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| Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the 2024 NBA Finals on Thursday. |
How to watch the NBA Finals
Game 1: Celtics defeat Mavericks 107-89.
Game 2: Mavericks at Celtics, Sunday, June 9 (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 3: Celtics at Mavericks, Wednesday, June 12 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Celtics at Mavericks, Friday, June 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: Mavericks at Celtics, Monday, June 17 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)*
Game 6: Celtics at Mavericks, Thursday, June 20 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)*
Game 7: Mavericks at Celtics, Sunday, June 23 (8 p.m. ET, ABC)*
What went wrong for Dallas
The Mavericks can point to three major factors that contributed to their Game 1 loss to the Celtics:
- Kyrie Irving struggled mightily from the field, shooting 6-for-19 with only 12 points.
- The Mavs’ ball movement was stagnant. Of their 35 field goals, only nine came off assists. While Luka Doncic was able to drop 30 points, he only had one of those assists.
- The Mavericks struggled from deep, making only 7 of their 27 attempts. Players not named Luka Doncic went 3-for-15 from beyond the arc, including Kyrie Irving who went 0-for-5.
Celtics take Game 1
Boston cruised to an easy victory at home to take Game 1. In NBA history, 70% of the Game 1 winners went on to win the title.
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Irving struggles in Game 1
Kyrie Irving did not have a good first game of the NBA Finals Game 1. He finished 6-for-19 shooting with only 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Dallas will not come close to winning this series if he doesn't step up his production.
Doncic, Irving exit game
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving exit the game with 5:15 remaining. Jason Kidd and the Mavericks appear to be looking ahead to Game 2 with the Celtics up by 25 points with 4:58 left in the fourth quarter.
All but over
This one is all but over. After the Mavs cut the lead down to eight points, it’s now a 25-point mountain. Expect to see the end of the bench players to get their first taste of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Celtics will coast to a Game 1 win in Boston.
Celtics daring Doncic and Irving to beat them
What the Celtics have done well in Game 1 is force Doncic and Irving to become scorers — both are elite bucket getters, but what unlocks the Mavericks offense is when their drives and plays turn into corner 3s and lobs to role players.
The Celtics have stayed home on the role guys and dared Doncic and Irving to beat them on their own — and Irving is having a rough night (much to the delight of the Garden crowd, which has broken into multiple “Kurie sucks” chants). Irving is 6-of-19 shooting for 12 points at the start of the fourth.
Celtics up big entering fourth quarter
Dallas at one time pulled to within 8, but Jaylen Brown’s defense was superb as the Celtics reasserted themselves.
Boston ends third quarter on 14-2 run
The Celtics didn't have the best start to the third quarter but they finished strong. Thanks to some huge plays by Jaylen Brown on both ends, Boston finished on a 14-2 run.
Celtics are up 86-66 through 3.
Lively picks up fifth foul
Derrick Lively II earned his fifth foul of the night with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. The Mavericks will surely miss his presence in the paint as he’ll have to sit for a while.
Even when he is able to sub back in, the Mavs may struggle with defending Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis in the final quarter as Lively will be limited in playing physical defense with the risk of fouling out.
Celtics settle down, back in control
After the Mavs cut the lead to 8 points, Boston comes back with some scrappy play to push the lead back up to 16 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.
How the Mavs got back into it 4444
Doncic seemed to spend the first half of the game processing what Boston was doing defensively. He figured it out. In the second half, he came out knowing exactly how he wanted to attack each switch from the Celtics. Same with Irving. And while there was a special Doncic step-back 3, most of the buckets came in the paint with the Mavericks being more deliberate to get downhill and at the rim as the Mavericks cut the Boston’s lead, which was once 29, down to single digits.
Luka keeping Mavs in this
The Mavs are back in it thanks in large part to their leader, Doncic.
TD Garden gone quiet 444444
Boston Garden was pretty quiet after Luka’s 3-pointer cutting the lead to only eight points. There’s still a lot of game left to play. Both teams are excellent fourth quarter finishers.
Mavericks getting closer
Luka just hit a 3 cutting Boston’s lead to 13. Mavs are sneaking back into it.
Mavs cutting into huge lead
Dallas cut Boston's 29-point lead down to 16. First media timeout here in the third quarter in Boston.
No lead is safe in the NBA 444444
Even down by 20 points, no lead is safe in the NBA. The Mavs have to look to cut it to 12 or less by the end of the third quarter. Dallas has a chance to come back if they can get stops and make 3-pointers.
Doris Burke makes history
Doris Burke became the first woman to serve as a game analyst on TV for a championship final in one of the four major professional U.S. sports leagues tonight.
