Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 of NBA Finals

Boston's Depth and Defense Prove Too Much for Dallas

Game Summary: Celtics 107, Mavericks 89

In a highly anticipated matchup, the Boston Celtics took Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 107-89. The Celtics' depth and defense proved to be too much for a Mavericks team that struggled to keep pace.

Kristaps Porzingis, who recently returned from a calf injury, led the Mavericks with 20 points. However, his contributions were not enough to overcome the Celtics' balanced attack.

The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who finished with 29 points. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, while Robert Williams III had a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

The Celtics' defense was suffocating, holding the Mavericks to just 89 points on 36.7% shooting. Dallas was unable to find a consistent scoring rhythm and never really threatened the Celtics' lead.

The Celtics now have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 will be played in Boston on Sunday night.

5 Takeaways from Game 1

1. Boston's depth is a major advantage. The Celtics were able to get contributions from all over their roster, while the Mavericks relied heavily on Porzingis and Luka Dončić. 2. The Celtics' defense is elite. Dallas was unable to get anything going offensively, as the Celtics contested every shot and forced turnovers. 3. Porzingis' return is a boost for the Mavericks. The Latvian big man provided a scoring boost and helped to keep the Mavericks in the game. 4. Dončić needs to be more aggressive. The Mavericks' superstar struggled to get going in Game 1, and he needs to find a way to be more productive in Game 2. 5. The Celtics are the team to beat. With their depth and defense, the Celtics look like the clear favorites to win the NBA championship.