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Kristaps Porzingis discusses being an x-factor for Celtics
The Boston Celtics won Game 1 of the NBA Finals in convincing fashion and that was in large part due to the return of Kristaps Porzingis.
The Boston Celtics threw the first punch – and it was a big one.
The Celtics won Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals with a 107-89 rout over the Dallas Mavericks. It was a balanced attack led by Jayson Tatum (16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) and Jaylen Brown (22 points, six rebounds, three steals, three blocks).
Kristaps Porzingis, playing in his first game since April 29, became the first player in NBA Finals history with more than 20 points, more than six rebounds and more than three blocks in fewer than 22 minutes played.
The Mavericks had their lowest scoring output of these playoffs, and will attempt to avoid a big hole and get even before the series shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates and highlights throughout Game 2 of the NBA Finals:
Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, actor/comedian Chris Tucker and a host of notable former Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks players are among the celebrities in attendance for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Among the Celtics legends in attendance are Dana Barros, M.L. Carr, Tacko Fall, Mal Graham, Glenn McDonald, Paul Pierce and Sam Vincent. Former Mavericks players Sam Perkins is present, as is former Mavericks and Celtics player Jason Terry.
Rappers/songwriters BIA and Travis Scott, as well as music producer Metro Boomin are at TD Garden.
Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, wide receiver K.J. Osborn, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. and former Patriots player Matthew Slater, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, also are in attendance.
It’s been a little hectic in the second period, but Boston has now jumped ahead of Dallas and leads 36-35 with seven minutes left in the first half.
Luka Doncic continues to do it all for Dallas with 20 points, but he hasn’t gotten much held this quarter as he’s the only one to score in the first five minutes of the frame. Dallas hasn’t scored in more than three minutes. Meanwhile, Boston is starting to find a rhythm offensively, and Derrick White hit only the second 3-pointer so far for his team to take the lead. — Jordan Mendoza
Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving started Game 2 of the NBA Finals with an aggressive approach. They opened a combined 5-for-8 from the field and had 10 of Dallas’ first 13 points as the Mavs built a 28-25 lead after the first quarter.
It was a much different first quarter than Game 1 when the Mavs fell behind 37-20 after the first 12 minutes.
Doncic, who was listed as questionable for the second game with a left ankle soreness, right knee sprain and now a bruised chest, had 13 points in the first quarter.
That all important 3-point for the Celtics? One of the best and high-volume 3-point shooting teams, the Celtics missed their first eight 3s and didn’t make one until Al Horford got the ninth attempt to go in with 3.6 seconds left in the quarter.
Boston shot just 36.8% from the field, however, it kept the game close, making its 10 free throw attempts. Dallas was 4-for-9 from the free throw line.
Oddly, the Mavs challenged a foul call on P.J. Washington with 7:11 left in the first quarter. It was an obvious foul, and the Mavericks no longer have a replay challenge available for the remainder of Game 2.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis continued to make an impact off the bench. Returning to the playoffs in Game 1 of the Finals after missing more than a month with a right calf injury, Porzingis had eight points in the opening quarter. — Jeff Zillgitt
Luka Doncic might be nursing injuries, but he isn’t shying away from making an impact in the game.
Doncic has six points and Dallas is off to a good start, up 13-6 nearly four minutes into Game 2. The Mavericks were hitting shots out of the gate with three straight makes, and Kyrie Irving hit a tough step back jumper that forced Joe Mazzulla to take an early timeout. The former Celtics guard has heard it from the Boston crowd this series, and he had some words for the crowd after hitting the shot. — Jordan Mendoza
The Boston Celtics won’t be wearing their traditional home white uniforms, instead opting to don their black “statement edition” uniforms. The Mavericks will be wearing their white “association edition” uniforms.
The referees for Sunday’s matchup are Tony Brothers, John Goble and Bill Kennedy.
Game 2 of the NBA Finals is Sunday, June 9 with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston.
ABC will broadcast every game of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Each game of the 2024 NBA Finals can be streamed on ESPN+ or on Fubo.
Though listed as questionable with multiple health issues (left ankle soreness, right knee sprain and now a bruised chest), Mavericks star Luka Doncic is in the starting lineup for Game 2 against Boston.
For Boston, center Al Horford remains in the starting lineup, and Kristaps Porzingis, who missed more than a month of the playoffs with a right calf injury but returned in Game 1 for 20 points, will continue to come off the bench.
Mavericks starting lineup:
- Luka Doncic
- Kyrie Irving
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- Daniel Gafford
- P.J. Washington
Celtics starting lineup:
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Al Horford
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for Game 2 Sunday evening with multiple health issues: left ankle soreness, right knee sprain and now a thoracic contusion (bruised chest).