“My focus is in preparing for the games in front of me. … But I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I am sort of mindful that there is something meaningful here, right,” she said on ABC this week. “And the meaning for me would be if, in some way, this assignment makes life for women in sports easier or somehow aids in their process, then nothing could be more meaningful.
“Anybody calling their first NBA Finals game would probably be nervous, and I think if I allow my mind to drift too much into that space, it will make that nervousness a little bit worse.”
Boston proving doubters wrong so far
One of the storylines coming into this series was “are the Celtics paper tigers?” The question was never the level of talent on the roster, as this was the best starting five in the league and they won 64 games. But Boston was able to coast through the tape, then were never really tested in the playoffs as every team they faced battled debilitating injuries.
Was Boston really sharp enough for the stage? Especially against a Dallas team that had to be razor sharp to get out of the West.
That question was answered in the first 24 minutes — Boston scored 63 points on 54.5% shooting and were 11-of-27 from 3. Their passing, rotation and energy were elite. Nobody better personified this than Kristaps Porzingis, who had been out with a strained calf since the first round and scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in his return. Boston was up 21 at the half and in total control.
Mavs facing steep odds to get back into game
The Mavericks face a 21-point deficit at halftime. The largest halftime comeback in NBA Finals history is 21 points. In 1948, Baltimore trailed Philadelphia 20-41, and won Game 2, 66-63.
Dallas offense stagnant in first half
The Mavs, who averaged 59.7 points in the first half this season, managed just 42 tonight in Game 1. Celtics lead 63-42 after the first 24 minutes.
Doncic the only one stepping up for Mavs
Luka has 17 points for the Mavs, but he looks like he’s doing it mostly his own. Very little ball movement for the Mavs.
TD Garden full of celebrities
Boston brought out the stars for Game 1, some of the celebrities at the game include:
• Pep Guardiola (Manchester City manager, he attended Celtics practice this week)
• Bruins legend Zdeno Chara (who got a massive ovation)
• Mark and Donnie Wahlberg
• Geno Auriemma (UConn women’s basketball coach)
• Dana White (UFC President)
• Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and his teammates AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith 444444
• Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Four Patriots players: Matthew Judon (linebacker), Jonathan Jones (cornerback), Anfernee Jennings (linebacker), Keion White (defensive end)
• Jenny McCarthy (actor)
Everything going right for Celtics in first half
Boston is dominating this game so far. Celtics lead 58-33. Boston has a 10-2 advantage in three-pointers made, and 24-12 advantage in rebounds.
Brown dominant early 444444444444444
Jaylen Brown goes up for the huge dunk.
Boston holds major advantage on bench
Celtics lead bench scoring 21-2, largely due to Kristaps Porzingis, who has 15 himself. It's 48-27 Boston halfway through the second quarter.
Porzingis been key for Boston
KP leads all scorers with 15 points. His size advantage in 1-on-1 matchup and long range shooting skills are on display.
48-27 with six minutes left in the first half.
Why Boston is up big early 444444
Early in the game the Mavericks' defensive strategy was what had worked to get them to this point — keep a big in the paint to protect the rim, rotate him out late to contest 3s if you have to, but surrender some of those shots to limit scoring inside. That had mixed results, especially once the 3s started to fall for Boston and their lead started to grow as they found mismatches they liked.
Dallas’ bigs started inching out earlier, but that has led to a series of buckets at the rim with Pozingis, Tatum and others getting to the rim for dunks. Boston’s five-out spacing was always going to be a challenge for how Dallas wants to defend.
Dallas can't hit from deep right now
Boston is 8-for-18 shooting (44%) from 3-point range so far. Dallas, meanwhile, is just 2-for-9 shooting from deep through the midway point of the second quarter.
Celtics close first quarter on huge run
The Celtics went on a 15-2 run in the last 5:11 of the first quarter to take a 37-20 lead over the Mavericks. Entering off the bench after missing the last 10 games, Kristaps Porzingis notched 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Boston on fire from 3-point range 444444
Celtics go on a 3-point shooting assault to end the first quarter, hitting almost 50% over that time.
Celtics up 37-20 after the first.
Porzingis changed the game
When he entered off the bench with 7:17 left in the first quarter and the Celtics up one point, he instantly changed the floor spacing and he was hitting shots — he started 3-of-4, hit two free throws, and most importantly threw off the Dallas matchups that had worked pretty well up to that point. Five minutes later, the Celtics were up 28-18 and Jason Kidd was forced to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Porzingis continued to dominate, finishing the first quarter with 11 points and 3 blocks.
Tatum finally on the board
Jayson Tatum has been a major factor for Boston early with passing and defense but he's finally on the board with a stepback 3 at the 1:33 mark left in the first quarter.
