Celtics Rout Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of NBA Finals Behind Brown, Returning Porzingis

Derrick White Contributed 16 Points for Boston, One of Just Three Celtics to Score in Double Figures

The Boston Celtics took a commanding 1-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals with a dominant 107-89 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday night. Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 22 points, while Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points in his return from a calf injury.

The Celtics connected on 17 3-pointers to the Mavericks' 10, and they also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding Dallas 50-34. The Celtics led by as many as 27 points in the second half, and they were never seriously threatened by the Mavericks.

It was a disappointing start to the Finals for the Mavericks, who were hoping to steal home-court advantage in Game 1. Luka Dončić, who led the Mavericks to the Western Conference championship, was held to just 20 points on 7-of-21 shooting.

The Celtics will look to take a 2-0 series lead in Game 2 on Thursday night in San Francisco. The Mavericks will need to make some adjustments if they want to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.

Conclusion

The Celtics' victory was a testament to their depth and experience. They were able to weather a brief Mavericks run in the second half and pull away in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks, on the other hand, looked out of sorts at times and will need to find a way to generate more offense in Game 2.