 29 point lead in the second quarter.
While Porzingis was providing the theatrics, it was Jaylen Brown dictating the pace of the game. He was playing lock down defense and pulling the strings on the offensive end for the Celtics.
Porzingis was doing it on both ends. He was unstoppable with his mid range jumper, and started to show his range that is going to be a problem for the Mavs in this series, and then made sure to remind everyone he's not just a one way player with his three blocks in his return.
It had been more than 30 days since Porzingis had seen any live action, but he came back looking in mid season form. He started his night off with a couple of FTs, and that ignited him into a first half that he will never forget.
The Celtics defense set the tone from the very first minute. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis led the way, but the pressure was relentless from everyone in a white jersey in the series opener. They held one of the top scoring offenses to just 89 points.
Luka showed no signs of nerves or jitters in his first NBA Finals game, getting hot early and never really cooling down. He had 30 points, but was held to just one assist. That is exactly what the Celtics aim to do in this series. Limit Luka's ability to get everyone else involved.
The Boston Celtics drew first blood in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a convincing win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night from TD Garden. Jaylen Brown led the way with 22, but it was all about the return of Kristaps Porzingis.
While all the talk coming into Game 1 was surrounding the lengthy Latvian, Al Horford made sure to remind people who filled in for him throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. He got the show started and got the crowd into the game from the very first bucket.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Boston Celtics take Game 1 at home thanks to a brilliant first quarter. They held off Luka, Kyrie and the Mavs the rest of the way and land the first blow in the series.
Green was left open in the corner and he strokes the three ball.
Hardy from the baseline and he's got 13 but they came to late for Dallas.
Hauser off the dribble and he knocks down the deep two.
Hardy back to the line after the foul on Pritchard and he hits both FTs.
Kornet follows up the miss from Hauser and tips it in.
Mykhailuk gets the runner off the glass to fall.
Hardy to the line after the foul on Kornet and he hits both FTs.
Tatum is still in the game and he goes to the line after the foul on Powell and he hits one of two FTs.
Hardy goes coast to coast and scoops it up off the glass.
Hardy hits a three ball from the wing out of the timeout.
Timeout Celtics and that should be it for both sets of starters with under 5:00 to go.
Brown to the line after the foul on Washington from downtown and he hits one of three FTs.
Holiday pulls the trigger and drills the three ball from the wing off the kickout from Horford!
Tatum missed the lay up but Horford was right there to tip it back up and in.
Lively with the jam off the feed from Washington.
Tatum steps back and hits the mid range jumper over Kyrie.
Washington follows up his miss and puts it back in traffic.
White strips Doncic and takes it all the way for the steal and slam!
Timeout DAL with 8:34 to go in the 4th.
Holiday muscles his way to the rim and finishes with a reverse lay up over Washington.
Doncic to the line after the foul on White and he hits one of two FTs.
Doncic takes the contact and gets the bucket after the foul on Brown. FT is no good.
Washington slashes to the rack and lays it off the glass.
Brown spins to the cup and lays it up and in to start the fourth quarter.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL QUARTER WITH THE CELTICS LEADING BY 20!!!
The lead was down to 8 at one point, but Tatum and Brown made sure to stretch the lead out before the 4th.
Gafford to the line after the foul on Hauser and he hits both FTs.
Brown pulls the trigger from the top of the key and the lead is back up to 22!
Horford open in the corner and Brown found him for the three ball!
Extra pass from Brown to Tatum at the top of the key and he strokes the three ball!
Lead is back up to 16 and the Mavs need a timeout with 1:51 to go in the 3rd.
Lively picks up his fifth foul and sends Brown to the line where he hits both FTs.
Tatum with the offensive board and hits a streaking Porzingis for the dunk down the lane.
Brown to the line after the foul on Lively and he hits one of two FTs.
Luka spots up off the pick from the wing and he hits another three ball!
Timeout BOS with 4:27 to go in the 3rd and the lead is back to double digits!
