Celtics Cruise Past Mavericks in Game 1, Depth Proves Too Much
Boston Celtics Triumph 118-107 in Series Opener
5 Key Takeaways from the Game
The Boston Celtics have seized an early lead in the NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 118-107 in Game 1 on Wednesday night. Boston's depth and balanced scoring proved too much for the Mavericks, despite a valiant effort from the Luka-Kyrie duo.
The Celtics were led by Jason Tatum's 32 points, while six other players scored in double figures. Jaylen Brown added 24 points and 9 rebounds, while Robert Williams III contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Mavericks were paced by Luka Doncic's game-high 33 points and 9 assists, but Kyrie Irving struggled, shooting just 3-of-16 from the field.
The Celtics dominated the game inside, outrebounding the Mavericks 52-36 and scoring 56 points in the paint. They also shot a strong 50% from the field, compared to 43% for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks made a push in the second half, cutting the Celtics' lead to just six points with 5 minutes remaining. However, Boston's depth proved too much, as they closed out the game with a 13-5 run.
The Celtics now hold a 1-0 lead in the series, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday night in Boston. The Mavericks will need to find a way to slow down Boston's offense and get Irving more involved if they want to even the series.
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