Celtics Defeat Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of NBA Finals
Celtics Dominate from Long Range
Jayson Tatum exploded for a playoff career-high 32 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a convincing 107-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night. The Celtics shot a blistering 38.1% from three-point range, connecting on 16 of 42 attempts.
Mavericks Struggle from the field
The Mavericks, who relied heavily on the three-ball during the regular season and playoffs, were unable to find their rhythm from beyond the arc. They shot just 7-for-27 from three-point range, a major factor in their defeat.
Porzingis Returns from Injury
Kristaps Porzingis made his return to the lineup for the Mavericks after missing the previous two games with a calf injury. However, the Latvian big man appeared rusty and struggled to make an impact, finishing with just 7 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
The Celtics grabbed a 21-point lead in the first half by shooting 63% from the field and holding the Mavericks to 42%. They extended their lead in the third quarter by hitting several key three-pointers and forcing several turnovers.
Jayson Tatum's dominance and the Celtics' long-range shooting proved to be too much for the Mavericks to overcome. The Celtics now take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues with Game 2 on Thursday night in Boston.
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