Celtics Box Score

NBA Finals Game 1: Celtics Crush Mavericks, Take Early Lead

Dominating Performance from Porzingis

The Boston Celtics kicked off the NBA Finals with a resounding 107-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Leading the charge for Boston was Kristaps Porziņģis, who made a triumphant return from injury with a 20-point performance, including 18 points in the first half.

Celtics Control the Game

The Celtics dominated the first half, building a 22-point lead by halftime. They shot an impressive 60% from the field and hit 10 3-pointers in the first two quarters. Dallas struggled offensively, shooting just 34% from the field. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 21 points, but he was held to just 8-of-23 shooting.

In the third quarter, the Mavericks made a run to cut the Celtics' lead to six points. However, Boston responded with a 10-0 run to regain control of the game. The Celtics held Dallas to just 17 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Porzingis' Return a Major Boost

Porziņģis' return was a major boost for the Celtics. The Latvian big man provided a much-needed scoring threat alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots from the outside opened up the offense for Boston.

White also played a key role for the Celtics, adding 15 points and hitting 3-of-5 from 3-point range. The Celtics bench as a whole outscored the Mavericks bench 31-19.

Early Statement from Celtics

The Celtics' victory in Game 1 sends a strong message to the Mavericks that they are not to be taken lightly. With Porzingis back in the lineup and playing at a high level, Boston looks like a formidable opponent.

The series continues on Sunday night in Boston. The Mavericks will need to find a way to limit Porzingis and make some adjustments on the offensive end if they want to even the series.