KP having an early impact for Celtics
Porzingis into the game for his first action against his old team. The big man from Latvia showing his value early, grabbing a couple early defensive rebounds and scoring 8 off the bench.
The Celtics lead the Mavericks 28-18 with 2 minutes left in the first quarter.
Mavs ahead early
The Mavericks lead 13-12 at the first TV timeout. Kyrie Irving is 2-for-3 with four points to lead Dallas.
Jrue Holiday leads all scorers with 5 early on for Boston. 6:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Al Horford scores first points of game
The veteran big man, who entered the league before the IPhone was released, got Boston on the board early.
Irving struggles in Game 1
Kyrie Irving did not have a good first game of the NBA Finals Game 1. He finished 6-for-19 shooting with only 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Dallas will not come close to winning this series if he doesn't step up his production.
Doncic, Irving exit game
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving exit the game with 5:15 remaining. Jason Kidd and the Mavericks appear to be looking ahead to Game 2 with the Celtics up by 25 points with 4:58 left in the fourth quarter.
All but over
This one is all but over. After the Mavs cut the lead down to eight points, it’s now a 25-point mountain. Expect to see the end of the bench players to get their first taste of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Celtics will coast to a Game 1 win in Boston.
Celtics daring Doncic and Irving to beat them
What the Celtics have done well in Game 1 is force Doncic and Irving to become scorers — both are elite bucket getters, but what unlocks the Mavericks offense is when their drives and plays turn into corner 3s and lobs to role players.
The Celtics have stayed home on the role guys and dared Doncic and Irving to beat them on their own — and Irving is having a rough night (much to the delight of the Garden crowd, which has broken into multiple “Kurie sucks” chants). Irving is 6-of-19 shooting for 12 points at the start of the fourth.
Celtics up big entering fourth quarter
Dallas at one time pulled to within 8, but Jaylen Brown’s defense was superb as the Celtics reasserted themselves.
Boston ends third quarter on 14-2 run
The Celtics didn't have the best start to the third quarter but they finished strong. Thanks to some huge plays by Jaylen Brown on both ends, Boston finished on a 14-2 run.
Celtics are up 86-66 through 3.
Lively picks up fifth foul
Derrick Lively II earned his fifth foul of the night with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. The Mavericks will surely miss his presence in the paint as he’ll have to sit for a while.
Even when he is able to sub back in, the Mavs may struggle with defending Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis in the final quarter as Lively will be limited in playing physical defense with the risk of fouling out. 444444
Celtics settle down, back in control
After the Mavs cut the lead to 8 points, Boston comes back with some scrappy play to push the lead back up to 16 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.
How the Mavs got back into it
Doncic seemed to spend the first half of the game processing what Boston was doing defensively. He figured it out. In the second half, he came out knowing exactly how he wanted to attack each switch from the Celtics. Same with Irving. And while there was a special Doncic step-back 3, most of the buckets came in the paint with the Mavericks being more deliberate to get downhill and at the rim as the Mavericks cut the Boston’s lead, which was once 29, down to single digits.
Luka keeping Mavs in this
The Mavs are back in it thanks in large part to their leader, Doncic.
TD Garden gone quiet
Boston Garden was pretty quiet after Luka’s 3-pointer cutting the lead to only eight points. There’s still a lot of game left to play. Both teams are excellent fourth quarter finishers.
Mavericks getting closer
Luka just hit a 3 cutting Boston’s lead to 13. Mavs are sneaking back into it.
Mavs cutting into huge lead
Dallas cut Boston's 29-point lead down to 16. First media timeout here in the third quarter in Boston.
No lead is safe in the NBA
Even down by 20 points, no lead is safe in the NBA. The Mavs have to look to cut it to 12 or less by the end of the third quarter. Dallas has a chance to come back if they can get stops and make 3-pointers.
Doris Burke makes history
Doris Burke became the first woman to serve as a game analyst on TV for a championship final in one of the four major professional U.S. sports leagues tonight.
“My focus is in preparing for the games in front of me. … But I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I am sort of mindful that there is something meaningful here, right,” she said on ABC this week. “And the meaning for me would be if, in some way, this assignment makes life for women in sports easier or somehow aids in their process, then nothing could be more meaningful.
“Anybody calling their first NBA Finals game would probably be nervous, and I think if I allow my mind to drift too much into that space, it will make that nervousness a little bit worse.”
Boston proving doubters wrong so far
One of the storylines coming into this series was “are the Celtics paper tigers?” The question was never the level of talent on the roster, as this was the best starting five in the league and they won 64 games. But Boston was able to coast through the tape, then were never really tested in the playoffs as every team they faced battled debilitating injuries.