Kyire puts it on the deck and hits the fader from outside the lane.
Doncic steps back from the wing and he drills the three ball! He's got 24 on the night!
Tatum splits the seam down the lane and lays it up and in.
Washington to the line after the foul on White and he hits both FTs.
Holiday to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs.
Doncic with a scoop lay up over Horford and he gets it to go off the bank.
Washington streaks down the lane and lays it up and in off the glass.
Timeout BOS with 7:42 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Irving drives baseline and blows past Horford for the lay up off the glass.
White fouled by Lively after dragging down the offensive board and eh hits both FTs.
Irving gets into the paint and floats it up and in over Holiday.
Irving missed the jumper but Gafford was there to clean it up.
White was left open and Tatum found him in the corner for three!
Luka puts it on the deck and shields off Tatum for the lay up off the glass.
WE ARE BACK IN BOSTON FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTON!!!
Porzingis has 18 in the first half after going 7/9 from the field. Boston is 11/27 from downtown while the Mavs have hit just 3/13 of their triple tries.
This might go down as one of the best blocks in NBA History. Porzingis is known for his ability on the other end, but he has shown he can lock down on D. He's got a couple blocks on the night and has affected countless others.
Porzingis is igniting the crown at TD Garden but it's Jaylen Brown setting the tone and pushing the pace. He's got 13 in the first half and has missed just two of his first 7 shots.
Who in the world can stop this dude when he's hitting 30 footers, elbow jumpers over smaller defenders and defending like a monster on the other end. He has been the best player on the court after missing almost a month and a half.
Porzingis came off the bench for Game 1, and no one was sure how he was going to come out. He got going from the FT line and then drilled this elbow jumper to really get his night going.
Kyrie had a couple quick buckets in the first quarter that made you think he was going to heat up but he had just two more points after that.
Brown has come up with a couple strips of Luka, and that has led to easy buckets on the other end.
Luka didn't look rattled or nervous coming out in his first NBA Finals game, but he hot shooting early on would cool off for a large portion of the half.
With all the hype around Porzingis' return, Al Horford wanted to make sure people didn't forget about him. He went right at the rack to start the game, but the rest of the half was reserved for the Latvian.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME FROM BOSTON!!!
Doncic with a step back to create some space from Porzingis and he drills the three ball from the wing!
Doncic pull up from the FT line and hits the mid range jumper.
Kleber with a strong drive down the lane and hits the lay up after taking some contact from Porzingis.
Porzingis with another three ball from the top of the key and he's got 18 points off the bench.
Doncic's shot was blocked but it fell to Washington underneath for the tip in slam.
Tatum cork screws around his defender and skies for the two handed slam down low.
Doncic gets the roll off the fade away from the lane and the Celtics call timeout with 2:50 to go in the half.
Washington fouled by Holiday but he misses both FTs.
Doncic gets into the lane and finally gets a bucket to go. He's gone cold since the early minutes of the game.
Tatum steps into a three ball from the wing and that goes too!
Holiday drives down the lane and lays it off for White for the slam on the baseline.
Brown picks off Doncic for the second time tonight and for the second time tonight he raises high and throws it down!
Extra pass from Horford to the corner for Brown who hits the three ball!
Jones with a drive to the paint from the corner and he hits the runner.
Porzingis goes with the pump fake this time gets Green off his feet and hits the shot from the top of the key!
Timeout Mavericks with 6:29 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Porzingis using his length and shoots it over Jones from the elbow. He's got 13 on the night.
Doncic to the line after the foul on Pritchard and and he hits one of two FTs.
Brown crosses over on Luka, streaks down the lane and cocks it back before throwing it down over the entire Mavs defense.
Washington to the line after the foul on Hauser and he hits both FTs.
Hauser with another quick trigger and he hits it for his second triple of the night.
Doncic over the top to a flat footed Gafford and he raises up and lays it in.
Brown squeezes between Doncic and Gafford and gets the floater off the glass.
