The Boston Celtics stormed out to a 37-20 lead over the Dallas Mavericks after the first quarter of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
The 17-point advantage marked the largest advantage after a quarter of play in NBA Finals history.
Boston cruised to a 107-89 win. Though impressive, the lopsided outcome fell short of being one of the biggest blowouts in the history of the NBA Finals.
Here are the top five biggest blowouts in NBA Finals history.
1. 1998 NBA Finals: Bulls def. Jazz 96-54 in Game 3
The Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, held the Utah Jazz to 30% (21-70) shooting from the field, including 11.1% (1-9) from 3-point range, and forced 26 turnovers in a 42-point win. Utah’s 54 points remain the fewest by a team in NBA playoff history.
2. 2008 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Lakers 131-92 in Game 6
Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen led a Celtics charge that overwhelmed Kobe Bryant and the rival Los Angeles Lakers in a 39-point rout. It marked the largest blowout in a closeout game in NBA Finals history and sealed Boston’s first championship since 1986.
3. 2013 NBA Finals: Spurs def. Heat 113-77 in Game 3
San Antonio shot 52.9% from 3-point range en route to outscoring the Miami Heat 63-33 in the second half. But LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh overcame the 36-point loss and rallied the Heat to a win in Game 4 and ultimately the organization’s second of back-to-back titles.
4. 1978 NBA Finals: Washington Bullets def. Seattle SuperSonics 117-82 in Game 6
Elvin Hayes finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 steals and the Washington Bullets had two other players with at least 12 rebounds in a 35-point drubbing of the Seattle SuperSonics. The Bullets’ bench outscored Seattle’s reserves 63-32.
T-5. 1985 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Lakers 148-114 in Game 1; 1961 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Hawks 129-95
The Celtics have a pair of 34-point wins in the Finals. The first came in 1961, when Bill Russell had 34 rebounds against 54 total rebounds for St. Louis. The second came against the Lakers in 1985. Boston scored 79 first-half points and led by 30 at the break. The 148 points by the Celtics are still the most ever in a NBA Finals game.
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