Was Boston really sharp enough for the stage? Especially against a Dallas team that had to be razor sharp to get out of the West.
That question was answered in the first 24 minutes — Boston scored 63 points on 54.5% shooting and were 11-of-27 from 3. Their passing, rotation and energy were elite. Nobody better personified this than Kristaps Porzingis, who had been out with a strained calf since the first round and scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in his return. Boston was up 21 at the half and in total control. 444444
Mavs facing steep odds to get back into game
The Mavericks face a 21-point deficit at halftime. The largest halftime comeback in NBA Finals history is 21 points. In 1948, Baltimore trailed Philadelphia 20-41, and won Game 2, 66-63.
Dallas offense stagnant in first half
The Mavs, who averaged 59.7 points in the first half this season, managed just 42 tonight in Game 1. Celtics lead 63-42 after the first 24 minutes.
Doncic the only one stepping up for Mavs
Luka has 17 points for the Mavs, but he looks like he’s doing it mostly his own. Very little ball movement for the Mavs.
TD Garden full of celebrities
Boston brought out the stars for Game 1, some of the celebrities at the game include:
• Pep Guardiola (Manchester City manager, he attended Celtics practice this week)
• Bruins legend Zdeno Chara (who got a massive ovation)
• Mark and Donnie Wahlberg
• Geno Auriemma (UConn women’s basketball coach)
• Dana White (UFC President)
• Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and his teammates AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith
• Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Four Patriots players: Matthew Judon (linebacker), Jonathan Jones (cornerback), Anfernee Jennings (linebacker), Keion White (defensive end)
• Jenny McCarthy (actor)
Everything going right for Celtics in first half
Boston is dominating this game so far. Celtics lead 58-33. Boston has a 10-2 advantage in three-pointers made, and 24-12 advantage in rebounds.
Brown dominant early
Jaylen Brown goes up for the huge dunk.
Boston holds major advantage on bench
Celtics lead bench scoring 21-2, largely due to Kristaps Porzingis, who has 15 himself. It's 48-27 Boston halfway through the second quarter.
Porzingis been key for Boston
KP leads all scorers with 15 points. His size advantage in 1-on-1 matchup and long range shooting skills are on display.
48-27 with six minutes left in the first half.
Why Boston is up big early
Early in the game the Mavericks' defensive strategy was what had worked to get them to this point — keep a big in the paint to protect the rim, rotate him out late to contest 3s if you have to, but surrender some of those shots to limit scoring inside. That had mixed results, especially once the 3s started to fall for Boston and their lead started to grow as they found mismatches they liked.
Dallas’ bigs started inching out earlier, but that has led to a series of buckets at the rim with Pozingis, Tatum and others getting to the rim for dunks. Boston’s five-out spacing was always going to be a challenge for how Dallas wants to defend.
Dallas can't hit from deep right now
Boston is 8-for-18 shooting (44%) from 3-point range so far. Dallas, meanwhile, is just 2-for-9 shooting from deep through the midway point of the second quarter.
Celtics close first quarter on huge run
The Celtics went on a 15-2 run in the last 5:11 of the first quarter to take a 37-20 lead over the Mavericks. Entering off the bench after missing the last 10 games, Kristaps Porzingis notched 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Boston on fire from 3-point range
Celtics go on a 3-point shooting assault to end the first quarter, hitting almost 50% over that time.
Celtics up 37-20 after the first.
Porzingis changed the game
When he entered off the bench with 7:17 left in the first quarter and the Celtics up one point, he instantly changed the floor spacing and he was hitting shots — he started 3-of-4, hit two free throws, and most importantly threw off the Dallas matchups that had worked pretty well up to that point. Five minutes later, the Celtics were up 28-18 and Jason Kidd was forced to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Porzingis continued to dominate, finishing the first quarter with 11 points and 3 blocks.
Tatum finally on the board
Jayson Tatum has been a major factor for Boston early with passing and defense but he's finally on the board with a stepback 3 at the 1:33 mark left in the first quarter.
KP having an early impact for Celtics
Porzingis into the game for his first action against his old team. The big man from Latvia showing his value early, grabbing a couple early defensive rebounds and scoring 8 off the bench.
The Celtics lead the Mavericks 28-18 with 2 minutes left in the first quarter.
Mavs ahead early
The Mavericks lead 13-12 at the first TV timeout. Kyrie Irving is 2-for-3 with four points to lead Dallas.
Jrue Holiday leads all scorers with 5 early on for Boston. 6:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Al Horford scores first points of game
The veteran big man, who entered the league before the IPhone was released, got Boston on the board early.
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