Celtics vs. Mavericks: Game 1 Recap

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Celtics-Mavs Takeaways: No Rust for Porzingis as C’s Cruise to Game 1 Win

The Boston Celtics kicked off their 2024 NBA Finals run in dominant fashion, thrilling the TD Garden crowd with a commanding performance against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1. The Celtics stormed out to a 17-point lead by the end of the first quarter and extended their advantage to 21 points by halftime. Although the Mavericks made a brief run in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to eight, the Celtics responded strongly, finishing the quarter up 20 and ultimately cruising to a 107-89 victory. Boston led by as many as 29 points during the game.

Key Performances

Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis led the way for Boston, scoring 22 and 20 points, respectively, with all five Celtics starters hitting double figures. Luka Doncic put up a game-high 30 points for the Mavericks, but it wasn’t enough. P.J. Washington added 14 points, and ex-Celtic Kyrie Irving managed only 12 points amid boos from the Garden crowd.

Game 2 Information

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at TD Garden. Before then, let’s look at three key takeaways from the Celtics’ Game 1 win.

Takeaways

1. No Rust for Kristaps Porzingis

Returning from a right calf strain, Kristaps Porzingis showed no signs of rust. He entered the game to a huge ovation five minutes into the first quarter and made an immediate impact, scoring 11 points, grabbing three rebounds, and blocking two shots in the opening frame. Boston extended its lead to 17 points by the end of the first quarter with Porzingis on the court. He finished the game with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, and three blocks in just 20 minutes, keeping him fresh for Game 2.

2. Jaylen Brown Picks Up Where He Left Off

Eastern Conference Finals MVP Jaylen Brown continued his stellar play, aiming to add a Finals MVP to his accolades. Brown sparked the offense with 13 points and three steals in the first half, and his defensive hustle intensified in the second half, highlighted by a pair of monster blocks, including one against his former teammate Kyrie Irving. Brown ended the night with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, six rebounds, three blocks, and three steals, proving his status as one of the best two-way guards in the NBA.

3. Elite Celtics Defense

The Mavericks struggled offensively against the Celtics’ elite defense. Luka Doncic’s 30 points couldn’t lift Dallas, as P.J. Washington and Kyrie Irving were the only other Mavs to score in double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Dallas’ 42 first-half points were their second-lowest of the season, and their 89 total points tied for their fourth-lowest. Boston matched Dallas’ nine assists with nine blocks, and the Mavericks shot just 25.9 percent (7-of-27) from three-point range, with Doncic accounting for four of those.