“We’ll see how he feels when he warms up and make that decision.,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.
Though questionable, it will be a stunner if Doncic doesn’t play.
Doncic has dealt with the knee and ankle for much of the playoffs, and Kidd said Doncic sustained the bruised chest diving for a loose ball or taking a charge in Boston’s Game 1 victory Thursday.
“If he’s out, we’re prepared to go without him, next man up,” Kidd said. “If he’s going, the game plan doesn’t change.” — Jeff Zillgitt
Moneyline
- Mavericks: +220
- Celtics: -275
Spread
Over-under
- Over 214.5: -115
- Under 214.5: -105
Here’s how our NBA reporters and editors see Game 2 playing out:
Scooby Axson
- Celtics 110, Mavericks 105
Heather Tucker
- Celtics 103, Mavericks 99
Dan Wolken
- Celtics 112, Mavericks 103
Jeff Zillgitt
- Celtics 111, Mavericks 107
According to BetMGM, the Celtics are -450 to win the NBA championship against the Mavericks. Dallas is +340.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA experts’ picks and predictions for the 2024 NBA Finals:
- Scooby Axson: Celtics in 6
- Cydney Henderson: Mavericks in 6
- Lindsay Schnell: Mavericks in 7
- Jeff Zillgitt: Celtics in 6
According to BetMGM:
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +115
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics: +260
- Luka Dončić, Mavericks: +350
- Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: +650
- Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: +4000
- Derrick White, Celtics: +6600
Coming off the bench for just the second time in his career and playing in his first game since sustaining a calf injury April 29, Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points, including 18 in the first half, and added six rebounds and three blocks as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 on Thursday.
The Celtics didn’t “miss” Porzingis in that they still reached the NBA Finals with Porzingis sidelined due to his right calf injury. But the Celtics, who acquired Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a 2023 offseason trade, missed his production, and that was evident in Porzingis’ return against the Mavericks.
Read Jeff Zillgitt’s complete story.
Kyrie Irving knew Boston would be an unfriendly environment. It’s been that way for a few years now.
The TD Garden crowd serenaded the former Celtics guard with boos from the moment he touched the ball in warmups until he checked out for the final time with 5:17 left in the game. Celtics fans weren’t happy to see him and, based on Irving’s performance in the Mavericks’ loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, he wasn’t too happy out there, either.
Read Richard Morin’s complete story.
This is a chest bruise caused by a fall or blow to the chest. While that doesn’t seem very serious, it could develop into something worse with continued trauma. If it is something to be taken seriously, it could affect Luka Doncic’s ability to do things like rebound or drive into scoring lanes. Any contact could cause a flare up and force the Dallas Mavericks star to miss time. — Jon Hoefling
Boston leads series 1-0
- Game 1: Celtics 107, Mavericks 89
- Sunday, June 9: Game 2 at Boston, 8 p.m. ET on ABC
- Wednesday, June 12: Game 3 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Friday, June 14: Game 4 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- *Monday, June 17: Game 5 at Boston, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
- *Thursday, June 20: Game 6 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
- *Sunday, June 23: Game 7 at Boston, 8 p.m. on ABC
The Adelson and Dumont families reached a binding agreement to purchase a majority ownership of the Dallas Mavericks from owner Mark Cuban back in November.
Miriam Adelson, the widow of Las Vegas Sands Corp. founder Sheldon Adelson, and her family said in an SEC filing it is selling $2 billion of LVS stock and “they currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, along with additional cash on hand, to fund the purchase of a majority interest in a professional sports franchise pursuant to a binding purchase agreement, subject to customary league approvals.”
Cuban has been one of the NBA’s most prominent owners in the past two decades and one of the most fined, racking up nearly $4 million in fines — and that doesn’t include $10 million Cuban donated to women’s groups following an investigation into a toxic work environment, including sexual harassment and workplace misconduct, within the Mavericks’ organization. — Jeff Zillgitt
Boston’s 17 NBA championships are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for most in league history. The Celtics’ last NBA Finals win came in 2008 when Doc Rivers’ team, led by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, knocked off the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers in six games. The Celtics lost in the NBA Finals in 2010 (to same Lakers in seven games) and 2022 (to Golden State Warriors in six games).
Dallas has one NBA title to its name, coming in 2011 when Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd (the Mavericks’ current coach) beat the Miami Heat in six games. It was Miami’s first season as the Heatles, a nickname given due to their worldwide appeal with stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh teaming up. The Mavericks went to the NBA Finals only one other time, losing in 2006 to a Heat team that had Wade, but also Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Terry and Antoine Walker.
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