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| Kristaps Porzingis, playing for the first time since April 29, scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half to key the Celtics in the Finals opener. AP Photo/Charles Krupa |
On a night when the Celtics honored Hall of Famer Bill Walton, the franchise made a significant move towards claiming a record-setting 18th NBA championship, thanks to Kristaps Porzingis embracing Walton's sixth-man role.
Playing for the first time in over five weeks due to a calf strain, Porzingis contributed 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 20 minutes, leading the Celtics to a decisive 107-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
This game marked Porzingis' debut in playoff action beyond the first round, facing his former team.
"Kristaps had a monster game for us," Jaylen Brown said. "His presence on the court, shooting, and attacking switches and mismatches was crucial. He made them pay every time, and that's exactly what we need moving forward."
Porzingis' status was the dominant storyline during the ten days between the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers, and the start of the NBA Finals. He hadn't played since Game 4 of the first round against the Miami Heat.
Returning to practice last Friday, Porzingis confirmed he would play at media day on Wednesday but admitted uncertainty about his conditioning until game time. The situation took an interesting turn when Boston announced that Al Horford would remain in the starting lineup, meaning Porzingis would come off the bench.
With just under 10 minutes remaining on the pregame clock, Porzingis walked onto the court, receiving a massive ovation from the crowd.
Any doubts about Porzingis' performance vanished when he checked in with over seven minutes left in the first quarter. Emulating Walton, who won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1986, Porzingis made an immediate impact.
"The crowd's support was unreal," Porzingis said. "The adrenaline was pumping through my veins, which definitely helped. Being out for so long wasn't ideal, but I prepared mentally for this moment, and it paid off. We had a good game and got the job done."
Porzingis put on a clinic in the first quarter, scoring his first points after drawing a foul from former teammate Luka Doncic and then hitting a jumper from the same spot on the next possession. This sparked a 25-9 run by the Celtics, who led 37-20 by the end of the quarter. Porzingis finished the quarter with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks, including a tremendous block against former Celtic Kyrie Irving, who struggled and finished with 12 points on 6-for-19 shooting.
"He's a matchup nightmare," Derrick White said. "Even with good defense, he doesn't really see you. His impact on both ends is tremendous, and he makes us a better team."
Porzingis' return allowed the Celtics to maintain their eight-man rotation, featuring Jayson Tatum, Brown, White, Jrue Holiday, Horford, Porzingis, and bench players Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. The Celtics dominated from the 3-point line, shooting 16-for-42 and outscoring the Mavericks by 27 points from deep, while Dallas managed only 7-for-27.
Boston's defense, particularly its ability to guard Doncic one-on-one without double-teaming, was crucial. Doncic had 30 points and 10 rebounds but only one assist, his fewest in a playoff game. Dallas had just eight assists and 11 turnovers.
Game 1 was all about Porzingis' return. On the biggest stage of his basketball life, he played flawlessly.
"Tonight was an affirmation that I'm pretty good," Porzingis said. "Maybe not perfect, but good enough to significantly contribute to this team."
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**Mavericks' Struggles in Game 1**
On the Mavericks' fourth possession, Luka Doncic's look-ahead pass led to a dunk for P.J. Washington, marking Doncic's lone assist in the game. Dallas had only nine assists in their 107-89 loss, their lowest-scoring outing this postseason.
"We've got to move the ball," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "The ball stuck too much. We'll be better in Game 2."
The Celtics' second-ranked defense successfully defended Doncic and Kyrie Irving without double-teaming. Irving had a poor shooting night, primarily guarded by Jrue Holiday, and finished with 12 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
Doncic acknowledged the Celtics' defensive strategy, "They mostly play one-on-one. They don't send a lot of help."
Dallas, which thrived on Doncic's assists throughout the playoffs, struggled against Boston's defense, managing just one-of-six from the floor on Doncic's feeds.
"The ball has got to move more," Irving said. "It starts with me pushing the pace and adjusting to their defense. It's a fun series, and we need to play a level of chess in response."
Lakers' Coaching Pursuit: Dan Hurley**
UConn coach Dan Hurley is set to meet with the Lakers' management to discuss a potential coaching position. The Lakers are eager to hire Hurley, who has led UConn to back-to-back NCAA titles.
Hurley has expressed interest in exploring a partnership with the Lakers, impressed by their vision and the potential of coaching stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers have focused their search on Hurley, with significant interest due to his tactical acumen and player development skills. This potential move comes amid the changing landscape of NBA roster building and the challenges of college athletics.
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