Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 of NBA Finals, Take Early Series Lead

Porzingis Returns, but Celtics Prove Too Much in Opener

Boston Takes Control with Balanced Attack, Strong Defense

The Boston Celtics made a statement in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, dominating the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in front of their home crowd. Led by a balanced attack and lockdown defense, the Celtics set the tone for the series and put the Mavericks on notice.

Despite the return of All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks struggled to find their rhythm offensively. Luka Doncic, who had a strong postseason, was held to just 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting, while Porzingis had a quiet 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

On the other side of the ball, the Celtics were firing on all cylinders. Jason Tatum led the way with 26 points, while Jaylen Brown added 24 points and eight rebounds. Al Horford and Marcus Smart also made significant contributions, scoring 20 and 18 points, respectively.

The Celtics' defense was particularly impressive, holding the Mavericks to just 34% shooting from the field and 24% from three-point range. They also forced 14 turnovers, which resulted in 17 points for Boston.

Game 2 of the NBA Finals will take place on Friday night in Boston. The Celtics will look to extend their lead in the series, while the Mavericks will need to find a way to bounce back and even things up.