The Boston Celtics drew first blood in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Thanks to the most convincing first quarter that has ever occurred in a Finals game, the Celtics were able to defend their home court against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night en route to a 107-89 win.
Things were back-and-forth during the early portion of the first quarter. It was less like the two teams were trying to feel one another out, and more like they looked as though they had plenty of time to rest up and were just playing good basketball for the opening stretch of the game.
Al Horford gets us started with the slam!
Game 1 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV is UNDERWAY on ABC pic.twitter.com/ztAB6d3CGk
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Luka’s first bucket in the NBA Finals
Game 1 on ABC#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/FDrbKcD2BV
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Jaylen Brown pokes it away and throws it down on the other end
LOUD in Boston for Game 1 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/IGwNSzkrLe
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
And then, Kristaps Porzingis checked in. Boston held a 12-11 lead at the time that he checked into the game, and while Dallas was briefly able to take a 1-point lead after that, Porzingis keyed an absolutely ferocious end to the first quarter. The Celtics ended the frame on a 23-5 run, powered largely by the 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting and three blocks that Porzingis gave them in seven minutes of work.
KP’s first bucket in his return
Game 1 on ABC pic.twitter.com/ZhtBaU7VTy
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Kristaps Porzingis has 8 points in the first 5 minutes of his return
Celtics lead 28-18 in Game 1 on ABC pic.twitter.com/dJEMVsOuW2
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
KP GOING OFF IN THE 1ST
11 PTS, 4-5 FGM https://t.co/KrpHZMPIos pic.twitter.com/hloj0Lg7pK
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.
Porzingis deep 3.
Porzingis block.
Hauser 3.
Porzingis block.Boston leads in Game 1 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/4KdBGriOSd
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
As such, the Mavs found themselves dealing with an avalanche, as Boston played with the rhythm that led to them being a 64-win team in the regular season. And with TD Garden absolutely on fire, the Celtics made their way to the bench at the end of the period with a 37-20 lead, the largest lead any team has had at the end of the first quarter in NBA Finals history.
Boston continued to take it to Dallas second, with their lead getting up to as many as 29 points — in fact, after a Jayson Tatum three with 4:11 to go before the half, the Celtics found themselves doubling up the Mavs with a 58-29 lead.
JAYLEN BROWN WITH THE POSTER
Game 1 on ABC pic.twitter.com/PTe9btMDW3
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
JB triple.
JB steal & SLAM.Jaylen’s got 13 as BOS leads in the 1H of Game 1 on ABC. pic.twitter.com/vV3tEAmPEI
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
KP triple for 18 in the 1st half of Game 1 on ABC pic.twitter.com/6pJQxk4Dns
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
From that point on, Dallas was able to settle down a bit and closed the half with a 13-5 run. But even though the score was a little more respectable going into the locker room, Boston was still comfortably ahead with a 63-42 lead. Porzingis got up to 18 first half points off the bench, while Jaylen Brown gave them 13. As a team, the Celtics shot 11-for-17 from behind the three-point line, while the Mavs were only 3-for-13 from deep. And while Luka Doncic scored 17 points in the first half, no other Dallas player reached double-figure scoring, which included six points from Kyrie Irving on 3-for-9 shooting.
In the third quarter, the Mavs started to come to life. Slowly but surely, the once insurmountable Celtics lead got smaller and smaller, as Doncic continued to look like one of the best players in the world and Irving began heating up, all while Boston — as it is prone to do — looked sluggish.
Kyrie with the hesitation move on the baseline
Mavs starting to chip away in Game 1 on ABC. pic.twitter.com/iyl1J0wLui
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Luka step-back, SPLASH.
24 PTS midway through the 3Q on ABC pic.twitter.com/lfp2jtAZvZ
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
The lead eventually got down to single-digits, as Doncic drilled a three with under four and a half minutes to go in the third to get it eight.
ANOTHER.
Doncic has 27 and we’re back to single digits!
A 20-6 Mavs run on ABC https://t.co/Hs2FtiKbz5 pic.twitter.com/HB4aGMNiEt
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
But Boston was able to settle down on both ends of the floor, and just as it looked like the game was hanging in the balance, they were able to rip off an 14-0 run that put themselves back firmly in control. And while Daniel Gafford broke up that run by hitting a pair of free throws to close the quarter, the Celtics sat pretty with a 86-66 lead after three.
Jaylen Brown stands TALL at the rim
Game 1 on ABC pic.twitter.com/RCtIXqFxDO
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
ANOTHER.
He’s EVERYWHERE defensively right now https://t.co/rwkI5spp8o pic.twitter.com/mmFgpKOZmB
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Then JB drills the 3 on the other end!
BOS lead back up to 20 to end the 3Q… Game 1 on ABC. https://t.co/dVrxvlAxML pic.twitter.com/L048PvPkfL
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
The run that Dallas needed early on in the fourth just never came, as Boston was able to cut off any attempt at building up a head of steam before it started — the Mavs never got within 17 points in the final 12 minutes. And with just under five minutes remaining, Jason Kidd decided that there was no path to a win, as he got his starters on the floor and emptied out his bench.
Every member of Boston’s starting five, along with Porzingis, hit double-figure scoring on the night, with Brown’s 22 points, six rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and two assists leading the way. Porzingis gave them 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocks off the bench, while Tatum gave them a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The story of the game, however, was the Celtic defense, which got Dallas to shoot 41.7 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from three, and forced 11 turnovers while only allowing nine assists — Doncic, arguably the best passer in the NBA, only had one assist on the evening, marking the first time he was held to one assist in a playoff game. While he was otherwise very good, going for 30 points and 10 rebounds, Boston was able to limit Irving to 12 points, while P.J. Washington had 14 points without making a single attempt from three. Jaden Hardy was able to give them 13 points off the bench.
Game 2 between the Celtics and the Mavs will take place on Sunday night in Boston, and is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.