NBA: Celtics Draw First Blood Against Mavericks in Finals Opener
Boston Dominates Game 1 After Mavericks Scare
Mavericks Fail to Maintain Momentum
The Boston Celtics have taken an early 1-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 116-98 in Game 1 on Thursday night.
Celtics Control the Game
The Celtics were in control from the outset, leading by 15 points at halftime and never relinquishing their advantage. Jayson Tatum led the scoring with 27 points, while Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart added 22 and 19 points, respectively.
The Mavericks, who had narrowly avoided a sweep in the Eastern Finals, struggled to keep up with the Celtics' intensity and execution. Luka Dončić, Dallas's star player, scored 25 points but was held to 8-of-24 shooting.
Brief Mavericks Surge
The Mavericks made a brief surge in the second half, cutting the Celtics' lead to just five points with less than 10 minutes remaining. However, the Celtics quickly regained control and pulled away to win comfortably.
Conclusion
The Celtics' victory in Game 1 is a reminder that they are still the team to beat in the NBA. The Mavericks, who surprised many with their run to the Finals, have a lot of work to do if they want to even the series and make this a competitive championship matchup.
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