BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis didn’t want to make predictions about how his body would respond heading into the NBA Finals after he spent more than a month on the sideline with a calf injury.
Just fine, it turned out.
Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, Porzingis made an immediate impact off the bench and added 20 and the Boston Celtics powered past the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 on Thursday night in Game 1.
Derrick White finished with 15 points for Boston, which led by 29 points in the first half and connected on 16 3-pointers in a powerful start to its quest for an 18th NBA title.
Porzingis, a 7-footer who had been sidelined since April 29, added six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes.
“That’s the KP that helped us get to where we are today,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It doesn’t matter how long the guy is off, he’s going to make plays.”
All-Star Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Six players scored in double figures for the Celtics, who host Game 2 on Sunday.
Dallas cut the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, but Boston answered with a 14-0 run to quickly pull away again.
Luka Doncic led Dallas with 30 points. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds. But Dallas couldn’t find offensive consistency beyond that, totalling just nine assists on its 35 field goals for the game. The Mavericks didn’t score 25 points in any quarter.
Doncic said the lopsided loss wouldn’t diminish the spirit of a team that lost the opening game in three of four series this postseason.
“Either you lose or you win,” Doncic said. “First to four, we’ve got to focus on the next game.”
Former Celtic Kyrie Irving struggled throughout, finishing with 12 points. He received a loud and extended chorus of boos Thursday when he was introduced before the game. It continued throughout the game whenever he touched the ball.
The treatment came after Irving sparred with Boston fans and was fined for using an obscene gesture during a 2022 playoff visit to TD Garden.
The Celtics, seeking their first championship since 2008, showed little rust from their 10-day layoff after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
They flowed with energy throughout, sharing the ball in the halfcourt and getting the ball to shooters for open 3s. They also attacked the interior of the Dallas defense and got to the rim for several dunks.
Meanwhile, apart from Doncic, who shot 12 of 26 from the field, Dallas struggled early to get into its sets and couldn’t find a consistent groove offensively.
The Mavericks led by one midway through the first quarter. The Celtics responded by outscoring them 44-16 to make it 58-29 in the second.
Things changed over the next 12 minutes of game action when Dallas used a 35-14 run, including 15 points by Doncic, to cut Boston’s lead to 72-64. But the Celtics were back up 86-66 entering the fourth.
Dallas had just five assists through the first three quarters, the fewest any NBA team has had, in any game, through 36 minutes in the last three seasons.
Porzingis ended his 10-game hiatus when he came off the bench with 7:17 left in the first quarter in place of starter Al Horford. With the exception of a white compression sleeve on his right leg, it was hard to tell Porzingis was coming off an injury.
He got into the mix quickly, knocking down a pair of free throws after being fouled by Doncic. A possession later, the Latvian connected in his first field goal when he dropped on a short jumper over Doncic.
He wasn’t done.
Minutes later he got loose in the paint for a two-handed dunk over Derrick Lively. On Dallas’ next possession, Porzingis was there to swat away Jaden Hardy’s layup attempt. The Celtics pushed the ball up the court and got the ball back to their big man, who calmly buried a 16-footer.
It was part of a 17-5 surge by Boston over the final 5:24 of the quarter that saw Porzingis go 4 for 5 from the field, score 11 points, block two shots and grab three rebounds. Boston carried a 37-20 lead into the second quarter.
Porzingis finished the half with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
In a thrilling matchup between two powerhouse teams, the Boston Celtics emerged victorious over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics, led by their star player Jayson Tatum, put on a dominant performance to secure a 112-106 win over the Mavericks.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear that both teams were determined to leave everything on the court. The Celtics came out strong, establishing an early lead with their sharp shooting and tenacious defense. Tatum, in particular, was on fire, scoring a game-high 35 points and showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor.
The Mavericks, led by their dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, fought back hard throughout the game. Doncic put up an impressive 32 points and 10 assists, while Porzingis added 28 points and 12 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Mavericks were unable to overcome the Celtics’ relentless pressure and precision.
One of the key factors in the Celtics’ victory was their ability to control the pace of the game and limit the Mavericks’ scoring opportunities. Their defense was suffocating at times, forcing turnovers and converting them into fast-break points. The Celtics also made crucial plays down the stretch, hitting clutch shots and free throws to seal the win.
As the series progresses, both teams will need to make adjustments and come up with new strategies to gain the upper hand. The Celtics will look to build on their Game 1 success and continue to rely on Tatum’s scoring prowess, while the Mavericks will aim to regroup and find ways to contain him.
Overall, Game 1 of the NBA Finals was a thrilling showcase of talent and determination from both teams. The Celtics’ victory sets the stage for an exciting series ahead, as they look to capture their first championship since 2008. The Mavericks, on the other hand, will be hungry for redemption and eager to bounce back in Game 2. Fans can expect more intense battles and memorable moments as these two teams vie for basketball supremacy.