Kyrie drives from the corner into the lane and gets the floater to go.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE CELTICS RAN AWAY WITH THE LEAD IN THE FINAL FEW MINUTES!
Boston went on a 15-2 run as Porzingis announced with a vengence. he's got 11 points, 3 rebound and 3 blocks! Tatum and Brown only have 7 as everyone else is chipping in.
Doncic has 7 and Irving has 4 but they went cold late in the quarter.
Hauser with a quick trigger from the corner and he joins the three point party!
Porzingis launches a 30 footer and that goes too! He can't miss in his return to the court!
Tatum jacks a three ball from the wing and he is on the board for the first time tonight.
Tough turn around from the FT line from Hardy and he banks it off the glass and in.
Porzingis spots up over Green and raises over him with ease for the elbow jumper. He's got 8 points off the bench and the Mavs need a timeout with 2:20 to go in the 1st quarter.
Porzingis puts it on the deck and blows past Lively for the slam down the lane.
Porzingis with his first jumper after hitting a couple FTs go. That jumper over Hardy went in from the elbow.
Doncic with his patented step back jumper from the wing and the three ball goes!
Porzingis to the line after the foul on his jumper by Doncic, and he hits both FTs.
White with back to back threes from the corner and then the wing!
Doncic threw up a prayer in the paint while falling to the ground and that some how drops as he yells at the ref for a foul.
Washington sends Brown to the line out of the timeout and he hits both FTs.
Irving with a couple quick buckets, this one from the baseline and the Celtics are going to call a timeout with 6:58 to go in the 1st quarter.
Irving pulls up from the elbow and hits a tought shot with a hand in his face.
Holiday gets the reverse lay up on the baseline to drop in traffic
Brown strips Doncic and has a wide open path to the rack for the slam on the break.
Horford was left wide open from the wing and he drills the three off the kick out from Tatum.
Doncic hits Washington in stride and he skies for a two handed jam down the middle of the paint.
Doncic missed the baseline floater but Gafford was there for the tip in.
Doncic pulls up from inside the paint and gets the leaner to fall.
White answers back with a three ball off the dish from White.
Gafford kicks it out to a wide open Jones and he drills the three from the wing!
Tatum with the drive and dump off to Horford on the baseline and he skies for the slam to ignite this TD Garden crowd!
GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS UNDERWAY FROM BOSTON!!!
Mavs starters
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Jason Kidd is going with his starting five he has used pretty much all postseason. It's Luka and Kyrie looking to carry this team to a Game 1 win, and they will be joined by Jones, Washington and Gafford.
Celtics starters
Boston might have Porzingis back tonight, but he is going to start Game 1 on the bench as Joe Mazzulla goes with what got him here. It's Al Horford getting the start, and he's joined by Holiday, White, Brown and Tatum as we begin the NBA Finals from TD Garden.
Lowest seed to win it all
The Dallas Mavericks are in the NBA Finals as a five seed after a somewhat unexpected run through the playoffs. We have seen lower seeds reach the Finals as recently as last year when the eighth seeded Miami Heat met the Denver Nuggets in the title series just 12 months ago but they were eventually dropped by the would be champions. If the Mavs win the series, they would become the second lowest seed to win the NBA title, click the article to find out which team was the lowest seed to ever hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Importance of Game 1
It is no secret that taking the advantage in the series opener goes a long way in winning a series. That’s no different wen it comes to the NBA Finals. Teams that win at home and on the road greatly increase their odds at advancing in a series, or in this case lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Tonight both teams will look to draw first blood from TD Garden. For more in-depth stats on how important Game 1 is, make sure you click the link.
The return of Porzingis
Boston brought in Kristaps Porzingis specifically for series and situations like this. He is long, he is quick, he can bang on the boards and can hit the long ball. He was playing some of his best, and most important basketball of his career this season before suffering an injury in Game 4 of the C’s first round series against the Heat. The diagnosis was a calf strain, and Boston didn’t give much in terms of an expected return date. Luckily for the Celtics, they breezed past the competition in the East and didn’t exactly need the 7 footer from Latvia. The 11 day break between Game 4 of the ECF and tonight has given not just Kristaps but the entire team time to rest and recover. All indications point to Porzingis playing tonight, but after an absence of nearly a month and a half his minutes could be limited.
