BOSTON CELTICS 107, DALLAS MAVERICKS 89
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts as he dunks the ball against Maxi Kleber #42 of the Dallas Mavericks.Credit: Getty Images
KEY POINTS
BETTER AT BOTH ENDS
The Celitcs took a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series the same way they have done so throughout this season. As a team and by sharing the load. Their five starters and returning centre Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, three blocks) scored in double figures while they made the Mavericks try to beat them with big shots, denying Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving enough chances to setup their teammates with just nine assists in total. Doncic finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds but he had just one assist. Jaylen Brown’s combination of 22 points plus three blocks and three steals showed why he could be on track of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award as he was immense.
AUSSIES CAN DO MORE
Josh Green had three points and three rebounds in his 20 minutes but like the rest of his teammates, his opportunities dried up when Doncic and Irving were restricted in setting him up for the dunks and corner threes that he specialises in. Dante Exum was only thrown into the game in the last four minutes, he had a nice assist but backup guard Jaden Hardy, who has taken a few minutes from Exum, finished with 13 points in 10 minutes off the bench so it will be tough to see where Exum could get a chance in game two. Australian-born Kyrie Irving finished with 12 points and two assists and he struggled yet again in Boston, the team he spent two difficult years with. The “Kyrie Sucks” chants were on regular rotation and they will be back again in game two.
PORZINGIS RETURNS
Porzingis returned after 38 days out with injury and he came off the bench midway through the first quarer and caught fire right away. He nailed long threes, dunked the ball around the rim and blocked his shots. Every play fired up the home fans who roared as he scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half. “He’s the most important player in the series,” ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said post game. Dallas have to find a way to shut him down in game two or we could see another one-sided result. The Mavs have a lot of work to do between now and game two.