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0 In a thrilling game, Derrick White showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 15 points for the Boston Celtics as they made 16 3-pointers in their pursuit of their 18th NBA title. The team dominated, leading by a staggering 29 points in the first half. Kristaps Porzingis, who had been sidelined due to a calf injury since April 29, made a remarkable comeback, contributing six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes. Porzingis expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Tonight was an affirmation to myself that I’m pretty good.” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Porzingis, saying, “That’s the KP that helped us get to where we are today. It doesn’t matter how long the guy is off, he’s going to make plays.”
Jaylen Brown was also a standout player for the Celtics, scoring 22 points, while Porzingis, making an impact off the bench, added 20. The Celtics powered past the Dallas Mavericks with a final score of 107-89 in Game 1. All-Star Jayson Tatum also made a significant contribution with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and six other Celtics players scored in double figures. Tatum emphasized the team’s focus, saying, “Getting back to this point and being here is a big deal. But two years ago we won the first game and we know the outcome of that series. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Although Dallas managed to cut the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, Boston responded with a remarkable 14-0 run, quickly pulling away again. Luka Doncic led Dallas with an outstanding 30 points, while P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds. However, Dallas struggled to find offensive consistency beyond that, totaling just nine assists on its 35 field goals for the game. The Mavericks failed to score 25 points in any quarter. Doncic expressed the team’s focus, saying, “Either you lose or you win. First to four, we’ve got to focus on the next game.”
The game also saw the former Celtic Kyrie Irving struggling, receiving boos when he was introduced. Despite an early struggle, Luka Doncic led a fierce comeback for the Mavericks. Boston dominated from the beginning, finishing the first quarter with a commanding 37-20 lead, thanks in part to Kristaps Porzingis’ strong performance off the bench.
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