NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and sharpshooter Kyrie Irving spearhead the upstart Dallas Mavericks against the favoured Boston Celtics when the NBA Finals begin.
Ex-Celtics standout Irving is bracing for a hostile road reception in Boston, five years after quitting the franchise for Brooklyn, leaving Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to turn the Celtics into the league’s top club with an NBA-high 64 wins this season.
Tatum lifted the Celtics into the 2022 final, where they lost to Golden State but planted seeds that could bring a trophy starting with the best-of-seven opener in Boston.
The Celtics seek an unprecedented 18th all-time NBA crown, one more than the record they share with the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston’s most recent title came in 2008.
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Celtics sweep Pacers to reach NBA Finals | 01:17
The Mavericks won their only NBA title in 2011 after reaching the 2006 final, losing to Miami.
Irving is averaging 22.8 points in the playoffs as Doncic, who averaged 33 points in the regular season, averages 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the playoffs.
Boston counters with two of the NBA’s top defensive guards in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Tatum averages 26.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the playoffs with Brown averages 25.0 points with White and Holiday providing strong support and the team leading the NBA in 3-point shots and baskets.
The Celtics are 9-0 when hitting 14 or more three-pointers.
Boston, which defeated the Mavericks in both meetings this season, is bolstered by the return of center Kristaps Porzingis from a right calf strain suffered on April 29 in the first round against Miami that benched him for 10 games.
Elsewhere, there will be an added incentive for Australian NBA fans to tune into this year’s Finals series as Josh Green and Dante Exum look to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
MORE: Why all the pressure is on the Celtics ahead of the NBA Finals
Speaking to reporters at this week’s media day, the Mavericks pair both reflected on challenging roads to basketball’s biggest stage.
Exum, who has battled multiple injury setbacks since being drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2014, said it is “crazy” to be competing for the championship.
“You could have asked me two years ago if I was going to be here, I would have been shocked,” Exum said.
“I think it’s kind of the hard work and dedication that I’ve put into my game. Staying focused throughout it all, through the ups and downs, injuries. Making sure I always got back to just loving basketball, just wanting to be on the court.
“Obviously, when I got this opportunity in Dallas, jump on it. I knew we had a good team, but to even look at a year ago and say I’d be here, it’s crazy.”
Green, meanwhile, had fallen out of the rotation the last time Dallas made the playoffs.
“It’s weird, man. Looking back at it, it’s crazy,” Green said.
“There’s so many times in my career, whether it’s high school, college, it felt like everything was going the wrong way in life. Especially my first couple years in the NBA.
“To be able to reflect on this and see where we are as a team nowadays, it’s super fun. It’s exciting. It continues to motivate me. I still feel like I’m young in my career.”
STARTERS
Boston
G Jrue Holiday
G Derrick White
F Jaylen Brown
F Jayson Tatum
C Al Horford
Dallas
G Kyrie Irving
G Luka Doncic
F Derrick Jones Jr.
F P.J. Washington
C Daniel Gafford
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