NBA News: Celtics Take Game 1 of NBA Finals
Mavericks' Porzingis Returns, Drops 20
The Boston Celtics have taken a 1-0 lead in the 2023-24 NBA Finals with a hard-fought victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Kristaps Porzingis, returning from a calf injury, scored 20 points for the Mavericks, but it wasn't enough to overcome a strong performance from the Celtics.
Celtics Control the Paint
The Celtics' interior defense proved to be a major factor in the game, as they dominated the paint and limited the Mavericks to just 36% shooting inside the three-point line. Al Horford and Robert Williams III combined for 15 rebounds and 7 blocks, making it difficult for the Mavericks to get easy looks at the basket.
Jayson Tatum Leads the Way
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. He was aggressive from the start, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, and Marcus Smart contributed 21 points and 5 steals.
Mavericks Hang Tough
Despite the Celtics' dominance, the Mavericks never gave up. They fought back to tie the game in the third quarter, but the Celtics pulled away in the fourth, thanks to some key plays from Tatum and Smart.
Series Shifts to Dallas
The series now shifts to Dallas for Game 2 on Sunday night. The Mavericks will need to find a way to improve their interior defense and get more production from their role players if they want to even the series.
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