Celtics Defeat Mavericks 107-89
Game Summary
The Boston Celtics blew out the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 to take Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The first half was all Celtics led by Jayson Tatum's 17 points. The Mavericks struggled to keep up with the Celtics' pace and shooting, and they trailed by 15 points at halftime.
The second half was more of the same, as the Celtics continued to pour it on. They extended their lead to 20 points in the third quarter, and the Mavericks never threatened to come back. Tatum finished with 29 points, and Jaylen Brown added 22 for the Celtics. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 24 points, but he was not able to get enough help from his teammates.
Boston's Depth Proves Too Much for Dallas
One of the biggest differences in the game was the Celtics' depth. They had eight players score in double figures, while the Mavericks had just three. This allowed the Celtics to keep fresh players on the court throughout the game, and it wore down the Mavericks' defense.
The Mavericks also struggled to contain the Celtics' pick-and-roll game. Tatum and Brown were able to get to the rim at will, and they created easy scoring opportunities for their teammates.
The Luka-Kyrie Duo Struggles
The Mavericks were hoping that the addition of Kyrie Irving would help them compete with the Celtics, but he had a disappointing game in Game 1. He finished with just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Doncic also struggled, as he was held to 24 points on 9-of-24 shooting.
The Celtics' defense deserves a lot of credit for the Mavericks' struggles. They were able to limit Irving and Doncic's touches, and they forced them into tough shots all night.
Conclusion
The Celtics' victory in Game 1 was a statement to the rest of the NBA. They are the clear favorites to win the championship, and they will be tough to beat if they continue to play like this. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have a lot of work to do if they want to come back in this series. They need to find a way to slow down the Celtics' offense, and they need to get more production from their stars.
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