After a week without a match, it's (finally) gone for these Finals 2024, from Massachusetts. The opportunity for Celtics to take the lead after this first round, at the end of a generally controlled meeting against the Mavericks (107-89).
The big man of the evening is called Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks), sparkling in the first half for his return with Boston, after more than a month of absence. The Latvian will have done much more than support Jaylen Brown (22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks) and Jayson Tatum (16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) in Game 1.
Side Dallas, Luka Doncic (30 points, 10 rebounds) will have made his numbers, especially after the break during the Texans' best passage, but he could not rely on a Kyrie Irving on the big nights (12 points at 6/19). One number sums up Dallas' poor performance: only 9 assists, including one for Doncic.
An ideal start for Boston
In a crazy atmosphere, the first quarter is initially balanced, because the Celtics unsuccessfully go for 3-pointers and the Mavericks hold on (almost) miraculously, despite several second chances granted and thanks to a few lost balls. That's when Kristaps Porzingis comes into play and everything changes: he easily punishes the mismatches, deters a lot of shots and brings contagious energy to all his teammates. The room ignites, the 3-pointers fall in as a result, and the C's conclude this period with a… 23-5! The Texans are knocked out standing, literally (37-20).
Dallas tries to hang on as best they can, but Kristaps Porzingis is simply untenable in this first period and he continues to undermine the Texan defense, without forcing. Like Luka Doncic, Jason Kidd's men are overwhelmed and Jaylen Brown joins the party, all aggressively, to knock out his opponents a little more. The Boston public can enjoy it since its players respond and above all gain confidence as the minutes go by, collectively. A real lesson, neither more nor less, despite a slight improvement at the end for the visitors (63-42).
Dallas is catching up, but starting too far…
The return from the locker room is complicated for the Celtics, who water galore and see the Mavericks come back, under the leadership of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, who redeem themselves from their failed first half and bring the gap back below 10 points! Solutions are lacking in attack for the C's, not applied in defense either, and concern is growing in the TD Garden, while Luka “Magic” is boiling hot. Moment chosen by Jaylen Brown to wake up and initiate, with his omnipresence on each side, a 14-0 which delivers a big blow behind the heads of his opponents (86-66). The fatal blow?
The answer is yes “. Indeed, Dallas fails to get back together and Boston can rely on its collective to calmly manage its lead until the end, this time. Despite a scare in the third quarter, Joe Mazzulla's men did the job (107-89), as expected, and they send a first message in this series by taking control of this one.
TO REMEMBER
– Kristaps Porzingis returns, comes off the bench and is a hit. For his first Finals, and after five weeks without playing a single minute, Kristaps Porzingis undoubtedly played the best (first) half of his NBA career. Used as a relay for Al Horford, he quickly tore the Mavericks defense to pieces, between his mid-distance baskets and his counterattacks. A remarkable performance, which we will certainly remember if the Celtics finish as champions, as the Latvian will have – almost – single-handedly offered Game 1 to his team, carrying it on his shoulders for 24 minutes.
– Boston (almost) knocks out Dallas in one half. Under the leadership of Kristaps Porzingis, therefore, the Celtics delivered a first half of high quality, flirting with the 30 point lead and unfolding their basketball as the minutes passed. In 3-point success, despite a delicate start, they also won the rebound battle, kept the ball alive, blocked the Luka Doncic – Kyrie Irving pair, as well as the role players Texans, in addition to letting themselves be carried by the warm hand of “KP” and their collective superiority. Very, very great basketball to move towards logical and deserved success.
– Dallas will have to get back together, and quickly. Except for their proud reaction in the first half of the third quarter, to which Luka Doncic is no stranger, the Mavericks will have suffered the law of the Celtics in this Game 1, and not just a little. Collectively, they were not up to par and this can be seen in their 9 small assists delivered in total (for 11 ball losses). Neither skilled at 3-points, they were also victims of their inability to hold Kristaps Porzingis before the break, as well as the Boston shooters, too often open when the ball came out after penetrations.
TOP/FLOP
✅ Jaylen Brown. If Jayson Tatum was not convincing and Kristaps Porzingis especially shone in the first half, we will remember the complete match of Jaylen Brown, who did not appear in this Game 1 and who showed himself more regular than everyone else. To highlight: his boost in the third quarter, when the Celtics were in trouble and they needed someone to put their heads back in place. What “JB” took care of, author of a monstrous poster in the first period and two resounding counterattacks in the second.
❌ Kyrie Irving. Not always perfect, especially in creation, Luka Doncic had the merit of putting his points and helping the Mavericks to make the Celtics doubt a little in the second half (before they regained their offensive momentum). On the other hand, and despite his experience of the Finals, Kyrie Irving did not rise to the occasion and, offensively, we saw him breaking his teeth far too often against the Celtic defense (Jrue Holiday in head), in addition to struggling to convert the few good shooting positions he offered himself. Rebound expected from Game 2, in this room which obviously does not spare him with whistles galore.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
