There final series which will decide the champion team in 2024 could not have started better for the Boston Celtics. The hosts controlled game 1 practically from the first to the last minute, reaching +28 during a first half marked by the returning Kristaps Porzingis and resisting Dallas’ 29-9 run Mavericks came back to within 8 in the third quarter. In the moment of need, however, it was Jaylen Brown upping the game, launching a 14-0 run to close the third quarter from which the Texans never recovered, thanks to the excellent work of the green and white defense to make the Mavs a different team than the one seen in the playoffs so far.
Doncic scores but doesn’t assist, Boston stops everything
The match plan designed by coach Joe Mazzulla worked perfectly: a Luka Doncic was allowed to take as many shots as he wanted (26 at the end, of which 12 scored with 4/12 three-pointers) in order to deny the passes that make Dallas’ attack work. The result is that the Slovenian finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds – first rookie in the Finals with a 30-point double-double since Tim Duncan in 1999 -, but with only one assist on the scoresheet in 38 minutes, his worst career playoff showing. On an evening when Kyrie Irving didn’t work (12 points but with 6/19 shooting), the result is that the Dallas attack was held to just 41.7% from the field and 26% from threesuffering well 9 blocks by the home team led by the excellent performances of Porzingis (3), Brown (3) and Al Horford (2), also negating all lobs which allow the various Daniel Gafford (8 points), Derrick Jones Jr. (5) and Dereck Lively (2) to find easy points. The only positive note was PJ Washington’s 14 points and 8 reboundsdespite 3 errors from the arc within the guests’ 7/27.
in-depth analysis
Porzingis rocks game 1: 18 points in one half
Porzingis breaks the game, Brown takes home the 1-0
The Celtics wouldn’t have been able to control Game 1 so easily if it weren’t for the sensational impact of Kristaps Porzingis in the first half. Upon his return to the field after five weeks off, the former evening player split the match in two by scoring 18 points in the first 24 minutes, finishing with 20 at the end. Even more than the baskets made (8/13 in the end), however, it was his iron protection to shut down the Mavs’ attack, giving a completely different internal dimension to the Celtics (23/47 in the paint for Dallas). After reaching +28 with 1:48 left in the first half, however, the Celtics fell asleep for a quarter, allowing the opponents to get closer to -8with a 29-9 run sealed by a Doncic triple with 4:28 left in the third quarter.
In the most difficult moment he rose to the next level Game 1 MVP Jaylen Brownmaking 6 points within a 14-0 partialwho put over 20 points back between the two teams, also making some amazing defensive plays to protect the rim. For him in the end 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocksleading six players all in double figures for Boston, including i 16 with 11 rebounds and 5 assists from a rather inaccurate Jayson Tatum in shooting (6/16) and in ball management (6 turnovers out of the team’s 12) despite a +19 plus-minus in 42 minutes. They also close in double figures Derrick White (15), Jrue Holiday (12 with 8 rebounds and 5 assists) and Al Horford (10 with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks)on an evening in which the green and whites shot 16/42 three-pointersthe result of excellent ball circulation (23 assists against 9 for all the Mavs).
