The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, with Kristaps Porzingis leading the Celtics with 20 points off the bench and Luka Doncic scoring 30 points for Dallas.
The game started with both teams trading baskets and leads. The Celtics gained momentum with Derrick White hitting back-to-back threes, finishing the first quarter with a 37-20 lead after a strong performance by Porzingis.
The Celtics continued their dominance in the second quarter, extending their lead to 29 points with Porzingis and the rest of the team attacking the Mavericks' defense. The Celtics led 63-42 at halftime.
Dallas managed to cut the lead down to 16 points in the third quarter, but turnovers and defensive lapses allowed Boston to regain control, leading 86-66 going into the final quarter.
The Mavericks attempted a comeback but eventually fell short. With the Celtics maintaining a substantial lead, Dallas pulled key players Doncic and Irving halfway through the period, resulting in a final score of 107-89 in favor of Boston.
Dallas had more turnovers than assists, highlighting a major issue with their offensive execution. Head coach Jason Kidd emphasized the need to avoid too much one-on-one play and improve ball movement.
Kyrie Irving struggled in this game, scoring only 12 points on 6 of 19 shooting and missing all five of his three-point attempts. His ineffective play and turnovers were significant factors in Dallas' loss.