Boston's finest
It’s the question we all asked coming into this series, and luckily we have a seven game series to find out: which team has the best back court duo in the league? Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been one of the best if not the best tandem in the league for more than a half decade. Brown is the big money man who signed a record breaking deal last offseason while Tatum is a potential MVP candidate that sacrifices his stats for the good of the team. Each of the Celtics superstars has no problem playing Robin while the other takes the wheel and plays Batman, and they seem to switch off flawlessly. Tatum’s ppg average is down less than a point (26.0 ppg postseason) while his rebounds are up more than two per game (10.4 rpg postseason) and up a whole assists (5.9 apg postseason). Brown’s averages are up in ppg and rebounds but have dipped to 2.6 assists in the playoffs.
Dallas' duo
While the Mavs role players have stepped up in a major way, the key to Dallas’ run to the Finals has been wha many are already calling the best scoring backcourt the NBA has ever seen. It took a long, long time to figure out, but finally it seems like these two superstars have figured out how not just to coexist but excellent while on the court at the same time. Instead of their differing styles of play being a hindrance they have used it to keep teams off balance. When Kyrie wants to run, they run. When Luka wants to play in the half court, they slow down and set up. They averaged about 60 combined points per game in the regular season. They are averaging around 53 ppg in the playoffs, but have got big time contributions from guys like PJ and Gafford.
How they got here: Mavs
The Mavs had a dreadful end to last season and Dallas was draped in doubt to start the new campaign following what looked to be a failed experiment bringing Kyrie Irving to join Luka Doncic. The Mavericks plummeted out of the playoffs last year, and had some serious thinking to do during the offseason. They kept Kyrie and Luka together and hoped both could coexist in their second season. It took a while but after months of treading water, things started to click for the Mavs. A couple of midseason acquisitions brought in brought new life to Dallas on defense. PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford injected energy on both sides of the ball and that seemed to spread throughout the team. Suddenly the Mavs turned into a good defensive team all the while, Luka and Doncic started to figure things out. They won 15 of their last 19 to finish fifth in the West, but still had a tough road through the playoffs. They downed the Clippers in round one, and then then top seeded Thunder in the second round before knocking out the Timberwolves in five games to reach the NBA Finals.
How they got here: Celtics
Boston was tabbed as the early season favorites, and they spent all season living up to that billing. Following their unexpected exit in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Celtics revamped their roster to bring in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to make an already good team an immediate Finals favorite. They eased through the regular season, going 64-18 while earning the one seed in the East and home court throughout the playoffs. Once the postseason came around, it looked as easy for Boston as it did in the regular season. They took care of the Heat and the Cavs in five games, and then met the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the C’s to a sweep of Indiana despite having to battle through some tight games late in the fourth quarter. Now the Celtics are in the Final, where they were expected to be, but the job is not done.
We are live from the Garden
Hello everyone and welcome Boston, a city that knows a thing or two about winning the NBA Finals. It’s been a while since the Celtics have brought a title to town, but they are back in the Finals for the second time in three years, and many think that this is their best shot at what would be an NBA record 18th championship. Boston has been the best team in the league all season, and are in the position that most of those in the know expected them to be in. The Dallas Mavericks on the other hand, got hot at the right time and now have a chance to bring their city a second title in franchise history. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have brought a resurgence to the Mavs and now Dallas has a chance to be one of the lowest seeds to ever win the NBA Championship.
Mavericks vs. Celtics: Game 1
It’s time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals from TD Garden! After an 82 game regular season, three rounds of playoff series, and more than a week wait between the Conference Finals and tonight, it’s finally here. The one seed in the East meets the five seed in the West as the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks in the series opener and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s Game 1 from the Garden.