Four Key Takeaways from the Boston Celtics' Dominant 107-89 Victory Over the Dallas Mavericks

By M Muzamil Shami

Dallas stumbles out of the gate in the NBA Finals with a lackluster performance

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, losing 107-89. Kristaps Porzingis led a balanced Celtics attack with 20 points off the bench, while Luka Doncic led Dallas in defeat, scoring 30 points.

The NBA Finals began with both teams shooting well, trading baskets and leads. Kyrie Irving scored four early points for Dallas, while Al Horford added two baskets for Boston. After a Celtics timeout, fans saw Kristaps Porzingis come off the bench. Derrick White then hit back-to-back three-pointers, giving Boston some breathing room. Both teams went scoreless for several minutes, with the Celtics holding a 24-18 lead. A Porzingis dunk and jumper extended Boston's lead to 10 points, prompting a Dallas timeout. Jaden Hardy scored off a broken play, but the Celtics responded with three consecutive threes to widen the gap. Boston led 37-20 after the first quarter.

Kyrie broke a 23-5 Celtics run with a left-handed floater at the start of the second period. The Celtics continued their aggressive play against Dallas, driving and kicking while the Mavericks struggled to score. Porzingis stayed hot in the second quarter, hitting contested jumpers to push Boston's lead to 21 points. After a timeout, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd opted for a very small lineup, but the Celtics capitalized even more, extending their lead to 29 points off Dallas turnovers. Though the Mavericks managed to score a few times to slightly reduce the deficit, the Celtics still held a commanding 63-42 lead at halftime.

Dallas quickly reduced the lead to 18 points at the start of the second half but then experienced a series of missed opportunities, including some perplexing errors from Irving. However, Irving managed to stabilize things with an impressive layup. Washington scored in transition, cutting Boston's lead to 16 and forcing the Celtics to call a timeout. Dallas continued to chip away at the lead, forcing a Boston miss and reducing the gap to 16. Doncic's second three-pointer of the quarter brought the Mavericks within eight points. After another Boston timeout, the Mavericks committed consecutive traveling violations and allowed an offensive rebound that led to a Porzingis dunk. Lively then picked up his fourth and fifth fouls, pushing the Mavericks back to a 16-point deficit. Boston hit two more three-pointers as Dallas struggled offensively, ending the third quarter trailing 86-66.

In the final quarter, Dallas made a brief effort to stage a comeback, but surrendered about halfway through. Trailing by 25 points midway through the period, Coach Kidd pulled Doncic and Irving from the game. Both teams then emptied their benches, and the Celtics secured a 107-89 victory.

Assistance, or the absence thereof

Although the Mavericks aren't known for their high assist numbers, finishing with more turnovers than assists is a major red flag. Boston's strategy of switching everything was expected, but with Luka driving and kicking, Dallas players need to start finishing their plays. This was a widespread issue across the team, and during the broadcast, we saw a glimpse of Coach Kidd addressing the excessive one-on-one play in his speech.

Kyrie Irving needs to significantly improve

Throughout the game, Irving maintained an aggressive stance, actively seeking scoring opportunities and attempting to create plays. However, his effectiveness waned, evident in his meager 12 points on a 6-for-19 shooting performance. His inability to convert any of his five three-point attempts and the unfortunate turnovers proved pivotal, especially as the Mavericks narrowed the Celtics' lead to just eight points in the third quarter. While missed shots are part of the game, observing Irving miss open shots was particularly disheartening.

Dereck Lively II bore a striking resemblance to a newcomer

"Lively has played a crucial role in the Dallas Mavericks' postseason journey. However, for the first time since the middle of the Oklahoma City Thunder series, he seemed notably out of sync. Foul trouble limited his playing time to just 18 minutes, with several fouls stemming from overly aggressive plays. Despite this setback, I have confidence he will find his rhythm in this series. His growth throughout the postseason has been remarkable, but on Thursday night, he appeared to struggle more in line with his experience level."

Kristaps Porzingis: A Blast from the Past

"We've closely followed Porzingis for quite a while now. He showed immense promise in 2019-20 until he suffered a meniscus tear in the NBA Bubble. Since then, his performance in Dallas has never quite reached the same level, and it's startling to see how much his lower body strength seems to have diminished, especially compared to early 2022 when even a slight breeze could throw him off balance. While it's encouraging for the sport that he's regained his health, it's frustrating for Mavericks fans to witness a former star player dominating them on the national stage. His performance will undoubtedly be pivotal in this series, and if Dallas can't contain him, it could spell trouble."